Ocean and Earth Science Research Training

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Manage your time effectively
• Perform robust scientific data analysis
• Assess the wider significance of these results, including any commercial applications and present preliminary results orally.
• Produce accurate, effective scientific reports
• Work effectively in teams and individually to analyse and interpret new scientific results.
• Develop personal effectiveness and professional skills
• Confidently work as part of a research team
• Produce a thorough but concise scientific report describing the background, hypothesis being tested, aims/objectives of study, methodology, results, discussion of results and conclusions made from the data provided.
• Plan, cost and produce a proposal for a research project to be carried out in year 4.
• Develop project management skills
• Effectively manage time pressures of research, identify the symptoms of stress and have a tested strategy to deal this, negotiate effectively with peers and supervisors, be able to provide constructive feedback to peers and supervisors.
• Critically review and analyse research literature in a new area of science.

Seminars and workshops will be held to cover material including report writing, time management, project management, presentation skills, hypothesis testing, experimental design, assessment of data quality and advanced statistical methods.

A project proposal is produced, based on either their final year project or a hypothetical project aimed to address a specific knowledge gap. Students are encouraged to finalise their choice of Year 4 Advanced Independent Research Project through discussions with prospective supervisors, preparing a fully justified proposal for the project work.

Students will work in groups of up to 6 to analyse existing datasets under the guidance of a tutor. Students will make a group presentation to the class on project progress. The results from this work will be presented as a 5000 word individual report.

Tutorial Support: Meetings with group project team tutor.

Project Support: Meetings with level 4 project supervisor where appropriate.

Seminars/workshops: will cover relevant material in scientific methods, science communication, time management and other professional skills.

Presentations: Students will make an oral presentation of their work.

A wide range of support can be provided for those students who have further or specific learning and teaching needs.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Group presentation

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Peer feedback via Microsoft Forms Instructor feedback
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: Yes

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.