Advanced Topics in Land Use and Geomorphological Hazards: Expert Lectures

Duration

10h Th, 20h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Olivier Dewitte, Aurelia Hubert, Matthias Vanmaercke

Coordinator

Aurelia Hubert

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course consists of a series of lectures delivered by invited scientists addressing current issues related to surface processes and global change, with a particular focus on anthropogenic impacts. The invited experts present topics directly linked to their ongoing research.

Beyond the introductory framework, the lectures may cover a broad range of advanced topics, including:

• Land use and environmental change: urban expansion, agricultural intensification, deforestation, land degradation, and soil conservation strategies.
  
  
• Geomorphological hazards: landslides, debris flows, gully and riverbank erosion, coastal erosion, and flooding.
  
  
• Human impacts on Earth surface processes: mining, dam construction, road and infrastructure development, and their geomorphological consequences.
  
  
• Interactions with climate change: feedbacks between human activities, global warming, and the frequency/magnitude of geomorphological hazards.
  
  
• Monitoring and modelling approaches: use of remote sensing, GIS, field surveys, and numerical modelling to assess hazards and land-use impacts.
  
  
• Risk management and societal responses: vulnerability assessment, land-use planning, and mitigation strategies for communities exposed to environmental hazards
  
  

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, students will have:

• acquired an up-to-date overview of research conducted outside the Department of Geography at ULiège, directly connected to their Master's program and to issues linking surface processes with global change;
  
  
• developed their ability to engage with and deepen scientific topics through the critical analysis of publications complementary to the research presented by the invited scholars;
  
  
• strengthened transferable skills in synthesis, scientific communication, and oral presentation, by delivering assessed presentations after each lecture, thereby extending and complementing the perspectives offered by the guest speakers.
  
  

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

GEOG0661       Earth Surface Dynamics and Anthropogenic Effects, 20h Th, 20h Pr

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

An active learning approach is implemented to encourage student engagement and autonomy. The course is structured around a series of lectures delivered by invited researchers, each presenting their work in the fields of surface processes, land use, and geomorphological hazards in the context of global change.

After each lecture, students further explore the issues addressed through scientific publications provided by the guest speaker. They then prepare an assessed oral presentation, which allows them to reformulate, synthesize, and critically discuss the knowledge acquired. This process aims to strengthen their ability to analyze scientific literature, structure an argument, and communicate effectively.

Beyond methodological and disciplinary skills, the course is designed to broaden students' scientific horizons through exposure to a diversity of topics and approaches. It also serves as a springboard for their future orientation in the second year of the Master's program, helping them identify research themes, establish contacts with external researchers, and more easily find a Master's thesis topic or internship aligned with their interests.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Further information:

Face to face and potentially hybrud depending on presenters

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège


Further information:

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège


Further information:

The lecture materials provided by the guest speakers will be made available on MyULiège.

The publications that students are required to work on, in connection with the topics presented by the guest speakers, will also be available on MyULiège.

Other : Oral presentation during the semester


Further information:

Other : Oral présentations


Further information:



Each student will give an individual presentation of approximately 5 minutes (3-4 slides) on a scientific paper related to the same topic as the invited expert. For one of the topics, a student will deliver a more in-depth presentation on a scientific paper and assess the contribution of this research to the broader theme.

The final grade will be based on the average of the oral presentations, with the 20-minute presentation weighted three times more than the 5-minute presentations.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Adjustments to the schedule may be made according to the availability of the guest speakers.

Contacts

Aurélia Hubert-Ferrari aurelia.ferrari@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online