26438 - Technics in Paleontology
Optional
5.1. Methodological overview
The course is eminently practical, and the proposed activities are aimed at understanding and assimilation of content from personal experience (“Hands-on”). The knowledge acquired in lectures is complemented by practical laboratory activity and seminars, where the student will learn and demonstrate methods and analyses, and their application. In personal work, the student must demonstrate the ability to investigate, present and defend a report on subjects related to technical Paleontology.
For better monitoring of the learning process, students will be encouraged to use the tutorials through various systems and methods: conventional tutorials, more specific tutorials related to practical work-type seminar, and the possibility of carrying out telematic tutorials.
5.2. Learning tasks
The following activities are offered to help the student to achieve the expected results:
Programmed activities
1. Lectures (14 hours, 1,4 ECTS)
2. Laboratory (16 hours, 1,6 ECTS).
3. Case studies and seminars. (8 hours, 0,8 ECTS)
4. Field work (12 hours, 3 days, 1,2 ECTS)
5.3. Syllabus
1. Lectures (14 hours, 1,4 ECTS)
-Introduction. The professionalization of Palaeontology. The role of a palaeontologist in companies, as freelance, or as a technician in the administration and in museums.
-Paleontological techniques I. Field work. Prospecting, sampling and collection of fossils. Excavation and documentation techniques.
-Paleontological techniques II. Laboratory work. Fossils reconstruction, conservation and documentation.
-Museum techniques in Palaeontology. Paleontological heritage.
-Management of collections. Documentation and storage techniques. Special collections.
-Techniques to work with fossils from ocean cores.
-Techniques in molecular palaeontology and organic biomarkers.
-Paleontological techniques applied to environmental monitoring (water quality, pollution). Applications of Palaeontology in criminalistics and forensic sciences.
2. Laboratory (16 hours, 1,6 ECTS).
-Paleontological techniques in the laboratory: macrofossil reconstruction, preparation, conservation and replicates.
-Palaeontology in the museums: techniques.
- Management of collections.
-Moulds of macro and microfossils.
-Digitalization techniques.
3. Case studies and seminars. (8 hours, 0,8 ECTS)
-Seminars for essay presentations.
-Paleontological techniques applied to exploration of geological resources, oceanographic studies, and environmental monitoring. Techniques to work with ocean cores.
4. Field work (12 hours, 3 days, 1,2 ECTS)
-Advanced field work techniques: fossil prospection, sampling and collection. Coring and excavation techniques.