This module will provide students with the opportunity to plan, execute and write up an individual research project in mining environmental management, remediation and mitigation. They will carry out their project under the supervision of an appropriate member of staff with expertise in the chosen research area. The main reporting for the project will consist of a scientific article akin to those in peer-reviewed journals. Training will be provided in essential scientific communication skills. This module runs concurrently with modules of the MSc Mining Environmental Management Programme and is intended for students of this programme.

The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to carry out an independent research project that builds on the skills learned in the MSc programme. Students will collect, analyse (using previously acquired data and/or data collected as part of the project), interpret and discuss geological, geochemical, mineralogical, or modeling mining environmental data, and derive conclusions and recommendations. The project must be of research value within an industrial or academic setting. The project must also show and in-depth understanding of the background to the research project. Students will learn the skills of scientific research and communication that will underpin future careers in industry, academia, government or other organisations.

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

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Investigate and report on a problem, issue or range of problems related to mining environmental management or related industries, using a range of appropriate tools and techniques;

2 Evaluate the background literature related to the problem in (1);

3 Understand the capabilities of specialist equipment or computer design software relating to the problem in (1);

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

4 Evaluate and apply knowledge to specific design tasks;

5 Choose appropriate design from critical evaluation of available data;

6 Undertake synthesis of information and create responses in terms of advanced knowledge;

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

7 Exhibit personal data-handling skills through critical evaluation of a mining environmental management problem and produce, to a strict deadline, a scientific article with a detailed discussion, conclusions and recommendations;

8 Utilise, as appropriate for the problem, a full range of field, laboratory, geochemical and computer resources as an autonomous learner.

- Project content dependent, evaluate and apply knowledge to specific design tasks on chosen topic area. Development of plan to be established between student/company/academic supervisor;

- Prepare research proposal and oral presentation based on research project;

- Preparation of 10,000 word dissertation for scientific article by end-August.

• Scheduled lectures on research skills.
• Guided independent study: Working in a research or commercial environment. Utilisation and development of knowledge gained from taught modules. Where appropriate, use of specialist equipment and/or computer software. Typical supervisor contact of 1 hr/week.

Basic Reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Books/journals and/or other published and unpublished reports required in the execution of the project, will vary with the nature and topic of the research.

Reading list for this module: