PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES IN FIELD

The Field Laboratory serves as a culminating academic experience for the first two years of the Environmental Sciences degree program. It provides an essential opportunity to experimentally validate the theoretical knowledge and practical competencies acquired through coursework and laboratory training in the foundational disciplines.
Field activities will involve direct interaction with key environmental matrices - rocks, soils, water, air - as well as with the biotic components that interact with these matrices, employing a multidisciplinary and integrative approach.
The primary aim of the course is to apply, under real field conditions, the methodological and conceptual tools developed in the areas of Earth Sciences, Chemistry, and both Animal and Plant Ecology.

By the end of the field activities, students will be able to analyze, measure, discuss, and interpret key aspects of natural systems in their environmental context, understanding their interconnections and acquiring the practical skills necessary for future professional roles in the environmental field.
Specifically, students will:
• Understand the meaning and value of a multidisciplinary approach to environmental studies;
• Compare different scientific approaches applied to real environmental matrices (water, rocks, soil, air, biota);
• Learn to apply specific sampling and analytical techniques in both field and laboratory settings;
• Be able to organize, analyze, and critically interpret environmental data, using appropriate scientific terminology and methodological rigor;
• Acquire the ability to recognize interrelations among various environmental components, both biotic and abiotic;
• Develop teamwork skills, improving their ability to communicate, collaborate, and engage in peer-to-peer exchange;
• Enhance their ability to write technical and scientific reports, producing a final document that demonstrates their mastery of the topics covered, as well as skills in organization, synthesis, critical thinking, and data interpretation.

Students must meet the following requirements:
1. Successfully completed the following first-year exams: General and Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory, Principles of Animal and Plant Biology, Biodiversity Laboratory, and Earth Sciences: Principles and Laboratory.
2. Attended the second-year laboratory courses (i.e., Analytical Chemistry with Laboratory, Laboratory of Ecological Methods, and Physical Geography and Geomorphology. This is because the knowledge gained in these lab courses will be applied during the field activities.
To be eligible for the Field Laboratory, requirement number 1 must be met by no later than the end of the winter exam session (February 2026).

The training programme is structured in three sequential and coordinated phases:
1. Pre-field preparatory lessons
Introductory activities include theoretical and practical sessions aimed at providing students with a general framework of the topics addressed during the field laboratory, the techniques to be used, safety guidelines, and instructions for writing the final report. Attendance is mandatory. These lessons will take place in the weeks leading up to the field trip.

2. Field activities
The fieldwork will take place in the Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino Natural Park, which will serve as an open-air classroom for the multidisciplinary activities. Students will be staying for approximately one week in a mountain environment, in the areas of Falcade (BL), Predazzo (TN), Passo Valles (BL-TN), and Passo Rolle (TN).
Daily excursions will involve students applying various field investigation methods to achieve the following learning objectives:
• Structural and stratigraphic study of sedimentary outcrops and geomorphological interpretation of the landscape;
• Air quality monitoring through PM10 filter sampling, weather data collection with a meteorological station and rain gauge;
• Sampling and analysis of plant communities;
• Sampling and study of aquatic vegetation (macrophytes and microalgae) and aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna in fluvial environments, with assessment of ecological status;
• In-situ measurement of the physico-chemical parameters of stream water (pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity);
• Chemical analysis of stream water (phosphates, nitrites, nitrates, sulphates);
• Land surveying using remotely piloted aerial systems (RPAS).

3. Data processing and reporting
The final phase involves the analysis and processing of data collected during the fieldwork. Students will present their findings in a written technical report, demonstrating a critical understanding of the activities performed, mastery of the applied methodologies, and the ability to communicate results scientifically.
Note: Some field activities and their implementation may vary depending on weather conditions, logistical constraints, and the academic year's teaching offer.

The lectures will be supported by supplementary teaching materials, including handouts, technical documents, scientific articles, and topographic maps for practical and field activities. All documentation will be made available in PDF format through the University’s Moodle platform.

Exam
The Field Laboratory assessment comprises two components:
i) Evaluation of a written group report;
ii) An individual written test.

i) Group Report
The report is a scientific document detailing the field activities and must:
• Present the context of the study area(s);
• Describe the activities carried out and their scientific basis;
• Illustrate the procedures for sampling, analysis, and data processing;
• Summarize and critically interpret the results obtained;
• Discuss the results from an environmental perspective, with scientific rigor, using both monodisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches;
• Highlight the interconnections among the different disciplines involved in the fieldwork.
The instructors will evaluate the report, assigning a score (out of 30) for each disciplinary section. All sections must score at least 18/30. The final grade will be the arithmetic mean of the section scores. This grade must be either accepted or declined by all group members.
Each report must be original work. Plagiarism from previous years or online sources will result in exam cancellation. Students can only access the individual written test after successfully passing this stage.

ii) Individual Written Test
This consists of a multiple-choice test covering all course topics. To be eligible, students must have submitted the group report and passed all its sections with at least 18/30.

Final Grade
• The group report counts for 2/3 of the final grade.
• The individual test counts for 1/3 of the final grade.

Example:
• Group report: 24/30
• Written test: 30/30
• Final grade = (24 × 2/3) + (30 × 1/3) = 26/30

written

Here is what each grade range signifies for the Field Laboratory:
28-30 with honors: Demonstrates excellent command of the topics covered during the fieldwork. Shows an outstanding ability to select and organize information and uses technical terminology with precision. Participation in both field and group activities is active and highly engaged.
26-27: Shows good knowledge of the topics covered. Has a fair ability to organize and present information, with generally correct use of technical terminology. Participation in both field and group activities is consistent..
24-25: Possesses sufficient, thought not always in-depth knowledge of the topics. The exposition is structured but may contain some terminological inaccuracies. Participation in both field and group activities is regular but not always active.
22-23: Displays partial and often superficial knowledge. The exposition is unclear with frequent misuse of terminology. Participation in activities is minimal but still acceptable.
18-21: Exhibits fragmented and incomplete knowledge. The exposition is confused with little use of technical terminology. Participation in field and group work is marginal.

The course will employ a variety of teaching methods to facilitate learning:
• Hands-on field activities including excursions, sampling, and observations.
• Small group work to foster collaboration and peer learning.
• Guided discussions and critical analysis of collected data.
• Preparatory meetings before fieldwork and post-field debriefing sessions.
Additionally, key concepts regarding health and safety in outdoor activities will be covered.

Accessibility, Disability, and Inclusion
Accommodations and Support Services for Students with Disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders:
Ca’ Foscari complies with Italian law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding the support services and accommodations available to students with disabilities or specific learning disorders. If you have a motor, visual, hearing, or other disability (Law 17/1999), or a specific learning disorder (Law 170/2010), and require support (such as in-class assistance, technological aids for exams or individualized exam arrangements, accessible-format materials, note-taking support, specialized tutoring, interpreters, or other services), please contact the Disability and SLD Office at: disabilita@unive.it.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development