CH4PR: MChem Chemistry Project

Module Provider:

School of Chemistry

Number of credits:

60 [30 ECTS credits]

Level:

M (Masters)

Terms in which taught:

Autumn, Spring and Summer

Module Convenor:

Dr SJ Hibble

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Current from:

2005/6

Aims:
To give students the experience of working on an extended, open-ended research problem.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Students should appreciate how to tackle a problem where the answer is not known. They should know how to search the literature for previous relevant work. They should know how to implement necessary experiments to solve the problem they are tackling. They should be able to present their results in a logical and legible form in their written report, to give an oral presentation of their work, be capable of discussing their project report in a viva and able to respond to questions on their presentation. They should also be able to present their results in the form of a poster and be able to discuss the results and implications of their work with interested parties.

Additional outcomes:
Students will further develop their numeracy, IT and communication skills. Students will develop techniques for independent learning, become familiar with the chemical literature and the methods used in research. Students will recognise the importance of time management in the planning of the project and preparation of the report and presentation.

Outline content:
Students are assigned to work with a member of academic staff wherever possible taking into account the students preference for research topic. The range of topics covers the range of interests of the academic staff (theoretical chemistry, computational chemistry, physical chemistry, surface chemistry, catalysis, spectroscopy, inorganic chemistry, synthesis, mechanistic chemistry, photochemistry, high pressure chemistry, polymer chemistry and the biological aspects of inorganic and organic chemistry).

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
13 hours practical work per week (practical includes computational and theory) - i.e. roughly three days. Work in the final term will be devoted to completing the project write-up and preparing a poster.

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework
Practical work will be assessed both through work in the laboratory and laboratory notebooks and records including electronic media. An interim report must be submitted at the end of the autumn term and the final project report submitted by the named date in the summer term immediately after the oral presentation. The project report will be assessed by two members of staff who will also hold a viva with the student. A poster must be prepared by the relevant date in the summer term. A 20 minute talk on the project, with up to a further 10 minutes available for questions and discussion, will be given in the summer term.
Relative percentage of coursework : 100 %
Performance during the project (Supervisor's Assessment) 30%
Final project report (Supervisor's and Assessor's agreed mark) 40%
Viva examination (Supervisor's and Assessor's agreed mark) 10%
Assessment of final oral presentation 10%
Poster presentation 10%
Examinations
None
Requirements for a pass in this module
40 %
Reassessment arrangements
It is not possible to retake this module in the same format. If a student fails the overall programme, reassessment will be by re-submission of the project report followed by an oral examination in the September following final examinations.