teaching - Earth Science Teachers' Association

TEACHING EARTH SCIENCES ● Volume 26 ● Number 3, 2001
See Figures 1 and 2 which provide the spatial context
for the decision-making exercise.
The following Activities 1 - 6 are intended to show the
students that some of these sites are unsuitable for
locating a nuclear waste facility. As they proceed
through the pack, it is envisaged that they will progressively
eliminate some of the sites. Eventually they will
be left with a few possibilities from which they must
choose, justifying their proposals.
Activity 1 - Background
The first activity asks students to think about the social,
economic and geological factors associated with siting
the facility - this is merely “setting the scene”. Hopefully
the students will be able to assess the impact of the
waste facility on island life.
Activity 2 - The geology of the island
In this exercise, the students are provided with a set of
five specimens to describe and identify. These specimens
correspond to the five potential sites. Fossils are
included among the specimens and the pupils should
compare them with the stratigraphic column in the
pack. The fossils can be used to determine the relative
ages of the sedimentary rocks. Dip arrows shown on the
outline map can be used by the pupils to draw a simple
cross-section (see Fig 2).
Activity 3 - Plate tectonic setting
This section covers the hazards associated with living in
a tectonically active region. Earthquakes generated in
the nearby collision zone may affect the island and the
students are asked to plot the epicentre of earthquakes
using seismograms. Volcanic monitoring data from the
island is given and the students should try to interpret
the significance of the measurements.
Activity 4
One of the proposed sites is located near the coast (see
Fig 2). This activity examines the hazards posed by
coastal processes; using historical coastline positions
students can calculate the mean rate of erosion. If a
sample of volcanic sand is available, the process of longshore
drift can also be discussed.
Activity 5
Students can use the specimens to investigate permeability.
This is an important factor in the choice of location
since it is important to eliminate the chance
radioactive material being transported by percolating
groundwater. There are also several surface watercourses
on the island, many near population centres.
Activity 6
Site investigation techniques are used prior to any
major civil engineering project. Two examples of site
investigation data are given and the students use these
to locate subsurface problems in the region of one proposed
site.
Finally, the students are expected to fill in a short
report, identifying the most appropriate choice and justifying
their selection.
Using the pack
Geraint Price and his colleagues at the Museum have
worked towards publishing this resource pack on the
Internet, financially supported by the Curry Fund. It is
intended that readers will be able to download the pack,
(including a teachers’ guide with suggested answers)
directly from the Museum’s website.
Feedback
The pack was presented to delegates at the ESTA 2001
Annual Conference at Kingston University and we
were delighted with the positive feedback on the activities.
In addition, some suggestions were made for
improving and developing the pack further and I am
very grateful to everyone who contributed. If any readers
use the pack in their teaching, feedback would be
greatly appreciated.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the
development of the pack, in particular Geraint Price
and his colleagues, the participants on the study day
Dr Carolyn Heeps, Prof. Mike Bassett, Dr Charles
Harris, Dr Pete Brabham, Dr Bob Owens and Sarah
Chambers. A number of other people also contributed
ideas and suggestions Dr Barbara Knowles (NERC),
Dr Andrew Butcher, Dr David Bailey, Dr Glen Ford,
Dr Jill Norton (all from the BGS), Dr Lesley Cherns,
Dr Rod Gayer, Mr Pete Loader, Ms Jo Conway and Dr
Liz Richards. I would also like to express my gratitude
to the students from the two schools and to the Geologists’
Association for support from the Curry Fund.
Owain Thomas
Teacher i/c Geology
Amman Valley School,
Margaret Street,
Ammanford,
Carmarthenshire.
SA18 2NW
Tel. (01269) 592441
97 www.esta-uk.org