Unit information: Phase 2 Research Project(natural hazards) in 2011/12

Unit name	Phase 2 Research Project(natural hazards)
Unit code	EASCM1010
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Matthew Watson
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	n/a
Co-requisites	n/a
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This phase of the course involves a self-directed original research project, as devised and proposed in Phase 1. Key activities in Phase 2 typically include (i) acquisition of new or compiled datasets, (ii) presentation of data at a level suitable for publication, (iii) critical evaluation of uncertainties inherent in the data and any analysis performed, (iv) interpretation of results in light of the objectives set down in Phase 1. The students will incorporate a highly distilled summary of the report from Phase 1 into their report of results, discussion and conclusions from Phase 2. The final product of Phase 2 is completion of a MRes dissertation for examination by the supervisor and another member of the department. Both reports will be available for the external examiner.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit students will be able to:

• determine a theme to research through analysis of the current state of knowledge in a subject field

• identify, access and assess appropriate library- or archive-based information relevant to the project

• design and plan a research project that it is feasible within the available time

• maintain high professional standards (use adequate sample size, address bias, consider errors in data, limitations to models etc)

• critically appraise the strengths and weaknesses of the research project, evaluating the findings against those of others

• demonstrate practical and analytical skills relevant to the project

• collect, record and manage information and/or findings, and decide when it is sufficient to meet the aims of the project

• communicate the outcomes of the project to different audiences in an appropriate manner

• produce a final project report presented to the standard expected for submission of a manuscript to a leading international journal

Teaching Information

This unit constitutes 60 credit points. The final dissertation will be assessed against the following assessment criteria:

• Presentation

• Scientific understanding of topic context

• Quality and depth of research activity

• Scientific reporting of research

• Originality, merit and independence.

All written work submitted for this project must be word-processed and submitted on A4 paper of laser print quality. Students should identify (in discussion with their supervisor) an international journal appropriate to their field of study, and then adhere to the style guidelines given in the instructions to authors for that journal. Pages should be numbered and in single column format. Numbered figures and tables should have informative captions.

The report should also contain:

• title page (name, project title, programme of study, date of submission)

• one page abstract

• table of contents

• figures and tables with captions

• references

The use of well-presented and well-organised printed appendices or attachment of data on CD or DVD format is allowed. However, note that appendices are for archiving data or detailed descriptions of methods etc. for future users of the report, and will not contribute to the dissertation mark. All illustrations, data, tables and method descriptions that are needed to support your project must be in the main text.

Reading and References

Background papers will be identified in discussion with the supervisor