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CHE-10087 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

CHE-10087 - Chemistry Connections
Coordinator: Martin Hollamby Tel: +44 1782 7 33532
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module spans the breadth of the chemical sciences and complementary disciplines, exploring the chemical basis of human biology and materials science and developing transferable skills in scientific programming and statistics.  Learning activities include focused chemistry case studies and are designed to initiate progress towards Keele's Graduate Attributes with an emphasis on team working, problem-solving and independent research skills, as well as giving you the multi-disciplinary knowledge to place your chemistry studies in a wider scientific and societal context. 

Aims
This module aims to introduce Chemistry students to an extended range of topics across the breadth of chemistry. Students will learn the basics of coding and will research the development of a chosen state-of-the-art material or drug, supported by teaching sessions on the underlying basics of physics and biology. Working in a team, students will plan, execute and disseminate experimental results relating to a specific Chemistry problem.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Work collaboratively to plan, implement and evaluate an experimental project drawing upon information from a range of sources.: 3
Demonstrate competence in the use of standard chemical apparatus, procedures, and instrumentation through their application to the investigation of a chemical problem.: 3
Disseminate the purpose, methodology, and results of an experimental group project in accordance with professional conventions in chemistry via a group oral presentation.: 3
Accurately and appropriately record individual contributions to the planning, implementation, results and data analysis relating to the experimental group project in a contemporary portfolio.: 3
Research and produce a poster on the development of a drug or material chosen from a list of options, drawing upon information from a range of sources. The poster will include the timeline of discovery and answer specific guiding questions.: 2
Describe, explain and use basic coding methods to answer problems related to Chemistry.: 1
Describe, explain and apply the basic principles of physics and/or biology in a Chemistry context.: 2

Study hours

Active Learning:
Supervised group project sessions: 26 hr
Coding PC labs: 24 hr
Other taught content: 18 hr
Independent Study:
Poster sessions: 4 hr
Other independent study, including all coursework preparation and the group presentation: 228 hr

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 40%
Coding exercise
A series of three programming assignments. The first two assignments will involve writing a short computer programme to solve a Chemistry problem, with students expected to spend approximately 6 hours on each. The final assignment will involve writing and evaluating a Python programme to investigate an aspect of Chemistry, with students expected to spend around 26 hours on this. The first two exercises will be worth 15% each with the final one worth 70% of the overall component mark. Equivalent to 3000 words effort.

2: Poster weighted 20%
Poster
A poster presentation that outlines the development of a specific, chosen, drug or material, that shows a clear timeline of discovery, makes clear reference to relevant scientific literature, and answers specific guiding questions. Equivalent to ~1500 words effort.

3: Group Assessment weighted 40%
Group project
An extended small group project with planning, meetings, data/results interpretation/analysis, and reporting via a 15-minute group oral presentation. Each student receives an individual mark, which is comprised from individual and group contributions. Equivalent to ~3000 words effort per student.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. 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/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025