AP0630 - Chemistry Research Project

You will learn through 1:1 meetings with your project supervisor, extensive experimental and research laboratory time, guided literature research and independent learning. Each project will be individual but will utilize theories and concepts which will equip you with knowledge and understanding that will enable you to predict and rationalise the outcomes of new situations. Your research will enable you to contribute to knowledge in your chosen subject.

Your learning journey will be supported by 1:1 meetings with your project supervisor, and guided research in an appropriate research setting. Supporting information as to process and appropriate exemplars of submissions types will be available on the module’s eLearning Portal site (eLP).

Each topic will be on an individual research topic so background reading will be tailored to the subject area being addressed. Information on accepted methods of presenting results orally and in written formats (both in a laboratory notebook and in final dissertation from) will be relayed via elp.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will be able to conduct a literature survey on a proposed research topic and prepare a critical review.
2. You will be able to identify and plan the experimental strategy required to implement a programme of work and show understanding of its rationale by means of an oral presentation and written abstract.
3. You will be able to perform relevant laboratory and computational analysis to support a line of enquiry.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. You will be able to conduct appropriate experiments or investigations in a rigorous, efficient, and safety conscious manner
5. You will be able to prepare a poster presentation summarising methods and results and demonstrate a clear understanding of their nature and significance by means of discussions with academic staff.
6. You will be able to explain your findings and its context both orally and visually to an expert and a general audience.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
7. Demonstrate skills and proficiency in a range of transferrable skills including oral and written presentation, computer literacy, literature survey and appraisal, and other general research methods.
8. You will be able to think independently, understand and justify your own opinions.
9. You will be able to demonstrate your curiosity in your subject and its implications in generating new knowledge.

This module will be assessed
- by two oral presentations (in total worth 30%): the first in semester 1 will describe the background and aims of the project with a supporting PowerPoint presentation; the second in semester two describing the preliminary findings of the projects supported by A1 poster, and accompanied by a question and answer session with two academic staff. Feedback will be given immediately orally in both situations. Additionally written feedback from the poster session will given to students prior to report submission.
MLO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9.
- by a final report (worth 70%) which will summarize context, aims, findings and conclusion in an appropriate academic format for a dissertation. Feedback will be given immediately as part of the marking process.
MLO 1,2,3,4,7,8,9

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The Level 6 Chemistry Research project is designed to enable you to take a topic from the chemistry syllabus and to research it. You will start with a literature search under the direct guidance of your project supervisor which will allow the construction of detailed project aims.

You will then have a period of experimentation over semester 1 and semester 2 to design and carry out open ended experimentation to address your research question. Finally you will be asked to report on your research area and your findings through oral presentations, a linked question and answer session and a final report. Feedback will be given on all assessments either electronically via eLP or in person at oral sessions. This module is designed to aid your employability in the chemistry using sectors, and to teach skills which will increase your employability more widely.