Studying the management of island environments
A group of 25 undergraduate students from the Institute of Earth Systems, accompanied by members of staff, recently travelled to Madeira for an intensive week-long field trip focused on the management of island environments. The second- and third-year students are currently reading for the Institute’s B.Sc. (Hons) in Earth Systems. This activity is one of a series of fieldwork exercises undertaken both locally and abroad during their 3-year programme of studies.
Madeira is the largest of a group of volcanic islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa. During their field visit, the students explored sites across the island while working on various exercises studying aspects of the island’s geology, geomorphology, ecology, biogeography and landscape, and analysing similarities and differences between Maltese and Madeiran archipelagos. The students also engaged with locals and with students and faculty from the University of Madeira, to discuss socio-political aspects of island life, and participated in a one-day conference on Tourism and Island Cultures hosted by the Research Centre for Regional and Local Studies of the University of Madeira. Professor Godfrey Baldacchino, University of Malta Pro-Rector for International Development, was the keynote speaker at this event.
Over the next weeks, the students will be preparing video and oral presentations based on their observations and measurements, as well as working on a number of written assignments. The Institute will also shortly be organizing an exhibition of student photos taken during the trip.