Unit name | Scientific Communication |
---|---|
Unit code | EASCM0003 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1A (weeks 1 - 6) |
Unit director | Professor. Mader |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
n/a |
Co-requisites |
n/a |
School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
A unit developing skills in oral, written and multimedia scientific communication, so as to present scientific results and hypotheses in the primary scientific literature, in other kinds of review and popular literature, and as talks at conference, in authoritative and convincing presentations utilising the most effective text and illustrations. Cognate themes important for scientific researchers are developed, including scientific ethics, career development, and research planning and funding.
The learning outcomes of this unit are all practical. Such practical skills include the ability to:
Lectures and practicals.
Participants in Scientific Communications include 4th year undergraduate students, taught masters students, and new PhD research students. Assessment is handled differently for each group. New research students are asked to prepare a personal web page, fourth year MSci students will be assessed on aspects of their Research Project preparation and the week 4 quiz, and for taught MSc students the requirements will be set out by the course tutor.
Geowriting, produced by the American Geological Institute, is strongly recommended. We urge students to read this, or one of the many available books on scientific writing methods. Classics like Ernest Gower's 'Plain English' and a decent dictionary will also help.