Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2021 - EASC 711 G600

Directed Readings (3)

Class Number: 8756

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Location: TBA

  • Prerequisites:

    Permission of the instructor.

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

Micropaleontology of tsunami deposits

Course description: Identifying and interpreting tsunami sediments in the geological record is
important for understanding long-term plate boundary processes. This course focuses on the
micropaleontological characteristics of a recent tsunami deposit from Palu, Indonesia.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Goals:
1. Gain a general understanding of the micropaleontology and sedimentology of tsunami deposits
from a variety of coastal environments
2. Understand the post-depositional changes impacting the preservation of tsunami deposits in
tropical environments
3. Acquire skills in foraminiferal analysis (taxonomy and taphonomy), identification, and
interpretation
4. Application of learned methods and analyzed data to sediment samples collected as part of a
post-event field survey
5. Presentation of methods and analyzed data in oral, written, and figure form

Schedule: 1-hr weekly meetings (Wednesday 10-11am) via Zoom. There will be weekly meetings
between the student (Camille Jordan), instructor (Jessica Pilarczyk), and committee members (Brent
Ward and Michaela Spiske), in which project progress made during the previous week will be reported
and new results discussed. Within 1 hour of each Wednesday’s meeting, the student will email a
summary of the meeting and a list of deliverables that will be completed by the following week

Course project: The final deliverable will be a written and illustrated report containing all analyzed
foraminiferal data (all trenches from Transects 1, 2 and 3). The report must contain a site map created
in Illustrator, data plots of all foraminiferal data (taxa and taphonomic character) for each trench. Each
trench plot should include a lithologic log and, where available, grain size data for comparison with the
microfossil data. The final report must also include a 1-2 page summary of interpretations.

Grading

  • Research presentation and proposal 30%
  • Foraminiferal analysis 20%
  • Course project 40%
  • Weekly discussion and summaries 10%

NOTES:


Academic integrity: Students are reminded that academic integrity lies at the heart of education.
All assignments, seminars, term papers, and exams are to be done individually and without outside
assistance, except the use of research materials and published literature, expressed in your own words
except where quoted and properly cited. Students registered in this course will be required to complete
the SFU Library plagiarism tutorial within the first two weeks of classes.


Late policy: Unless otherwise indicated, all assignments are due at the beginning of the weekly
scheduled meeting. A late penalty of 10% per day will be applied to all submissions turned in after the
beginning of class.

Acceptable medical certificates: Pharmacy prescriptions will NOT be accepted. Medical
documentation must be:
1. submitted on letterhead from a clinic, physician, counsellor, or other certified practitioner with
signature and date and
2. addressed to the course, course dates, and instructor concerned;
3. and dated corresponding with the times the student was absent.
Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Students with
Disabilities (778-782-3112 or email to csdo@sfu.ca) AND notify me within the first 2 weeks of classes.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).