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MODULE TITLE	Independent Research Project	CREDIT VALUE	30
MODULE CODE	CSM3073	MODULE CONVENER	Dr Sam Hughes (Coordinator)

DURATION: TERM	1	2	3
DURATION: WEEKS	11	11	0

Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated)	10

DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

The Independent Research Project represents your opportunity to show off all the skills you learned during the first two years of your geology degree. You will spend part the summer between the second and third year of your degree doing: (1) a placement with a company, or (2) a field-based research project. This project may be carried out in the UK or abroad and you must submit three elements for assessment including a technical report in Term 2. This module is an experience of a lifetime and is a fitting conclusion to those following a BSc route in Environmental Geoscience at the University of Exeter.

AIMS - intentions of the module

The Independent Research Project allows the student to demonstrate their ability to undertake independent project work involving the collection, analysis and presentation of Environmental Geoscience-related data (or equivalent data from a discipline that overlaps with Environmental Geoscience). Students generally undertake data collection for a minimum of 24 days during the summer vacation between their second and third year as a field-based research project, or a placement with an appropriate environmental or geoscience-rated industry or company. The project should normally allow students to develop the knowledge and skills introduced during one or more of the modules taken during years 1 and 2, and may include generation of an Environmental Impact Assessment and Risk Analysis.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

(1) collect and interpret data (precise nature dependent upon the project undertaken);

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

(2) synthesise data from different sources, scales and disciplines into coherent, models of geological evolution;

(3) apply geological and related knowledge/skills to provide solutions to issues in environmental geoscience and/or geology and resources (dependent on nature of project).

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

(4) plan projects and effectively manage your time;

(5) demonstrate research skills such as efficient utilisation of information retrieval services;

(6) produce technical reports.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

The nature of the module dictates that a formal syllabus plan is not appropriate.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities	34.00	Guided Independent Study	266.00	Placement / Study Abroad	0.00

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	4	Contact time with supervisors
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	30	Group workshops, field skills, report writing
Guided Independent Study	266	Private study

ASSESSMENT

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade

Form of Assessment	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Not Applicable

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)

Coursework	100	Written Exams	0	Practical Exams	0

DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Form of Assessment	% of Credit	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Assessment strategy determined by nature of project
Research project/industrial placement
A1: Field notebook/lab book/work diary	5-20	Percentages appropriate to aims of project	1, 3, 4	Marking proforma feedback
A2: Poster presentation	20	A1/0 poster	1-6	Marking proforma feedback
A3: Technical report	60-75	85 pages, percentage awarded appropriate to aims of project	1-6	Marking proforma feedback

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)

Original Form of Assessment	Form of Re-assessment	ILOs Re-assessed	Time Scale for Re-assessment
Summative Assessment	Additional Assessment	As Above	August ref/def Period

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

As above, 1 piece of Coursework (100%).

RESOURCES

INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:  ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/  

Reading list for this module:

Type	Author	Title	Edition	Publisher	Year	ISBN	Search
Set	Coe, A.	Geological Field Techniques		Wiley-Blackwell			[Library]
Set	Kump,Kasting,Crane	The Earth System		Pearson Prentice Hall	2004	9780321597793	[Library]
Set	Cresser,Batty,Boxall,Adams	Introduction to Environmental Science		Prentice Hall	2012	9780131789326	[Library]
Set	Jerram, D. and Petford, N.	The Field Description of Igneous Rocks		Geological Society of London Handbook Series, Wiley-Blackwell	2011		[Library]
Set	Tucker, M.E.	Sedimentary Rocks in the Field		Wiley-Blackwell	2011		[Library]
Set	Tucker, M.E.	Sedimentary Rocks in the Field		Geological Society of London handbook series, Wiley-Blackwell	2011		[Library]
Set	Marjoribanks, R.	Geological Methods in Mineral Exploration and Mining	2nd	Chapman & Hall	2010		[Library]

CREDIT VALUE	30	ECTS VALUE	15

PRE-REQUISITE MODULES	CSM1044, CSM1036, CSM2183, CSM2184, CSM3049, CSM2182
CO-REQUISITE MODULES

NQF LEVEL (FHEQ)	6	AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING	No
ORIGIN DATE	Wednesday 04 March 2020	LAST REVISION DATE	Thursday 02 February 2023

KEY WORDS SEARCH	Research project; industrial placement

CSM3073 - Independent Research Project (2023)