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ESC-40004 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

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

ESC-40004 - Research Project
Coordinator: Stuart Egan Room: WSF29 Tel: +44 1782 7 33174
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
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

There are no prerequisites for this module.

Barred Combinations

Not applicable.

Description for 2023/24

This module is one of three belonging to the Year 4/Level 7 MGeology research project, it focuses on the actual research component of the project as opposed to the presentational aspects. At the end of Year 3/beginning of Year 4, each student selects a project title, in consultation with the module coordinator and appropriate staff. A project proposal will be prepared which will include a working title, project aims and objectives, a summary of fieldwork, data and/or equipment requirements, a project plan and risk assessment.
The content of the module relies upon a combination of one-to-one meetings with the project supervisor as well as independent research. Depending on the nature of the project selected, the student may also receive instruction from other research group members and support staff on the use of specialist equipment and/or analysis techniques.

Aims
To build upon subject-specific and practical skills that have been developed in previous years of the course to carry out an independent research investigation within an area of geoscience.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/esc-40004/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

apply subject-specific knowledge at the forefront of the discipline, as well as laboratory, field, and computational skills, to carry out the collection, interpretation and analysis of primary data.: 1,2,3
apply time and project management skills to successfully complete a piece of independent research at the forefront of the discipline within a prescribed time limit: 1,2,3
demonstrate comprehensive understanding of research techniques in the context of the project as well as showing originality in the application of knowledge to the execution of the project: 1,2,3

Study hours

- 24 hours: meetings with project supervisor
- 126 hours independent research

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Project weighted 15%
PROJECT PLAN
Project plan and progress report of 750 words length to include working title, aims and objectives, data and equipment requirements, progress to date (including examples of results) and time-table for remaining items.

2: Report weighted 15%
PROGRESS REPORT
Report of 750-words length providing an overview of progress to date, including examples of results. In addition, the report should describe any changes from original plan and include a timetable for remaining items to be completed.

3: Research Design weighted 70%
Research planning, execution and originality
Project portfolio equivalent to 3000-words consisting of a reflective diary of project progress, a record of meetings with project supervisor and record of primary data acquired (e.g. field notebook) and/or preliminary results.

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