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ESC-30076 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

ESC-30076 - Frontiers in Applied Geophysics
Coordinator: Stuart Egan Room: WSF29 Tel: +44 1782 7 33174
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733615

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Students will explore the cutting-edge research literature on applied geophysics, critically evaluating these articles in terms of their strengths, weaknesses and significance for both the discipline and society. This module will be based on a combination of practical classes and workshops covering computer aided literature searching, reviewing research manuscripts, web authoring techniques, and writing an article for a popular scientific magazine, as well as independent research. By the end of the module students will have further developed their research skills, have acquired in depth knowledge of applied geophysics topics at the forefront of the discipline, will have acquired the necessary skills to design and produce a web site to a professional standard and will have further developed their scientific communication skills.

Aims
The module aims to encourage students to explore and critically evaluate the cutting-edge research literature on applied geophysics in terms of its strengths and weaknesses as well as its significance for the discipline and society. The module also develops scientific communication skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

extract, evaluate and synthesise information from the current research-based literature on specific topics in applied geophysics using computer-aided literature searching facilities: 2,3
communicate scientific information effectively: 2,3
author a set of self-contained Web pages to provide an overview of a contemporary topic in applied geophysics as well as critically evaluate the importance of the topic to both the discipline and society: 3

Study hours

21 hours scheduled synchronous class activity
10 hours structured engagement with online resources and directed research
35 hours for research and completion of oral presentation.
42 hours for research and completion of literature review
42 hours for revision and completion of web site

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Oral Presentation weighted 30%
Oral presentation on one specific paper in Applied Geophysics at the forefront of the discipline
Oral presentation of 10 minutes duration demonstrating understanding of a "cutting-edge" paper on an applied geophysics topic, including an evaluation of the article in terms of its strengths, weaknesses and significance for the discipline.

2: Short Paper weighted 35%
Article based on a detailed literature review on a specific applied geophysics topic.
Carry out a detailed literature review on a specific applied geophysics topic and present the results from this exercise via an article written for a popular scientific magazine (length = 600-800 words).

3: Website weighted 35%
Web site based on a detailed literature review on a specific applied geophysics topic
Carry out a detailed literature review on a specific applied geophysics topic and present the results from this exercise via a web site. The module will include several practical classes covering web authoring techniques.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024