Module GEOL4061: FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE

Department: Earth Sciences

GEOL4061: FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE

Prerequisites

• GEOL3011 Challenges in Geodynamics I OR GEOL3181 Challenges in Geodynamics II OR GEOL3151 Earth Structure and Dynamics OR GEOL3281 Environmental Management.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• The overall aim is to develop and demonstrate high-level skills needed to undertake cutting-edge scientific research, which are relevant to a wide range of future careers.
• Introduce students to important ongoing controversies in Earth Science.
• Broaden scientific perspectives via meetings with research practitioners from other institutions.
• Develop and demonstrate critical thinking skills necessary to understand these current scientific controversies, and to test the validity of contrasting views or hypotheses.
• Develop and demonstrate skills in high-level scientific writing that are an essential part of many future careers.
• Develop and demonstrate skills in the effective oral presention of science that are also a key part of many careers.
• These aims will be achieved via a written research essay that will take the form of a critical review of existing literature and perspectives for further research, and by a congress-style short talk followed by questions and answers.

Content

• Learning will focus around timetabled Departmental research seminars. Visiting and internal speakers will recommend review papers before the seminar to give students background. Students will attend the seminars and follow up question and answer sessions. Scientific content will vary from year to year but invited seminars will fall within the areas of the four departmental research themes.
• The course will involve a research essay, practicing scientific writing skills, and oral presentation on a current controversy in Earth sciences, chosen from topics presented by both university and/or external speakers.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge to the research frontier in sub-disciplines of Earth science.
• An ability to construct an essay based on the literature review of an Earth Sciences research topic.
• Critical thinking.
• Writing and scientific writing skills.
• Oral presentation skills.
• Engagement with research professionals.

• Assimilate complex and varied information on Earth science problems and synthesise information/data from a variety of sources.
• Practice constructive critical thinking and discern the limitations of current knowledge.
• Identify questions and challenges in current research topics, and propose ideas for new research.
• Implement practical skills in citation and appropriate use of the literature.
• Engage with the experienced practitioners and the professional world.

• To study a topic through focussed literature review.
• To draw a synthesis of the state-of-the-art on a focussed topic from different sources.
• To discern the open questions and highlight open perspectives for further research.
• An ability to pose and contextualise evidence-based research questions.
• Gain experience in peer review and learning to give and respond to constructive criticism.
• Time management and working to deadlines.
• Present research ideas through a variety of media including the communication of complex ideas and methods to a general audience.
• Preparing for oral presentation.

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

• Teaching and learning will be delivered through given reading, attending research seminars, question and answer sessions and subsequent supervisions/tutorials.
• Formative assessment and feedback on scientific writing will be provided during the abstract writing formative work.
• Formative assessment and feedforwards will result from the review of of research abstracts by module coordinators.
• Summative assessment of the essay and interview will be provided.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative feedback will be provided on abstract writing and scientific writing skills.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University