MSc Key Skills and Literature Review

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Design poster presentations suitable for a scientific audience
• Write articles that communicate research effectively to non-specialist audiences
• Better manage your research project using time management and interpersonal techniques
• Prepare for job or PhD applications
• Development of suitable scientific method
• Development of testable hypotheses
• Researching literature
• Teamworking
• Structure an academic literature review
• Formulate research project objectives in the context of existing work
• Communicating with non-specialist audiences
• Critically research, evaluate and synthesise the findings of peer-reviewed publications
• Plan and execute coastal fieldwork
• Write a well-structured scientific report
• Technical writing
• Poster Presentation
• Write a clearly-justified research proposal
• Oral presentation
• Critical evaluation
• Deliver a research seminar suitable for a scientific audience

Lectures, workshops and fieldwork sessions covering the material in this course take place throughout Semesters 1 and 2. Self-study materials are also available in some cases. Sessions cover the following areas:

Communication and research skills:

• Writing research papers
• Presenting research seminars
• Preparing poster presentations
• Writing a research proposal
• Writing an academic literature review
• Communicating research to wider audiences

IT and data analysis:

• Introduction to MATLAB
• Introduction to Surfer
• Introduction to Ocean Dataview
• Data presentation

Professional skills:

• Career development (CVs, job application, interview technique)
• Professional skills (negotiation, time management etc.)

Fieldwork:

• Boatwork covering physical, chemical, biological oceanographic and marine geological techniques
• Chartwork.

Teaching and learning methods

Communication and Research Skills: These sessions provide students with training and experience in writing research papers, preparing academic literature reviews, producing research proposals and presenting results in seminars, posters and communication with the wider public.

IT & Data Analysis: These sessions cover the fundamentals of data presentation, data visualization and general introductions to Ocean Dataview, Matlab and Surfer.

Professional Development: These sessions provide advice on applying for job and PhD opportunities and training in 'personal effectiveness' techniques useful for the MSc project.

Boatwork: MSc boatwork activities are intended to familiarise students with a range of techniques and equipment used in physical, chemical and biological oceanography and marine geology, while also exercising team working skills and exploring features of estuarine oceanography.

A wide range of support can be provided for those students who have further or specific learning and teaching needs.

Assessment strategy

Boatwork Paper (30%): As an exercise in writing a research paper, students are required to submit a paper suitable for a scientific journal, based on the data they collect during the MSc boatwork week. Tests Learning Outcomes 3,8, 9

Literature Review (70%): Students are required to prepare a 6000 word academic literature review on a title related to the area of their project, set by the project supervisor. Tests Learning Outcomes 1 and 2,

Popular science article (Formative exercise): Students are required to write a New Scientist-style news article about a recent paper in marine science, following training in how to communicate with non-specialist audiences. Tests Learning Outcome 11.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal