TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF OUR CHANGING WORLD Geography and Environment Undergraduate Courses 2017 Contents 04 A global university 28 Course overview 30 Course information 34 Applying and funding 35 International students 36 How to find us 38 At-a-glance guide SOUTHA MPTON First-year BSc Geography students conducting research in the New Forest as part of their one-week field course, exploring vegetation and stream dynamics. 2 Reach your goals at Southampton by combining your ambition, your talent and our support. Choosing the right place to study is an important decision, with many factors to think about. Join us, an institution in the top one per cent of world universities† and a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities. At Southampton you are taught by world-leading academics on courses that are designed around you. We get you ready for the global jobs market, while giving you a great student experience in a vibrant, diverse environment. Study with us and you’ll join one of the UK’s top 15* and one of the world’s top 50‡ geography departments. We rank fifth in the country for the quality of our research publications** and our student satisfaction scores have increased year on year to 92 per cent.§ CHOOSE SOUTHA MPTON † QS World University Rankings, 2015/16 * Complete University Guide 2016, the The Guardian university league tables 2017 ‡ QS World University Rankings by subject 2016 ** Research Excellence Framework 2014 § National Student Survey 2015 3 CHOOSE SOUTHAMPTON: A GLOBAL UNIVERSITY The city of Southampton has a history of innovation and exploration. As a forward-thinking University, we uphold these values in our education and research; join us to forge your successful future. â As an institution we offer study abroad opportunities in 54 countries in Europe and across the world â Our 200,000 graduates are part of a network of professionals that covers 180 countries â Our academics make a difference on every continent â Our business, government and non-government organisation partners span the globe â We are part of the Worldwide Universities Network, a collaboration of knowledge from around the world WORKING TO REDUCE YOUTH SMOKING Professor Graham Moon and colleagues have developed a new data model that for the first time gives insight into smoking variations across England LEARNING IN THE FIELD Overseas fieldwork can take place in a variety of destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris, Tenerife, Cambodia, Berlin and Arolla (Swiss Alps) INVESTING IN DNA We are We explore lake sediments in the and ancient DNA to help us look back at past and current TOP 1% climates; our new DNA lab of global launches in autumn 2016 universities 4 Study abroad: we have over 400 links CLIMATE CHANGE IN with 233 partners in 54 countries THE SOUTH PACIFIC around the world Professor Pete Langdon, with colleagues, is studying the dynamics of long-term climate change and impacts on societies in the South Pacific SAFE DRINKING WATER Research conducted by Dr Jim Wright as part of an international team exploring safe drinking water worldwide was selected among UNICEF’s best research projects 2015 STUDENT EXCHANGE BSc Geography student Natasha Wallum studied a semester abroad at Western University, Ontario, Canada Study opportunities include: Australia, Canada, Ireland, Hong Kong, France, Germany and COMBATTING the Netherlands UK FLOODING Flooding expert Professor David Sear and team have shown that strategic planting Find out more of trees could reduce flooding www.southampton.ac.uk/ in towns downstream by up to geography/research 20 per cent 5 WHAT’S YOUR AMBITION? TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON RIVERS Eleanore Heasley BSc Geography, 2015 During a four-week trip to South East Asia Eleanore undertook regular transects on the Mekong. Her activities involved using specialist equipment to monitor river velocity and collect suspended sediment samples. “I was really excited to join a research team in Cambodia studying the way climate fluctuations affect the transfer of sediment along the Mekong River. This was made possible by a Royal Geographical Society fieldwork bursary that my lecturer supported me to apply for. “It was an amazing opportunity and has shaped everything I have done since – I have chosen every module available on rivers! The experience also helped me to get an internship with an environmental charity looking at freshwater quality. “I’m studying for a PhD in environmental research and in future I’d love to work in river management.” Filtering suspended sediment samples from the Mekong River 6 WHAT’S YOUR AMBITION? TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON RIVERS Find out more about Eleanore’s experience – and the one that could be waiting for you – visit www.southampton.ac.uk/ geography/eleanoreheasley 7 CHOOSE SOUTHAMPTON: DESIGN YOUR OWN EDUCATION Your courses are developed and taught by world experts Your course offers you breadth as well as depth â Be independent and shape your course â Attend lectures and seminars and access many lectures and learning resources on the move â