The value of field studies in earth and environmental sciences: A review

Field studies are defined here as any study of the natural world that occurs beyond classrooms. There is rising concern for the future of field studies in Earth and Environmental Sciences in Higher Education, despite being core to environmental inquiry, as cost-cutting across the sector was intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper reviews the value of fieldwork and provides an overview of its benefits. We show that field studies improve student academic performance, cognition, critical thinking, practical skills, inquiry, and writing skills. Fieldwork accelerates personal development, leads to greater student engagement, and develops confidence and resilience. Students prefer institutions that have more fieldwork opportunities, and this is reflected in higher enrollment and retention rates. Field trips at the undergraduate level transform students into scholars, and the practical skills and experience acquired on field trips are vocational competencies sought out by industry, thereby increasing graduate employability. Courses that incorporate field studies deliver a range of measurable outcomes that elevate student abilities proportionally to the level of immersion in the field. We demonstrate that courses that incorporate field studies are prized by industry, students, and educators alike, and should be recognized as an essential part of higher education courses.