Description

This module will provide you with an appreciation of the frontiers of knowledge and understanding in your chosen area of Physics. You will attend presentations given by leading international researchers as part of the regular departmental seminar programmes. You will be required to take notes during each seminar and select a topic to explore in depth using online research resources such as reviews and research articles and prepare a 5,000 report on your selected topic.

Module Aims

The module aims to deepen your knowledge in your chosen area of research specialism while at the same time developing skills in goal-setting and time-management. It is expected that completing this module you will be better placed to decide upon a research problem to investigate in your research project.

You will also gain knowledge in the generic research skills that will underpin your research project during the MSc programme. These include undertaking a critical literature review; the importance of communicating research; the life cycle of research; referencing; research plagiarism and ethics; and peer-review.

You will you discuss the findings in your report in a viva and apply constructive self-criticism of your final work.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

A student who has passed this module should be able to:

• Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
  1. Discuss at an appropriate level current significant results in a chosen area of Physics ;
  2. Critical analysis of research results;
  3. Appreciate the frontiers of knowledge and understanding in a chosen area of Physics.
• Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
  4. Experience research seminar presentations from leading physicists;
  5. Apply many areas of physics knowledge you have gained previously;
  6. Describe the life cycle of research - from preparing a research proposal through to publication;
  7. Explain the importance of communicating research, referencing, and peer-review;
  8. Understand plagiarism, and its consequences, and be able to discuss research ethics.
• Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:
  9. Prepare a professional critical report;
  10. Proficiently research current topics in physics using online resources.

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

Students will attend lectures covering various topics on generic research skills: undertaking a critical literature review, presentation skills; preparing a research proposal; referencing, plagiarism; the importance of peer-review, preparing for a viva.

Students will attend research seminars given by internal and external speakers that are part of the department’s research group seminar programme. Students will take notes during each seminar they attend and select a topics to research into more deeply using online research resources to find reviews, articles and preprints.

Seminars cover topics in Astrophysics, Electromagnetic Materials, Soft Matter Physics and Biophotonics, and Quantum Systems and Nanomaterials. Students will be able to choose which seminars to attend based on their chosen areas of interest and will be assigned a mentor with relevant research expertise.

Students will take notes during each seminar and select a topic to explore in depth using online research resources such as reviews and research articles. A written 5,000 word report on the selected topic will be submitted at the end of T1:11

A viva will take place in T2:01, where students will discuss the findings of the report and apply constructive self-criticism to their final work.

Learning and Teaching

Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Assessment

Resources

The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of information that students are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Instructor(s).

Core text:

• Not applicable

Supplementary texts:

• Not applicable

ELE:

• http://newton.ex.ac.uk/redirects/ELE/phym502

Further Information

Prior Knowledge Requirements

Re-assessment

Re-assessment is not available except when required by referral or deferral.

KIS Data Summary

Miscellaneous