What course did you participate in?
I participated in the Field course of Solid Earth Geophysics, which was organized in co-operation with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and is mandatory for those who would like to specialize in Geophysics. This field trip was the first part of the course (intensive period of one week) and was carried out at the Metsienmäki nickel-copper prospect about 20 km from the Municipality of Lammi.
What did you do on the course?
Since we were accommodated at the Lammi Biological Station, we had short lectures to review the theoretical background about the geophysical method we were going to apply that day before going to the field.
In the field, I learned how to use various equipment and take field measurements using different geophysical methods (gravity, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, and seismic), and obtained data to be later analyzed and interpreted in the second part of the course.
What did you think about the course?
The course, overall, was a nice and valuable experience. Not only because I had the opportunity to use the various equipment employed to acquire information through different geophysical methods, with the instruction from the University of Helsinki and the GTK experts, but also because of the organization of the course, the lectures and the planification of the field work, which was fundamental to achieve the objective of each day.
The Lammi Biological Station, the place where we stayed, surprised me. It is a well-equipped facility where there are classrooms, kitchen, dormitories, among others. Since the site of study is about 20 km from the station, it was convenient to count with a place where we could have breakfast and receive classes in the early morning and come back for dinner after working in the field. Without mentioning that they also provide us with food we could enjoy while we were in the field.
Who would you recommend this course to?
I would recommend this course to anyone interested in Geology or Geophysics. It is a great opportunity not only to put the theory into practice with the help from various experts, but also to experience the dynamics of a well-organized field course.
Text: Elisa Muñoz