Enjoy a flexible course that is shaped by your interests and the needs of leading employers Advice from your Laboratory personal study tutor Interactive online discussions Study abroad Field trips INNOVATIVE LEARNING Small group Group teaching project work Option to Online choose a minor assessment Optional subject to go Option modules outside alongside your to learn a your area single honours language of study degree 8 Our graduates are targeted by the top 100 Become graduate recruiters Become a a student in the country community ambassador volunteer Receive one-to-one support with CV writing, interview techniques and network building GET AHEAD FOR YOUR CAREER Network with top Wi-Fi employers at across all our careers fairs campuses 3 million books, journals and reports in 24-HOUR our libraries ACCESS TO VIRTUAL LEARNING 50,000 Meet people e-books from over 130 countries Our Enabling SOCIAL Services provides support when you LIFE need it Join GeogSoc, the Geography student society Socialise in our bars and cafés Join one of our 200 clubs and societies Find out more www.southampton.ac.uk/ choice 9 OUR PEOPLE Our people have a passion to change the world through their research and collaborations with global partners. â Our lecturers push the boundaries of knowledge â Benefit from our research-active academic team; their work informs your education â We provide you with a rich curriculum with additional opportunities to broaden your multidisciplinary knowledge â You are involved with important research as it unfolds â Join us and share our knowledge to gain your advantage PROFESSOR STEPHEN DARBY HEAD OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT Professor Darby is Vice Chair of the British Society for Geomorphology and Head of department leading a vibrant academic team. Stephen's research interests include earth surface dynamics, morphodynamics of large, monsoon-affected rivers, modelling river dynamics, floodplain processes and landscape evolution modelling. His current research focuses on the impact of cyclones on sediment delivery 10 DR JULIAN LEYLAND DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS & LECTURER IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY In his latest research Julian is collaborating DR SALLY HAYWARD with engineering colleagues to develop the use of unmanned aerial vehicles DIRECTOR OF (UAVs) for monitoring dynamic earth STUDENT SUPPORT surface processes An expert in periglacial geomorphology, Sally is also Director of Student Support. Her award-winning dedication ensures students make a successful transition to university-level learning DR SAMANTHA COCKINGS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN GEOGRAPHY Dr Cockings specialises in analysing and DR BRIAN HRACS mapping population-related information; LECTURER IN HUMAN her work has been used by the Office for National Statistics to enhance census GEOGRAPHY data in various ways. Samantha is also Brian’s teaching is informed by his International Liaison for research into the way digital technologies the department and global competition are reshaping aspects of the creative economy, including the music industry Find out more www.southampton.ac.uk/ geography/people 11 CHOOSE SOUTHAMPTON: CHANGE THE WORLD Using mobile phone data to support disaster relief Geography and Environment researchers are using mobile phone data to track the movement of people affected by the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015. The information is helping to support the continuing relief effort in the country. Every time a person uses a mobile phone it sends information to a receiving tower, including their approximate location. This information, repeated multiple times across millions of users, can provide a detailed picture of population movement and density and how they change over time in a given area. Professor Andy Tatem says: “Although we have used mobile phone data before to measure population movements, this is the first time we have used the method in an ongoing ‘live’ situation. By watching how the population moves on a daily basis, we have been able to help directly with aid efforts and the rebuilding of infrastructure.” The work in Nepal is being conducted by two international collaborative programmes – the WorldPop project and the Flowminder Foundation – in which Andy plays leading roles. The researchers are using similar techniques to help tackle other pressing global issues, such as the control of infectious diseases. ELIMINATING MALARIA Our researchers are contributing their mobile phone data expertise to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation initiatives on eliminating malaria EPIDEMIC PREVENTION RESEARCH-LED Our population modelling techniques LEARNING have predicted a future rise in Andy lectures on the Dangerous World measles cases in West Africa due to module, which examines communities’ interrupted immunisation responses to today’s environmental programmes during the and socio-economic challenges Ebola crisis 12 Professor Tatem and colleagues began daily monitoring of CHOOSE SOUTHAMPTON: mobile phone data a week after the 2015 Nepal earthquake.