Unit information: Research Project (Advanced Composites) in 2019/20

Unit name	Research Project (Advanced Composites)
Unit code	AENGM0007
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Hamerton
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Research Project Preparation (Advanced Composites)
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

The aim of the Research Project is to provide the student with the necessary skills to perform a critical and in-depth literature review, a research plan, and conduct novel research; these skills will be employed in the PhD phase (years 2-4). The report should present the state-of-the-art in the student’s chosen project field; comparing and contrasting results and methodology used in the referenced technical papers. The report should also contain recommendations and a plan for the full PhD project stage, to demonstrate the student’s ability to plan effectively. Each project is carried out under the supervision of at least two members of staff. Importance is given to the planning of the work programme, the setting and achievement of objectives, the presentation of the results of the work and a work plan for the PhD phase.

Projects will be selected and allocated during Teaching Block 1; students will be given a catalogue of proposals from which to make a selection. Projects represent both academic and industrial collaborations and are supervised by at least two academic supervisors (at least one must be a core member of Bristol Composites Institute (ACCIS) staff). The precise content of a project will vary between individual students and supervisors. However, the work to be performed will, in general, not be repeating known work or techniques, other than for comparing and contrasting different methods. In this way the student will be encountering new challenges and is encouraged to seek and propose his or her own solutions to these challenges and hence demonstrate individual research ability.

Students will complete a literature review in the field on their proposed research topic within the Preparation for Research Project Unit, which will be assessed formatively in the same unit. The summative feedback for the activity in TB2, is provided by the proposed project supervisor(s). The empirical project commences directly after the summer exams in June and the final submission of the report will take place in September. Following the successful completion of the standalone Research Project unit, the student may opt to continue with topic to the PhD phase or as the opportunity to change their project path at the end of the short project

Aims of the unit:

• To provide the opportunity for an original piece of research work of engineering relevance at Master’s level.
• To develop project management skills.
• To develop communication skills, reasoning skills, originality and creativity in problem solving.
• Students are also expected to maintain a high standard of record keeping and management of information through an individual logbook.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit students will be able to:

1. undertake an original research activity;
2. plan and prepare a concise, written technical report in the format of a journal paper;
3. deliver an oral presentation on the technical subject, including responding to questions and tailoring technical and specialist knowledge and information to a broader audience;
4. adopt a high standard of record keeping and management of information.

Teaching Information

Ongoing project supervision provided by project supervisor(s).

Assessment Information

Formative Assessments:

• Report Outline (including a brief literature review and project plan) - Submitted to Unit director only and employed as a feedback mechanism to ensure students are on-track for report submission (ILO 1 and 2).

• Logbook: submitted as evidence of student working practices and information management – best practice feedback reviewed by supervisor throughout project and CDT staff after project completion (ILO 1 and 4).

Summative Assessments:

• 80% - Report: 15 x A4 printed pages, including references, 1.5 space, Times font 11, in the format of an appropriate journal paper and comprising the literature review (ILO 1, ILO 2, ILO 4).
• 20% - Presentation: delivered to mixed audience of academics and the CDT cohort (ILO1, ILO 3).

Reading and References

Students will search the literature for appropriate reference sources depending on their individual choice of project and discuss these periodically in face-to-face meetings with their chosen project supervisor(s), who will supply/advise on additional references.