Natural Sciences

This module will introduce you to the wide range of interdisciplinary scientific research being undertaken across the University, and beyond, through a series of seminars and workshops.

It will also help you to develop and reflect on a portfolio of transferable skills essential to all scientists including scientific writing, group working, and presentation skills. These will be developed through activities such as a student conference.

This is a compulsory module for students on the BSc/MSci Natural Sciences, and is not open to students on other programmes.

This module aims to help develop your understanding of the history, philosophy and methodology of science and the mechanisms by which science advances, and to give an overview of what it is like to be a scientist and the environment and context in which scientists work.

Science has a profound effect on all our lives and will play a key part in addressing global challenges such as climate change, food and energy security, disease and health, and sustainability. This module will provide you with an insight into 21^st century science, drawing on the experiences of researchers from across the University, and will cover topics such as:

• an introduction to the history and philosophy of science,
• science in society,
• the funding of science,
• scientific publishing, and
• the ethics of science.

The research seminars will introduce you to:

• current areas of science research within the University, and
• the diverse range of different people who carry out this research.

The module will provide you with both the core skills and context that will support your own project work in later stages.

Working both singly and in groups, the module aims to develop a series of transferrable skills including an awareness of the importance of teaching and learning, time management, problem solving, collaboration and negotiation all of which will strengthen employability potential.

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

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

• 1. Describe current areas of scientific research
• 2. Analyse and interpret scientific results

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

• 3. Critically assess and summarise a scientific article or presentation
• 4. Recognise ethical frameworks that apply to science

Personal and Key Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge:

• 5. Communicate effectively and accurately both orally, including through presentations, and in writing
• 6. Use the library and a range of online resources to research a topic of interest
• 7. Operate effectively within a team

The module will begin with a short (approximately 10 lectures) introduction to the history, philosophy and ethics of science.

In each subsequent week there will either be a research seminar, or a professional skills workshop. The seminars will be given by leading researchers and will be followed by group activities. The professional skills workshops will cover areas such as communication, scientific literature, science funding, and career paths in science. There will be a student conference at which there will be a group presentation on an aspect of science research.

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment, you will be expected to complete relevant deferred assessments as determined by the Mitigation Committee. The mark given for re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to undertake re-assessments as described in the table above for any of the original assessments that you failed. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.

Reading list for this module:

• Kuhn, T. S. (1996) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 3rd Ed.).
• Popper, K. (1959 [1935]) The Logic of Scientific Discovery (New York: Basic Books).
• C. G. Hempel, The Philosophy of Natural Sciences, Prentice Hall 1966.
• S. Shapin, The Scientific Revolution, Chicago University Press 1998.
• Hacking, Ian (1983) Representing and Intervening: Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science.
• Okasha, S. Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction.
• Resnik, DB (1998) The Ethics of Science. Routledge.
• Rollin, B (2006) Science and Ethics. Cambridge University Press.
• Michael P. Marder (2011) Research Methods for Science, Cambridge University Press

Yes

• ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4505
• Web of Science
• Scopus