ANTA101:

Antarctica
Course Handout 2021
0.125 EFTS 15 points
Semester SU2 15 November – 23 December 2021

Overview
Nau mai ki ANTA101 – welcome! This introductory course explores the Antarctic continent and the Southern
Ocean. It aims to develop an understanding of the relevance of the polar regions to current issues such as
climate change, environmental management, and living resource conservation and protection. The course will
be delivered entirely online through LEARN, which will give you some flexibility as to when you view the lec-
tures.

Please read this handout carefully as it will help to ensure that you succeed in the course. It contains basic
information about how the course is structured, taught and assessed, what you are expected to do, and when
you need to do it (see summary in Table 1). If you have any problems or difficulties in the course, see your
ANTA101 course coordinator, Assoc. Prof. Daniela Liggett (email: [email protected]).

ANTA101 is one of four optional introductory courses for Antarctic Studies at 100- and 200-level which can be
incorporated into a range of degrees as a good addition. These courses aim to enhance the understanding of
Antarctica in the context of global environment and provide a good insight into Antarctic-related research and
study methods. The level coordinator for ANTA100/200 is Associate Professor Wolfgang Rack (email: wolf-
[email protected]).

Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of ANTA101, you should:
• broadly understand the physical characteristics and ecological peculiarities of Antarctica;
• understand and assess human interactions with Antarctica;
• identify and analyse the political and legal framework for Antarctic governance;
• question how Antarctic biodiversity and the physical environment is responding to change; and
• present critical arguments on potential future developments in Antarctica, or effecting Antarctica,
including climate change.

Course requirements
You must complete all of the course requirements to be eligible to pass. That is, to be eligible to be credited
with a pass in ANTA101, you must meet the following course requirements:

• participate satisfactorily in the online debate;

• complete satisfactorily all online quizzes; and
• pass a final essay assignment.
Workload, including reading
You are expected to spend about 20 hours of your working week on this course. These hours should be
planned as follows:
● 4 hours lecture hours;
● 1 contact hour via an online Q&A session; and
● 15+ hours self-directed time for readings, online quizzes, working on assignments, preparing for lec-
tures, and reviewing notes.

You are expected to read and analyse specific chapters of this year’s course text:
Liggett, D., B. Storey, Y. Cook and V. Meduna (2015). Exploring the last continent: an
introduction to Antarctica. Cham, Switzerland, Springer International Publishing.

This text is available in the UC central library, at the UBS bookshop, and can be purchased as an e-book online
from: https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319189468#.

Additional readings will be made available on the course LEARN pages (i.e., online). You are expected to read
any set reading(s) for the lecture each week – each lecturer will let you know when best to do this (before or
after the lecture) in class or via LEARN/email.

You are also expected to consult the library electronic databases widely (e.g., Scopus or Web of Science) for
journal articles and other literature for course assignments. Please do not simply rely on Google or Google
Scholar searches for research materials (to find out why, do a web search to find out about your ‘filter bub-
ble’).

Course structure and delivery

ANTA101 is structured into weekly blocks (Table 1), each with associated lectures, feedback/help sessions, and assess-
ment items. Each week is made up of four topical lectures, and any questions arising from the lectures can be ad-
dressed in weekly Q&A sessions, which will be live-streamed and also recorded.

This course is a distance course, which means lectures have all been pre-recorded online. You are expected to familiar-
ise yourself with the LEARN software, our web-based course support system (see assistance information on last page of
this handout) as this is how you submit assignments, check grades, view lectures, and obtain feedback/help session in-
formation. It is essential that you log in and start working with the course LEARN pages
(https://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/course/view.php?id=11265&section=0) from the first week of teaching onwards.

