Module GEOL4091: EARTH SCIENCES INTO SOCIETY

Department: Earth Sciences

GEOL4091: EARTH SCIENCES INTO SOCIETY

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To provide an opportunity for students to enhance their employment potential by working with our industrial partners on projects that give experience of the business environment, entrepreneurship and enterprise.

Content

• Taught component. To give you experience of the world of industry and business, its financial and cultural approach to decision making. Experience and manage conflict between fact finding, uncertainty and short deadlines in a competitive environment. To provide training in the principles of team working, communication (written, spoken, visual communication), project management and delivery, preparing a finished product and portfolio preparation, public understanding of Earth Science.
• Project. A small multi-disciplinary group will work on a problem or project (real or simulation) provided by the “client“. For example: hydrocarbon exploration targets, mineral deposit assays, environmental impact assessments for major planning applications. There will be clear deliverables to the client. The groups will develop the brief, workflow strategy and prepare and present a solution(s). Students would be required to demonstrate teamwork, communication and management skills: in liaising with their “client“, in working within their group and in the effectiveness of the finished product.
• Presentation. A day of project presentations will be made to all clients and mentors involved with the module. Formative feedback will be provided.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will apply knowledge acquired at Level 3 to a specific Earth Science related business of industrial application. Learning will be research-led and specific for the project to be facilitated by the project supervisor in liaison with the client. This will typically involve directed reading, instruction during supervision and the use of propriety computer packages for data analysis and presentation of results.

• Students will undertake research-led learning directed at the specific demands of the project and directed by the project supervisor.

• Gain direct experience of the business world, its financial and cultural approach to decision making.
• Learn how information can inform commercial judgements and create added value.
• Experience and manage conflict between fact finding, uncertainty and short deadlines in a competitive environment.
• Awareness of how business decisions affect people and the environment.
• Develop skills in project scoping, management and delivery Acquire skills in teamwork, communication and outreach.
• Recognise the importance of self evaluation, personal and continued professional development in life long learning.
• Enhance job seeking skills and employability

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• This module is concerned principally with the development of a range of interpersonal skills, enterprise, entrepreneurial and professional competencies expected of an earth scientist working in industry, rather than with specific disciplinary subject content. Existing knowledge and learning will be utilised on the fieldtrip and when working on industry-based projects. The range of outcomes will be built into an assessed portfolio and include a project report, group presentation, fieldwork report and evidence-based reflective report on the student’s learning experience and outcomes. In this way the assessment method provides a variety of evidence of the attainment of the learning outcomes.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will be provided through tutorials and discussion.