Independent Project in Palaeobiology

EART39000 Independent Project in Palaeobiology 30 Full year Undergraduate Level 6 Russell Garwood Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 15.0 Students are given the opportunity to undertake a substantial independent research on a topic in earth and planetary sciences, in an area of interest to the student related to their chosen pathway, under the supervision of a member of staff. The students will acquire and interpret datasets, using them to address an earth and planetary sciences problem/research question and produce a scientific report, similar in style to an academic paper.  Students are given the opportunity to undertake a substantial independent research on a topic in earth and planetary sciences, in an area of interest to the student related to their chosen pathway, under the supervision of a member of staff. The students will acquire and interpret datasets, using them to address an earth and planetary sciences problem/research question and produce a scientific report, similar in style to an academic paper.  The aim of this course is to give the student the opportunity to undertake a substantial independent research project within the field of earth and planetary sciences on their chosen pathway and produce a report based on this work.  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" rowspan="1" style="width:63px;height:58px;">On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:</td> <td style="width:72px;height:58px;">Developed</td> <td style="width:66px;height:58px;">Assessed</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:58px;"> ILO 1</td> <td style="width:418px;height:58px;">Identify a valid research question</td> <td style="width:72px;height:58px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:58px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:66px;"> ILO 2</td> <td style="width:418px;height:66px;">Design an investigation and manage it as a project</td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:75px;">ILO 3</td> <td style="width:418px;height:75px;">Review relevant literature related to a specific topic in earth and planetary sciences</td> <td style="width:72px;height:75px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:75px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:75px;">ILO 4</td> <td style="width:418px;height:75px;">Define gaps in the knowledge related to a specific topic in earth and planetary sciences</td> <td style="width:72px;height:75px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:75px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:75px;"> ILO 5</td> <td style="width:418px;height:75px;">Record, analyse and synthesise data collected</td> <td style="width:72px;height:75px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:75px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:65px;"> ILO 6</td> <td style="width:418px;height:65px;">Assemble a scientific report to clearly and concisely report the outcomes/findings of the project</td> <td style="width:72px;height:65px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:65px;"> x</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  <ul> <li>Early in 1st semester, a one-to-one session with project supervisor to discuss project planning, and to outline any preparations for data collection that are needed</li> <li>Data collection and analysis across both semesters [data collection should be completed well before Easter]</li> <li>Across both semesters, one-on-one sessions with project supervisor to discuss data analysis, interpretation and presentation</li> <li>End of April submission of project report</li></ul>  The project is conducted independently by the student, but with supervisory assistance. It is essential that students meet their project supervisor early in the 1st semester of Year 3 to plan the data collection, discuss what needs to be done before gaining access to the facilities/data, and to consider when that access is best arranged. If lab facilities are required actual booking of data collection sessions should be done through the supervisor, and in most projects the supervisor will be present at these sessions and supervise risk assessment/training, if required. It is important to allow for delays of access (caused by, e.g., the needs of other users, equipment failures, the requirement for induction etc). The main project guidance during Year 3 should come in one-on-one meetings with the project supervisor. They will advise on data analysis, interpretation, and presentation matters. In recognition of the fact that this is an independent project, the number of supervisory meetings is restricted to not more than 20 hours in addition to any required data collection sessions. Supervisors will provide verbal formative feedback (limited to providing comments on only ~10% of the text, nominally 600-800 words; ~2 pages),as general guidance on the writing of the assessed report, to be consistent with the rationale that the report reflects the students’ own work. Note that the onus is on the student to arrange timely discussion meetings with their supervisor, and to self-manage their progress throughout the project.  2 Written assignment (inc essay) 80% 3 Report 20% <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:93px;height:53px;">Assessment type</td> <td style="width:75px;height:53px;">Weighting within unit%</td> <td style="width:85px;height:53px;">Hand out and hand in dates</td> <td style="width:114px;height:53px;">Length</td> <td style="width:227px;height:53px;">How, when and what feedback is provided</td> <td style="width:47px;height:53px;">ILOteste d</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:93px;height:34px;">Report (invidual)</td> <td style="width:75px;height:34px;">80</td> <td style="width:85px;height:34px;">End of April</td> <td style="width:114px;height:34px;">Between 5500 and 8000 words depending on the number of figures (10 max; each figure is worth 250 words)</td> <td style="width:227px;height:34px;">Students should arrange regular one-to-one meetings with their project supervisor to discuss progress. Students may get general comments on an early drfat of their dissertation ( or a part of their dissertation) if it is submitted well before the final deadline. </td> <td style="width:47px;height:34px;">1, 2,5 & 6</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:93px;height:16px;">Report (individual; lit review)</td> <td style="width:75px;height:16px;">20</td> <td style="width:85px;height:16px;">Middle of December</td> <td style="width:114px;height:16px;">3000-3500 words</td> <td style="width:227px;height:16px;">Oral/written feedback will be given at the start of semester 2</td> <td style="width:47px;height:16px;">1 & 2</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Palae) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Yr Abroad (Pala) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Paleo) with Res Third Year Mandatory 0 0 300 <ol> <li> STUDY HOURS</li></ol><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="2" style="width:64px;height:26px;"> Contact time</td> <td style="width:496px;height:26px;"> Supervisor meetings (one-on-one)</td> <td style="width:59px;height:26px;"> 20 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:496px;height:45px;"> Data collection and explanation of data analysis procedures</td> <td style="width:59px;height:45px;"> 20-50hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" style="width:64px;height:26px;"> Independent study</td> <td style="width:496px;height:26px;"> Background reading</td> <td style="width:59px;height:26px;"> 50 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:496px;height:66px;">  Analysis of data and collection/analysis of other data required to address the research question</td> <td style="width:59px;height:66px;">  120-150 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" style="width:64px;height:26px;"> Assessment</td> <td style="width:496px;height:26px;"> Dissertation write-up</td> <td style="width:59px;height:26px;"> 60 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:496px;height:66px;">  </td> <td style="width:59px;height:66px;">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:26px;"> Total</td> <td style="width:496px;height:26px;">  </td> <td style="width:59px;height:26px;"> 300 hr</td> </tr> </tbody></table>