| Unit name | Literature Review, Research Proposal and Data Analysis Project for MSci Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CHEMM0023 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Chris Russell |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
CHEM30019, CHEM30011, CHEM30005, CHEM30006, CHEM30018 or CHEM30001/2/3 |
| Co-requisites |
CHEMM0012 |
| School/department | School of Chemistry |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Project work allows students to experience and learn from the challenge of performing an open-ended activity. Students not only become expert in a particular topic, but also develop a broad range of transferable key skills. By working with a member of academic staff on a current research topic in chemistry, students will consolidate and extend their knowledge and understanding of chemistry. In addition, the project will allow them to develop important transferable skills, becoming independent learners with excellent written and oral presentation skills, proficient in the use of IT and good at working both on their own and as part of a team. The unit will thus offer students suitable research training to allow them to pursue either a postgraduate research degree or enter directly a career in research. Project work will be substantial and involve independent and original research. The expectation is that the work should be of potentially publishable quality, although it is recognised that the nature of research means that this will not necessarily be possible.
The project will consist of three components: a substantial review of the research literature in an area agreed with a project supervisor, the development of a proposal for new research project, normally aligned with the topic of the literature review and supported by the project supervisor, and a data-mining group project to address a novel research question set by a subject expert.
Support for all project elements will be provided by experts in the area, along with a second assessor for the literature project. The unit will be assessed through a literature review, a short project proposal and a communication-style report on data-mining results, as well as presentations and a panel interview.
By performing these open-ended investigations, students will:
Subject-specific learning outcomes The unit will enable students to
Generic learning outcomes The unit will also help students to develop transferable skills in
Students will work with members of staff. Students will identify in advance several preferred project topics and supervisors. Academic performance will then be used to determine the final allocation to ensure an even distribution of students across academic staff. Students will be expected to work semi-independently under the direction of an expert in each area, using their initiative to develop the project. Students may also be expected to attend seminars and group meetings. Project work will be supported by regular formal and informal meetings with a project supervisor and a second assessor for the literature work, and with a subject specialist for the database used in data-mining.
Summative assessment:
The literature review will usually be between 20 and 30 pages in length and resemble those published in journals such as Chemical Society Reviews (RSC) and Chemical Reviews (ACS). Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of the material presented, their initiative in developing the review focus and the style and quality of writing. A presentation on the literature topic will be delivered as a short screen cast and assessed for the quality of visual aids and the quality of delivery.
The research proposal will be presented in the style of an EPSRC standard mode case for support (6 pages) and students will be assessed on the clarity of the ideas conveyed, whether the project planning is realistic and the relevance of beneficiaries and impacts identified. In additions, students will be interviewed by a panel of academics and their peers and their performance will be assessed for style and clarity of explanations.
The data-mining results will be presented as a communication of no more than 4 pages and a poster/inforgraphic, and students will be assessed based on their technical skills, as well as the quality of presentation, their diligence, motivation, and organisational skills. All elements of the project work will be assessed by two academic staff through the application of detailed marking criteria.
Supplementary or resit assessment of this unit is only possible through engagement in the following academic year.
Key reading and references will depend upon the topic chosen. Students will be expected to make extensive use of online and library resources available to them, including text books, reports and theses and research journals.