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Table 1. ANTA101 Course Timetable

Week Lectures Q&A sessions Assessment

Antarctica, the coldest continent – pt. 1

Antarctica, the coldest continent – pt. 2 (AM)
(AM)
Weather and climate terms; surface tem- Temperature and solar radiation; temperature
perature; temperature and altitude in the satellite era; climate projections Online Q&A ses-
1
sion
Quiz
Antarctica, the windiest continent (AM) Clouds in the Southern Ocean (AM)
Measuring atmospheric winds; Coriolis Defining the problem; Limitations of satellite
force; katabatic winds; barrier winds observations; ship-borne observations
Glaciology: Global cryosphere (WR) The Antarctic cryosphere (WR)
What is the cryosphere? Climate indicators; Components; sea ice and mass balance; ice dy-
ice types namics Online Q&A ses-
2
sion
Quiz
Climate change and sea level - pt. 1 (WR) Climate change and sea level - pt. 2 (WR)
Field & satellite measurements; key issues; Current sea level rise; marine sheet instability;
future changes warming and emission scenarios
Antarctic technology (AM & RL) UC Antarctic research (various)
Augmented reality; the snow web; UAV and Five students from different subject areas talk
snow radar in Antarctica about their PhD research
Online Q&A ses-
3 Antarctic biology: Penguin populations sion
Quiz
Emperor penguins and climate change (MLR)
(MLR)
Demystifying Emperors in times of climate
Seasonal behaviour of Emperors and Adelies
change
Weddell Seals (MLR) Antarctic conservation (MLR)
Online de-
Significance of CCAMLR; Southern Ocean man-
Citizen science and remote sensing bate
agement; conservation biology Online Q&A ses-
4
Antarctic history (UR) Antarctic Futures (BF) sion

Revealing Antarctic history through place Why are we concerned about futures? What Quiz
names kind of Antarctic futures can we envision?
Antarctic governance (AH) Antarctic environmental governance (DL)
What is Antarctica? What is the ATS? What
A more in-depth look at environmental gov-
is the CEP? How is waste managed in Ant-
ernance in the Antarctic
arctica? Online Q&A ses-
5
sion
Quiz
The Antarctic mind (AH) Gendering Antarctica (AH)
Introduction to polar psychology; who gets
HIStory and HERstory; case study of women at
to go to the ice, and how are they selected
Scott Base; #MeToo on the ice?
and trained?
Antarctic tourism - pt 1 (DL) Antarctic tourism - pt 2 (DL)
Introduction to Antarctic tourism and cur- What is the impact of Antarctic tourism? How
rent developments is Antarctic tourism being managed?
Online Q&A ses-
6 Antarctic science-policy interface (NG) Christchurch Antarctic community (various) sion
Essay
How does Antarctic research influence Ant-
Antarctic Heritage Trust, Canterbury Museum,
arctic policy? What science-policy pathways
NZ Antarctic Society (Canterbury branch) et al.
exist?

Lecturers:
AH – Dr Andrea Herbert; AM – Prof Adrian McDonald; BF – Dr Bob Frame; DL – Dr Daniela Liggett; ML – Dr
Michelle LaRue; NG – Dr Neil Gilbert; NaG – Natasha Gardiner; RL – Prof. Rob Lindeman; UR – Dr Ursula Rack;
WR – Assoc Prof Wolfgang Rack
Assessment
Make sure that you fulfil the course requirements (see earlier) – if you do not complete these, you cannot
pass the course, irrespective of your total average mark. Assessment is spread over both terms and requires
you to start working from the first week. Formal assessment for the course is as follows:
• 50% online quizzes;
• 25% essay, and
• 25% online debate

See Table 2 for this year’s internal assessment due dates.

Table 2. ANTA101 course assessments

Assessment item % Due date
Quiz 1 10 Week 1 (Sunday, 21 November before midnight*)
Quiz 2 10 Week 2 (Sunday, 28 November before midnight*)
Quiz 3 10 Week 3 (Sunday, 5 December before midnight*)
Quiz 4 10 Week 4 (Sunday, 12 December before midnight*)
Quiz 5 10 Week 5 (Sunday, 19 December before midnight*)
Online debate 25 A meaningful contribution (as outlined in the guidelines for the online
debate) during Week 4 (6–12 December)
Essay 25 Week 6 (Thursday, 23 December before midnight*)
Total 100
* All times refer to New Zealand Standard Time (NZST)

You will be given separate guidelines for the essay assignment set during this course, including practical guid-
ance on how to go about researching your topic and writing it up. In addition, you should consult the UC Aca-
demic Skills Centre online essay writing webpage: http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/support/asc/services/re-
sources/. Also, see the library search and skills workshop links: http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/library/ and
http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/support/asc/services/workshops/. For exams, see: http://www.canter-
bury.ac.nz/library/search-our-collections/exam-papers/.

