Last modified: 08 Sep 2025 15:46
In SE Sulawesi, Indonesia, students experience tropical marine ecology at the centre of the coral triangle.
This residential course, at a well-equipped Operation Wallacea site, provides a safe, supported experience in tropical reef surveying and identifying reef organisms.
Completion of PADI open water diving or snorkelling training on site allows students to successfully and confidently engage with daily dives.
Lectures and tutorials complement the field work to ensure students gain an in-depth understanding of tropical reef ecology as well as reef restoration and conservation efforts.
By completing the assessments, students gain the capacity for detailed observation, recording, investigation, and critical reflection.
Cost: £2075 + flights to Jakarta (ca. £600-700)
Dates: 27th March - 10th April 2026 (tbc)
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
This is a field course focussing on tropical marine biology, based at the Operation Wallacea (OpWall) Marine research site near Bau Bau on Buton island, SE Sulawesi (Indonesia). The site is situated in the centre of the Coral Triangle, which is regarded as having the most biologically diverse reefs in the world, and offers access to a variety of suitably sheltered sites for diving or snorkelling.
OpWall’s SE Sulawesi base provides a dive base as well as accommodation and classrooms for lectures and seminars.
Over the years, the marine research teams working here have been involved in a range of projects including stereo video fish surveys, 3D reef modelling, coral restoration monitoring, fish and invertebrate adaptations to climate change, coral and invertebrate belt transects, fish behaviour studies, sponge diversity and mangrove studies.
Details of the course content may be affected by the weather, but it is expected that, having completed their dive theory exam before departure, the course will start with students completing either a PADI Open Water dive training course or snorkel training. Students who are already certified divers will have the opportunity for two dives a day at varying dive sites while training takes place. This will be followed by an introduction to the ecology of Sulawesi reefs and training in relevant reef survey techniques used by marine science teams that work here each year. During their twice daily dives/ snorkels with a tutor as well as a series of lectures, students will also gain field experience in the identification of corals, invertebrates and fish. Students will also be introduced to various reef regeneration efforts.
Upon completion of the ecology and reef survey techniques training, students will be required to complete a species identification assessment. Applying the taxonomic, ecological and technical knowledge gained, students will subsequently carry out their own mini-research projects in small groups and present their findings to their peers at the end of the field course. Students will also be required to keep a field diary for the duration of the field course. All three components will contribute to the field course assessment.
Gaining knowledge and experience in the diversity, functioning and conservation of a contrasting tropical marine environment will significantly increase student employability.
Experiencing firsthand the threats faced by coral reefs from climate change and other anthropogenic impacts, as well as the benefits and challenges of (sustainable levels of) tourism, will increase awareness of sustainability issues and allow reflection on modern day colonialism via the potential domination of the tourist economy by companies from the global north. It will also allow to investigate whether scientific research and education there are genuinely collaborative with locals.
Should the course be overprescribed, places will be allocated following a prioritization process to be determined.
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Field trip cost. Students will also need to pay for flights to Jakarta (approx. £600-700) | 2075.0000 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 35 | Feedback Weeks | 35 | |
| Feedback |
Questions will have a variable number of marks depending on the detail it is reasonable to ask for a given specimen. Feedback on species ID test and grading will be carried out at Utila. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | Develop skills in identifying coral, invertebrate and fish species with sufficient proficiency to carry out basic reef surveys independently. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 36 | Feedback Weeks | 36 | |
| Feedback |
Students will produce a well-illustrated, properly written-up account of their practical exercises in the form of a laboratory notebook. The notebook should be written up on a daily basis. Individual written feedback will be provided to each student. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Evaluate | Develop biological recording skills by maintaining a field notebook to document observations, procedures, data and supporting information, and evidence reflection, assimilation and interpretation |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 36 | Feedback Weeks | 36 | |
| Feedback |
Students will spend two field days working in small groups (3-4 students) on a chosen practical project; these projects and their results will be presented to the course in a 15min presentation on the last day of the course. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Demonstrate a capacity to analyse and evaluate information through the completion of a project and presentation of that project to the group |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Resit will involve a resubmission of any failed component. Species ID test as timed MyAberdeen test after return to Aberdeen; resit of project: poster presentation, infographic or report (1000-1500 words). |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Evaluate | Develop biological recording skills by maintaining a field notebook to document observations, procedures, data and supporting information, and evidence reflection, assimilation and interpretation |
| Procedural | Apply | Develop skills in identifying coral, invertebrate and fish species with sufficient proficiency to carry out basic reef surveys independently. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Demonstrate a capacity to analyse and evaluate information through the completion of a project and presentation of that project to the group |
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