PASSwrite: Recalibrating student academic literacies development

Concern about student retention and success remains paramount in universities both in Australia and overseas, especially in the light of the ongoing massification of higher education, yet current strategies are not necessarily dealing successfully with the changing demographics of student populations. This is particularly so in the realm of developing student academic literacies. This paper argues strongly for a shift in approaches to the development of academic literacies, adopting current trends in peer learning rather than relying on the deficit model of study skills which is frequently employed at Australian universities. We present an overview of the innovative PASSwrite model, utilising the principles of peer-assisted study sessions (PASS) to create a peer-led informal environment in which students can develop their academic writing abilities in a collaborative, discipline-specific context. We posit that such an environment can better address students’ learning needs across a wide spectrum, from understanding the specific discourse of their discipline and receiving timely feedback on their writing, to developing confidence in their ability to navigate successfully a path through the maze of academia. We provide an outline of a PASSwrite session to demonstrate how this can be achieved, along with the anticipated outcomes. As the project is at an early stage at the time of writing, no firm conclusions can be made, but it is envisaged that these will be presented as the project matures

PASSwrite

PASSwrite is a strategic and sustainable approach to the development of critical and communicative capabilities among students, particularly underprepared and ‘non-traditional’ students (students who are mature age, from LSES backgrounds, or working full time). The project brings together the well-established and effective peer-learning model – Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) – with the best practice model of discipline-based academic literacy to create group learning environments in which students engage in critical reading, writing and dialogue related to concepts, language and conventions in their academic discipline

Porphyry copper enrichment linked to excess aluminium in plagioclase

PublishedPorphyry copper deposits provide around 75%, 50% and 20% of world copper, molybdenum and gold, respectively1. The deposits are mainly centred on calc-alkaline porphyry magmatic systems2, 3 in subduction zone settings1. Although calc-alkaline magmas are relatively common, large porphyry copper deposits are extremely rare and increasingly difficult to discover. Here, we compile existing geochemical data for magmatic plagioclase, a dominant mineral in calc-alkaline rocks, from fertile (porphyry-associated) and barren magmatic systems worldwide, barren examples having no associated porphyry deposit. We show that plagioclase from fertile systems is distinct in containing ‘excess’ aluminium. This signature is clearly demonstrated in a case study carried out on plagioclase from the fertile La Paloma and Los Sulfatos copper porphyry systems in Chile. Further, the presence of concentric zones of high excess aluminium suggests its incorporation as a result of magmatic processes. As excess aluminium has been linked to high melt water contents, the concentric zones may record injections of hydrous fluid or fluid-rich melts into the sub-porphyry magma chamber. We propose that excess aluminium may exclude copper from plagioclase, so enriching the remaining melts. Furthermore, this chemical signature can be used as an exploration indicator for copper porphyry deposits.The project would not have been possible without the financial and logistical support of Anglo American, including former and current staff: J. Coppard, V. Irarrazaval, M. Buchanan, E. Liebmann, R. Mattos Pino, E. Centino, J. Andronico, R. Mauricio, D. Fernando and J. Zamorano. J. Spratt (Natural History Museum, London) and S. Pendray (University of Exeter) are thanked for EPMA support and thin section preparation, respectively. K. Cashman (Bristol University), S. Hesselbo, J. Pickles and S. Broom-Fendley (University of Exeter), and reviewer J. Richards (University of Alberta), are gratefully acknowledged for comments on the manuscript

Meltwater temperature in streams draining Alpine glaciers

Water temperature is of considerable importance with respect to lotic habitats. Water temperature influences physical, chemical and biological conditions within river environments and is, therefore, a key determiner of the health of a river. Climate change is significantly impacting lotic environments, through changes to hydrology, biodiversity and species distribution. Effects of climate change are greatest at high elevation and biota in and around glacier-fed rivers is likely, therefore, to be at great risk. How climate change influences the hydrology will have great impact on river water temperature and glacier-fed rivers in Alpine environments are extremely sensitive to climatic change. This paper assesses five rivers: Four glacier-fed rivers (36.9 - 82% percentage glacierisation) located in the Swiss Alps, and one located in an ice-free catchment in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. The aim was to assess the impact of basin characteristics on river water temperature. A distinct paradoxical relationship was identified whereby water temperature in some glacier-fed rivers was reduced during the time of highest incoming shortwave radiation receipts and high air temperature. Whether a summer cooling effect presented itself in all glacier-fed rivers within this study was researched. The key findings were that the identified summer cooling effect was not present in all rivers, despite percentage glacierisation. Percentage glacier cover has often been reported as they key determiner of water temperature in such rivers. More important was the stream dimensions, notably stream surface area. Understanding the controlling factors that influence water temperature of glacier-fed rivers will help river managers and planners in knowing how climate change will impact fisheries downstream of glaciers over the coming decades. This may allow plans to be introduced to try and mitigate warmer water temperature that will result, in some glacier-fed rivers, as the climate warms

Recent changes to floodplain character and functionality in England

Regime analysis suggests that temperate alluvial watercourses overtop their banks on average once every 1.5 years transferring water and sediment across the valley floor to form floodplains helping maintain a strong hydrological connection between in-channel and overbank form and process. Flooding also causes erosion, sediment transfer and deposition creating a variety of floodplain morphologic units and functional connectivity with the main river. The result is a morphologically and ecologically varied wetland dominated ecotone where diversity is sustained by the action and flooding and shallow groundwater processes. Floodplains are, however, sensitive to disruption and many have been significantly degraded since the Bronze Age as a result of activities that alter flooding and groundwater processes and manage vegetation communities. The current (2015) floodplain condition and trends of change since 1990, for England are presented here using land use data for 1990, 2000, 2007 and 2015. Floodplain system degradation has been found to be both widespread and severe across the whole of the country. The 1990 data set showed that intensive agriculture occupied around 38% of floodplain zones expanding to 53% by 2000 before slowing slightly to covering 62% in 2007. Between 2007 and 2015 the coverage remained relatively static (64%) with some suggestion that arable areas were being transformed to pasture. Wetland areas in the form of fen, marsh, swamp and bog have been devastated with the data sets indicating that these fundamental floodplain units have been all but lost. Upland and lowland areas are both severely impacted with a near ubiquitous loss of natural floodplain functioning. Despite this some 31% of rivers in England are classified as good or better under the European Water Framework Directive classification system calling into question the UK WFD status classification process