Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To give students the opportunity to undertake a research investigation equivalent to a short scientific research investigation or consultancy project. Projects will involve the need to clearly define aims and objectives that enable the objectives to be met, analyse the data and/or information collected and prepare a report of the investigation which should include a critical review of the relevant literature.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students have the opportunity to carry out a research investigation on a topic of their choice relevant to environmental science. They will work together with a member of academic staff to carry out an investigation equivalent to a short scientific research investigation or consultancy project. Students will select project titles and identify an appropriate supervisor at the end of Semester 2, Stage 3.
During Semesters 1 & 2, students work individually with the support of their supervisors on the projects. However, there are also regular group tutorials to consolidate library and information literacy skills - as well as to discuss the process of project research throughout Semesters 1 and 2.
The thesis is submitted at the end of the Spring Term and oral presentations are given to the whole group in the second week after Easter.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Following completion of their project the student will have a detailed knowledge of a chosen field relevant to environmental science.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Following the Module the student will be able to:
* Plan and organise a research study
* Develop clear aims and objectives
* Carry out a focused and relevant literature review, critically appraise the literature obtained and report it
clearly and concisely
* Design protocols enabling robust literature search and experimental or observation investigation, as
appropriate to the study undertaken
* Collect and analyse primary experimental/observational data and/or secondary data obtained from the
literature, using statistical methods where appropriate
* Present a written report that is clearly structured and shows awareness of the relevant conventions used when
writing for a relevant peer-reviewed journal
* Present an oral report that summarises a large volume of material, identifies the key points and presents
approaches, data and conclusions in a succinct manner understandable to the non-expert.
* Show awareness of study limitations and take a self-critical approach to the appraisal of the study value.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Tutorials early in Semester 1 will consolidate academic library skills, including searching of databases and referencing. Library staff will support this process and attend at least one tutorial to provide guidance to the students. Tutorials continue throughout Semester 1 and 2 to provide a forum for discussion of general project issues.

The majority of the project work is done individually with the support of a member of academic staff as supervisor. Interpersonal skills will be developed during this phase and the students will take responsibility for the development and running of their own project, with support from the supervisor. Meetings with supervisors provide an opportunity to receive guidance and require the student to reflect on progress achieved and to plan the next phase of work.

Seminars at the end of the projects, where students summarise the key elements of their project in an oral presentation, also attended by the Stage 3 students provide students with an opportunity to share ideas and experiences.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students are required to submit a literature review and project progress report. This provides an opportunity for direct feedback on the underpinning literature review, guidance on early sections of the report and evaluation of the work plan for the second semester. The progress reports are marked by the module leader; an overview of the issues raised will be used to allow general learning points to be explored in the project tutorials.

The supervisor provides an assessment of the student's capacity to plan and carry out the project work and then draw together the findings into a coherent academic report. Students will be expected to have demonstrated these capabilities during meetings throughout the project with their supervisor.

The thesis (presented as either a draft scientific paper or consultancy report for a client) is assessed independently by two markers to determine the extent to which the student has
i) clearly defined aims and objectives, with reference to a testable hypothesis where appropriate
ii) designed experiments or surveys that enable the objectives to be met,
iii) analysed and interpreted the data and/or information collected
iv) prepared a report of the investigation which includes evaluation in the light of a critical review of the
relevant literature.
The ability to communicate clearly and unambiguously will be considered.

The oral presentation to other students in the seminar assesses the ability of the students to summarise a large volume of material, identify the key points and present approaches, data and conclusions in a succinct manner understandable to the non-expert. It takes place before the final hand in so peer feedback can be used to inform the discussion /conclusions.

General Notes

N/A