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ESC-40023 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

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

ESC-40023 - MGeoscience: Micropalaeontology: Princp and Apps
Coordinator: Michael Montenari Room: WSF10A Tel: +44 1782 7 33162
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

None

Barred Combinations

Not available to those students who have taken module ESC-30025 Micropalaeontology: Principles and Applications

Description for 2023/24

The students are able to demonstrate a systematic and detailed knowledge as well as a critical understanding of micropalaeontological processes. The students develop subject-specific skills in the fields evolutionary palaeobiology, biostratigraphy, palaeoenvironmental analysis, applied micropalaeontology, hydrocarbon maturity analysis, facies interpretation, productivity interpretation. The students are familiar with the physical theories and the application of modern analytical methods, which are at the forefront of the subject, including SEM and EDS techniques.

Aims
The aim of the micropalaeontology module is to provide students with the key theoretical and practical issues of micropalaeontology and furthermore to introduce them to modern analytical facilities and methods (eg Electron Microscopy, EDS).

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/esc-40023/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe in detail and critically evaluate major micro- and
macroevolutionary processes, processes controlling complex interacting palaeo-ecosystems and the palaeobiogeography of major microfossil groups: 1,2
identify and name the major microfossil groups and describe their stratigraphical range: 1,2
describe in detail and critically evaluate modern analytical methods, which are at the forefront of the subject, including SEM and EDS techniques: 1,2

Study hours

12 hours lectures,
36 hours practicals,
12 hours of additional background information,
30 hours of practical work completion outside practical classes,
22 hours independent report and essay writing,
38 hours of independent study.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 50%
Practical based reports
4 reports (500 words each) with focus on the anatomy/structure and palaeobiology of microfossil groups discussed during the practicals.

2: Essay weighted 50%
3000 word essay on a selected micropalaeontological group
A 3000 word paper-style essay on a selected micropalaeontological group that demonstrates the student's critical awareness of the academic forefront of this discipline, as well as the ability for intra- and interdisciplinary contextualisation of e.g. related models, axiom-derived theorems, deductive and inductive formulated hypotheses and theories.

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