| Unit name | Independent Project (Geophysical Site Survey) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC30089 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Nick Teanby |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Successful completion of a Year 2 Earth Sciences programme. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
Independent Project (Spring-fed Streams) |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
Geophysics is the application of physical and mathematical techniques to understanding the Earth on anything from local to planetary scales. This unit is an independent investigation into a real-world application where students can apply and build on knowledge they have learned in other units to tackle a geophysical problem. You will develop your skills in quantitative data analysis, independence, interpretation, and presentation. You will also be required to use the primary scientific literature to inform your interpretation. The aim of the unit is to produce a professional scientific project report that clearly presents key results, analyses, and interpretations in a quantitative and rigorous scientific way.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Independent project work is an essential skill for many careers. It will allow you to apply the quantitative skills learnt in other units to real observational data and produce a professional report concisely summarising your findings. Independent project work is also required for accreditation.
An overview of content
In this unit you undertake and experience the process of conducting an independent investigation into a geophysics problem. Projects may involve fieldwork, data collection, data analysis, numerical modelling, or any combinations thereof. The project(s) offered each year will depend on staff and resource availability. Some aspects of the project work may be conducted as a group if required (e.g. fieldwork or other team data collection), but each student will complete their own literature review, data analysis, computational work, and write-up.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will grow in competence, confidence, and independence during the project. These skills are essential for a future career in geophysics and beyond.
Learning Outcomes
Independent work with supervised components.
Formative feedback on preliminary analysis work.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Word and/or page limits and strict formatting will apply to the report, details of which will be made available on Blackboard. Penalties for exceeding the specific word and/or page limit will be applied.
When assessment does not go to plan
The University's Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes outline the requirements for progression on and completion of degree programmes. Students who miss an exam and self-certify their absence may complete a supplementary assessment for an uncapped mark as if taken for the first time. Resit and supplementary exams are habitually taken during the reassessment period later in the summer. As far as is practicable and appropriate, resit and supplementary assessments will be in the same form as the original assessment but will always test the same intended learning outcomes as the initial missed or failed assessment. In the case of group work, failure by a whole group would result in an appropriate group task being set and reassessed for all group members. If a single student fails a group assessment or is unable to participate for an evidenced reason, an individual reassessment will be set.
There are rigorous and fair procedures in place to support students who are ill or whose studies and assessments are affected by exceptional circumstances.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASC30089).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