The ANTA101 final essay, a literature review, must be submitted in the form of a Microsoft Word file, online
via LEARN (which processes assignments through the copying checking software programme Turnitin). Please
follow the electronic submission guidelines online carefully as allowances are generally not made for failed
submissions. Also, consider computer network failures – do not plan on submitting your assignment at the
last minute. You may wish to submit written assignments early to take advantage of the Turnitin option for an
initial originality report, polishing your work and resubmitting it by the due date. Note that Turnitin may re-
quire up to 24 hours to provide an originality report, so submit a few days before your due date to allow time
for the report to be generated, for you to make any changes and to resubmit your final polished version.

Assessments are marked by a combination of Senior Teaching Assistants (STAs) and lecturers using the stand-
ard grading system detailed in the UC SEE Undergraduate Handbook. Marks are given for content, under-
standing of the topic, quality of your argument, and your research skills as demonstrated via appropriate use
of relevant, quality (e.g., peer reviewed journal articles) reference material. Your assignment marks also re-
flect the clarity of structure of your work, grammar, spelling and correct use of references as cited in the main
essay body and in ‘References’ at the end. If you feel your work has not been marked fairly, or if you would
like further explanation of the mark, see the Director of Gateway Antarctica, Professor Adrian McDonald, or
the course coordinator, who may arrange for a third party to reassess it.

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Online Q&A sessions
Q&A sessions form an essential part of ANTA101. These sessions take place every Thursday, starting in Week
1, at 3 pm NZST.

The purpose of the Q&A sessions is to provide opportunity to summarise the week’s lectures, explore course
themes in more detail as needed (via questions and comments), and to gain practice in using Antarctic-re-
lated vocabulary and skills. Importantly, the Q&A sessions will also allow you to ask specific content- or pro-
cess-related questions.

Course coordinator’s message

We hope that you enjoy ANTA101 and look forward to getting to know you throughout this course. Please
actively participate in class, despite it being delivered online – ask questions, respond to questions asked by
your lecturers, talk to us about our lecture content or the course, and interact with each other and the course
coordinator in the online debate and Q&A sessions. That way, you will get the most out of the ANTA101 ex-
perience, and we will be able to respond to your areas of interest in our teaching. My virtual door will always
be open, so please drop me a line if you have any questions or simply wish to discuss Antarctic issues with
me. If you prefer to meet in person, this can be arranged, too. Just send me an email.
I wish you all the best for ANTA101 and your other courses.

Ngā mihi,

Assoc Prof Daniela Liggett

[email protected]

