FSC-40009 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

N/A

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2022/23

This module is designed to give an individual all of the required information and skills needed to become an effective researcher within an academic or commercial environment. The content will include how to effectively literature search a new research field, identify gaps within it and how to turn these into a research project. Guidance will be given on how to resource a research project correctly and what personal skills will be required by the researcher. Finally, how to communicate results to a wide variety of audiences will be covered. The assessment for this module is designed to reflect activities that an active researcher will carry out as part of their working life so it will make the transition from study to work that much easier.

This module aims to:
¿Introduce students to a variety of research activities and associated issues (e.g. funding and planning).
¿Enable the student to critically evaluate the need for ethical approval for any given project.
¿Enhance the student's science communication skills in areas such as presenting at conferences, academic writing and presenting to a general audience.
¿Equip students with the skills necessary to develop their personal research skills.
¿Further develop individual understanding and handling of scientific literature relevant to their chosen research area.
¿Enable students to carry out a variety of science communication activities and to select appropriate means for specific audiences.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Promote through the reflective portfolio an integrated approach to theoretical knowledge, understanding and practical implications of the forensic work alongside personal thoughts and experiences.: 2
1
Evaluate the funding environment for research in the UK and how to cost a single person research project: 1
Critically evaluate any project plan for ethical issues based on current guidelines and recommendations: 2
Record and reflect on skills and learning from the research laboratory experience through the VITAE scheme (https://www.vitae.ac.uk/) and thus have developed the reflective qualities on the skills acquired for post-graduate employment.: 1
Evaluate the potential impact of the proposed research and identify any key beneficiaries: 1
Understand how to critically handle the current scientific literature in a given field.: 1
Communicate complex, analytically derived, information to specialised and non-specialised audiences:

Study hours

Module induction - 1hr
Content delivery - 20hrs
Independent Studies - 29hrs
Narrated Poster - 80hrs
Reflective Diary - 20hrs

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment