NES1503 : Introduction to Marine Sciences
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Professor Sam Wilson
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Gary Caldwell
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
NES1503 Introduction to Ocean Sciences aims to:
- provide a multidisciplinary introduction to oceanography,
- introduce students to the fundamental physical (ocean basins, density, circulation), chemistry (seawater properties, carbon cycle), and biological (biomass, food webs, microorganisms) of the oceans
- introduce the key interactions between environmental factors and marine life, which determine the distribution of primary production on global scales, and
- outline the role of the oceans in the Earth system and the possible impacts of global change on marine ecosystems.
Outline Of Syllabus
The Introduction to Ocean Sciences will cover the following content, using a diverse range of teaching methods, including lectures, laboratory practicals, workshops and online activities:
1. Global hydrological cycle
2. Ocean circulation and vertical water column
3. Seawater composition and nutrient chemistry
4. Dissolved gases
5. The ocean as an ecological habitat
6. Phytoplankton trophic ecology
7. Algal blooms
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Digital examination |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | completion of formative end-of-theme exercises and self assessment against indicative answers online |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Lectures including dedicated end of term revision lecture |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 18:00 | 18:00 | Preparation and completion of coursework (summative). |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 133:00 | 133:00 | Follow-up of lecture material, wider reading and supplementary materials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Practical to analyse fieldwork samples |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | Four computer workshops relevant to Biological, Chemical and Physical Oceanography, and the fieldwork day |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 1 | 6:00 | 6:00 | Half-day boat practical teaching water-column sampling and surveying skills |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lecture materials are designed to give students a broad factual knowledge of key oceanographic processes. The interaction between marine organisms and seawater will be covered to show students how the chemical and physical properties are important in controlling the patterns in marine primary production. The use of new technologies for ocean observation will be embedded in lecture material.
End-of-theme formative study exercises will allow students to deepen their understanding of key concepts introduced in the lectures by applying those key concepts to study problems.
Interactive computer workshops will provide students with opportunities to apply key concepts introduced in lectures, develop coding, visualisation and data analysis skills, interpret oceanographic data, and illustrate and explore taught material.
Laboratory practicals will allow students to develop expertise in a range of fundamental skills, including the use of scientific equipment, and collecting, interpreting and presenting scientific information.
Practicals and computer workshops will be supported by guided independent study via online material for preparation and data analysis.
Directed research, supported by supplementary online material and activities, and wider reading of the scientific literature will support the information received through lectures. Independent study will be guided through the use of these materials and access to key texts, library resources and online materials. Students will be encouraged to become more independent in their learning to develop key skills such as Active Learning, Goal Setting and Action Planning, Decision Making, and Initiative, which they will require at Levels 5 and 6.
Preparation and completion of formative and summative coursework assessments, and further support via a dedicated revision lecture, will allow students to fully prepare for the end of term digital examination.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 50 | In-person invigilated digital exam (Inspera) |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1 | M | 50 | 1500 word (or equivalent) portfolio, consisting of reports from four computer workshop activities |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The formative and summative coursework submissions will assess the students’ knowledge of fundamental physical and chemical properties and processes in the marine environment, and their importance for controlling the distribution of marine primary production (PC1). In addition, the students’ ability to obtain, visualise and analyse data, and present information in an appropriate scientific format will be examined (PC4).
The digital exam will assess the level of knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the module, including that from additional online resources and student wider reading (PC1).
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES1503's Timetable