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 Undergraduate Course Information
Course resources Course feedback, issues A to B-); work will not be accepted anymore
Most information for Geography/Antarctic Class reps are student representatives who pro- more than 2 weeks after the submission dead-
Studies courses, including handouts and a host vide an important link between classes and line.
of resources, are supplied through LEARN and lecturers by acting as a liaison. Class reps are
via email. You should regularly look at the spe- the first point of contact for help resolving Dishonest and improper practices
cific course LEARN homepage and check your class issues at a low level, helping to avoid Every year several students fail SEE courses due
University email. If you have problems with bigger problems later on. Class reps also pro- to dishonest or improper practices. These in-
your account or web access, contact Mary Bot- vide the UCSA with student views and help clude, but are not limited to, copying other stu-
ting ([email protected]). them keep in touch with issues and concerns. dents’ work, copying or not correctly citing,
We ask for reps at the start of a course – if quoting or referencing web or other sources, pla-
Want your best grades? you are considering the role, note that it giarism, sharing UC login details or assign-
makes for a nice addition to your CV. ments, and bringing notes into a closed-book
We HIGHLY recommend you use the UC Aca-
demic Skills Centre Pokapū Pūkenga Ako exam. Please note that in many courses, as-
(https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/support/asc/se Grading signments are processed through the plagia-
A uniform grading scheme is used in SEE: rism checking tool Turnitin to check for copying
rvices/workshops/, free to all UC students and
within years, with previous years, across pub-
including online resources, short courses, and A+ Exceptional, superb! 90-100%
lished and online literature and information
individual 50-minute or drop-in 5-min appoint- A Excellent 85-89%
ments for help improving assignments. Every sources, and to store work for comparison with
A- Very good 80-84%
student should consider using the Academic future courses.
B+ Good 75-79%
Skills Centre. Note that 50-min appointments fill B Competent 70-74% Students are offered help in 100-level courses
up fast around due dates. B- OK 65-69% to understand what plagiarism and other types
C+ Satisfactory 60-64% of inappropriate academic practice are, and
how to avoid them. You should have taken our
Disability or medical C Pass 55-59%
C- Very marginal pass 50-54% Academic Integrity module by now, but if you
condition? have not done so yet, please let the course co-
D Fail 40-49%
Students with a disability or medical condition ordinator know. You can also find a useful
E Pretty awful! 0-39%
are advised to contact the Disability Support guide on how to avoid plagiarism here:
Service, especially if you intend to participate If you would like further explanation of an as-
http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/library/sup-
in labs or field trips: http://www.canter- sessment mark received, see your marker
port/citations-and-referencing/ . Ultimately it
bury.ac.nz/disability/. first. If you feel that your work has not been is YOUR responsibility to make sure you know
marked fairly, see the course coordinator who
what dishonest academic practices are and to
may have the work reassessed. If there is a
Behaviour avoid them. Do not share electronic copies of in-
problem relating to the course, attempt first
dividual course work with other students – if you
UC promotes a world class learning environment, to resolve it by discussion with your lecturer
do and this work is submitted in part or whole by
where students are free to pursue academic in- (possibly via the class rep). If there is no reso-
another, then you will face consequences, along-
terests in an environment that balances individ- lution, see the course coordinator. Should
ual rights and collective responsibilities. Please there still remain issues, you can approach side the copier of your material. If someone
needs help, provide verbal advice – do not share
familiarise yourself with the UC Student Code of the Head of School, or seek advice from the
your files.
Conduct: https://www.canter- UC Grievance Advisor, or the UCSA.
bury.ac.nz/about/governance/ucpolicy/gen- If your assignment contains problematic mate-
eral/student-code-of-conduct/. rial, you will be invited to meet with the SEE Ac-
Special consideration ademic Integrity Officer and course coordinator
All members of the UC community are bound by For assessment items worth ≥10%, you may ap- to explain. If you choose not to meet, or cannot
the laws of New Zealand. Any actual or suspected ply for special consideration if your perfor-
breach of law will be referred to the appropriate offer acceptable explanation, then you may re-
mance is affected by extenuating circumstances ceive a zero grade or be referred to a UC Proctor
authorities for investigation. UC regards harass- beyond your control (e.g. illness, injury, be-
ment of any kind, whether on or off campus, as for investigation. Your UC grades may be with-
reavement or another critical circumstance). held until the case is resolved. If you are found
unacceptable. UC reserves the right to take ac- Applications are made via https://www.canter- guilty of any kind of dishonest academic prac-
tion to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of bury.ac.nz/study/special-consideration/.
harassment and to prosecute offenders (see the tice, your details will be recorded on the univer-
Harassment Policy via the policy library link sity’s discipline register for 10 years.
https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about/govern-
Extensions and late work Please see for further information:
ance/ucpolicy/). Please note that such behaviour Extensions are given in exceptional circum- Academic Integrity Regulations:
can ultimately result in perpetrators being ex- stances of illness, accident or bereavement https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/regula-
pelled/ trespassed. (not for workload issues) but require applica- tions/general-regulations/academic-integrity-
tion for special consideration. and-breach-of-instruction-regulations/.
The University has several other key policies and
procedures that apply to staff and students, Only course coordinators can give extensions. Academic Integrity Guidance:
available via the UC Policy Library. Major course work (≥10%) handed in late with- https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about/governa
out an extension is subject to the following nce/ucpolicy/general/academic-integrity-
penalties: up to 1 week late = 2-grade penalty guidance-for-staff-and-students/
(e.g., A to B+); 1 to 2 weeks late but before
coursework handback = 4-grade penalty (e.g.,