Metaphysics is the study of what kinds of things there and what they are like in the most general terms. We have both a common sense picture of the world and a scientific picture of the world, and sometimes these two appear to conflict. Part of the job of metaphysics is to try to adjudicate what, if anything, in our picture of the world needs to be given up. Central questions in metaphysics include: Objects: Are there nonexistent objects? Can there be distinct identical objects? Can there be distinct objects in exactly the same place at the same time? Time: How do objects persist through time and change? Do future and past objects exist? Does time flow and at what rate? Persons: What constitutes our personal identity? Are we animals, souls, or something else? Does identity matter for persons to survive through time and change?
The primary objective of this module is to provide an overview of the conceptual, methodological and empirical basis for quantifying levels of population health focusing on low income countries. More specifically, the module covers: •The conceptual underpinnings for measurement of global health; •Key approaches and challenges to collecting information on various dimensions of health; •Characteristics and limitations of frequently used data sources in the computation of health metrics; •Measurements and interpretation of health inequalities; •Methods for combining multi-dimensional information into summary measures of overall health-state levels; •Health systems monitoring frameworks and application of results-chains
In this module you will develop a proposal for an independent project. The proposal will develop a project that addresses current ideas and debates related to arts and cultural management and leadership, and professional development challenges and opportunities. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, you will evaluate literature on research methods and project management and analyse a diversity of different projects (e.g., led by and involving combinations of academics, practitioners, organisations and communities; funded from different sources; using different methods). You will review and reflect on ethical requirements and the conventions of proposal writing.
In this module, you will engage with methods in data science and situate them in critical humanities thinking. We will develop practical skills in using computational methods for working with data, including: dataset and process documentation (e.g. data sheets and model cards), data summarization (e.g. AI), object detection and information extraction (e.g. computer vision), and critical comparisons of approaches to data analysis (e.g. text mining vs corpus linguistics). This module will enable you to situate data science methods in (inter)disciplinary humanities thinking and practically apply them to professional contexts.
In this module, students are introduced to the concept of Artistic Research, and the contemporary debates around the relationship of contemporary art to knowledge production. By providing students with a theoretical context in which to situate their emerging practices as research, the module is specifically designed to bridge the gap between an undergraduate model of studio-based art education, and the independent research of a practice-based PhD, Through a series of seminars led by permanent staff and guest speakers, students become familiar with key concepts, current trends, and emerging critiques of the field of artistic research. The module runs concurrently with Studio Practice 1, enabling students to reflect and act upon the research methods introduced in the seminars in their expanding studio practice. There are two components of assessment. Students will compile a sketchbook and research folder documenting the parallel development of their individual research and studio practice. Alongside this, students write a 1000 word statement summarising their research and outlining how they see this informing their future practice.
Humans are holobionts: we harbour and live in close association with unique microbial populations of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. These microbial communities that inhabit our mouth, skin or gut are vital for maintaining a robust immune system, a healthy gut, a resilient skin barrier and even a healthy brain. Indeed, the intestinal microbiome signals to the brain and can influence a vast range of neuronal functions and well as neurological disorders. But the term “holobiont” is not limited to humans and other animals. Microbes also establish key associations with plants and a healthy plant microbiome is crucial for the development and growth of healthy crops. Furthermore, human health is interlinked with plant and ecosystem health and dependent on the presence of unique, diverse, and healthy microbiomes across different scales. This module will provide students with a deep understanding of host-associated microbial communities and their contribution to health, but also the implications in various diseases. Novel techniques and methods for microbiome analysis will be presented and explored. Lastly, we will discuss how the microbiome links human to plant and planetary health and the potential of microbiome-based solutions to improve health and solve major environmental challenges.
To provide graduate students in economics with an introduction to the basic frameworks of graduate-level microeconomic theory: general equilibrium theory and game theory. Special emphasis will be given to the design, construction and the solution of economic models, ensuring that students become familiar with basic equilibrium techniques.
This module provides an introduction to microeconomics, the detailed analysis of individuals and their interactions within the economy. Combined with Macroeconomics this module will provide an appropriate foundation for subsequent economic modules.
This module will familiarise students with the central concepts of microeconomics, building on the foundations laid in the first-year Microeconomics module. Students will gain a clear understanding of the role of the price mechanism in organising economic activity and of choice in strategic situations. The module offers a rigorous treatment of supply and demand in markets, individual choice and strategic behaviour, concepts of market equilibrium, and sources of market failure. Students will evaluate economic outcomes in terms of social desirability (efficiency, equity and other concepts) and will learn to assess the potential benefits and limitations of policy interventions. Throughout the module will focus on examples and real-world applications of the theory such as the free rider problem.
This module provides an overview of modern microfabrication technologies for the making of micro structures applicable to device engineering. The various fabrication techniques that are relevant for microdevices in the field of electronics, optoelectronics and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) will be addressed in the lectures, with an emphasis on their physical, mechanical and chemical principles. The integration of these techniques will be explained with examples of complete process flow for the fabrication of different microdevices. Element of design method to produce microdevices will be introduced.
This module teaches the basics of the behaviour of fluids in microsystems, specifically focussing on the interaction of fundamental physical mechanisms and the design of microfluidic devices. It also reviews and analyses the state of the art in applied microfluidics such as Laboratory-on-a-Chip technology. The module uses COMSOL Multiphysics, a specialist finite element analysis tool, to model a fluidic sensor.
This module presents a broad overview of microsensor technologies, including the basic principles of measurement systems and the scaling effects arising from system miniaturisation. The practical component, assessed by a Lab Report, involves the design and construction of an interface circuit and subsequent characterisation of the performance of a microsensor. ELEC6203 is a prerequisite for ELEC6208 Bio/Micro/Nano Systems. Note that microfabrication techniques are covered in detail in ELEC6201 Microfabrication. The module uses COMSOL Multiphysics, a specialist finite element analysis tool, to model a MEMS sensor.
