Natural Sciences

Many work environments, often including scientific research, require highly developed team skills. Your ability to act as an effective and cooperative member of a group will make you a valued employee. This module aims to provide experience of working as part of a project team in a situation close to that which might be found in a research, industrial or commercial setting.

Using formal project planning methods to plan and manage the progress of a substantial group project, you will develop an appreciation for the challenges faced by every project manager. This is an opportunity to bring together many of the scientific and professional skills you have learned during Stages 1 and 2.

The group project could encompass a piece of scientific research, but could also be related to outreach, widening participation or work aimed at encouraging greater gender equality within STEM/M Disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine).

This is a compulsory module for students on the BSc Natural Sciences, and compulsory for those students on the MSci Natural Sciences not taking the Semester of Science Studies Abroad (NSC3004).

To provide experience of working as part of a project team in a situation close to that which might be found in a research, industrial or commercial setting. To enable you to apply your knowledge and skills at a professional level and as part of a team effort. To integrate knowledge gained in several areas of the degree course. To encourage the use of initiative, imagination and creativity applied in the context of a team effort.

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

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

• 1. Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding in the subject area and technical requirements of the project
• 2. Plan and manage, using formal project planning methods, the progress of a substantial group project

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

• 3. Solve problems analytically and systematically
• 4. Assess and manage all relevant risks
• 5. Take personal responsibility for acting in a professional, safe and ethical manner and to promote these practises

Personal and Key Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge:

• 6. Operate effectively in a team including adopting different roles such as leadership
• 7. Work constructively and supportively with others, taking and giving constructive feedback, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of others and helping them to contribute to a team effort
• 8. Show effective communication, both via different forms for reports and through presentations, to a wide range of audiences
• 9. Manage resources and time with little need for advice
• 10. Identify your personal development needs and goals, reflecting on your performance and managing your personal development

To be agreed with the project mentor and any external project partners. Generally in two parts:

• Broad knowledge and understanding in one specific subject area relevant to the project, at the forefront of the chosen discipline, acquired individually;
• Completion of a group project, producing a product, design or service to an agreed specification, normally for a genuine industrial sponsor/customer parallel to the first part.

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a 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 referred synoptically in assessments as described in the re-assessment table above. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.

Reading list for this module:

• Leven, P, “Student-Friendly Guide: Successful Teamwork!” McGraw Hill Education (2004), ISBN: 978-0335215782
• Melton, T, “Real Project Planning: Developing a Project Delivery Strategy”, Elsevier (2007), ISBN: 978-0750684729
• McMillan, K, Weyers, J, "How to Write Essays and Assignments" , Pearson Education Skills Set (2009), ISBN: 978-0273726951
• McMillan,K, Weyers, J, "How to Write Dissertations and Project Reports" , Pearson Education (2009), ISBN: 978-0273726937
• Bowden, J, "Writing a report: how to prepare, write and present effective reports" 8th, How To Books Ltd (2008), ISBN: 978-1845282936

Yes

Web of Science

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