ES3D206 - Natural History Project 01 Jul 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: ES3D206
Module Title: Natural History Project
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Applied Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Earth and Environment
Module Leader: Ian Skilling
Module Team: Amelia Grass, Duncan Pirrie, Anthony Harris, Angela Morris, Marios Miliorizos, Chris Hughes, Richard Penrose, Emma Higgins
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100444 - media and communication studies 100469 - environmental management 101318 - biodiversity conservation
HECOS Code Weighting: 20 40 40

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Jul 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To enable the student to actively engage in planning and implementing a scientific research project or media project at a professional level, providing an insight into the career of a modern research scientist or natural history media professional.

To develop independent learning and thinking.

Content Summary

tudents will draw on, and extend their experience gained at previous levels of study to engage with an independent project, that can be based on either (1) collection and interpretation of relevant scientific data in the field or laboratory or (2) production of a comprehensive natural history media portfolio

The science project will be based around a central and testable hypothesis and supported by a clearly defined scientific aim and supporting objectives. It may be developed jointly by research staff and student, allowing students to gain valuable insight into a current research topic. Media projects will typically involve mixed media and will commonly involve collaboration with professional conservation scientists or media professionals

Students will frame their project within the context of existing knowledge, critically analyse data to explain their observations and test their hypotheses and present and communicate the results of their study with reference to relevant sources of information.

To represent a capstone project, the project will include evidence of independently sourced information that is critically analysed.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 16
Project supervision 6
Independent Study 200
Directed Study 60
Formative Assessment - Independent 18
Problem / challenge based learning 100
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Plan, manage and execute a professional scientific research project based on existing knowledge, a testable hypothesis, and critically analysed data.
LO2 Present and communicate project findings in a professional manner

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Poster 1 Poster presentation delivered in a USW scientific forum 10 N/A 20 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Dissertation / Major Project 1 Project Dissertation 0 6000 80 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Poster 1
Dissertation / Major Project 1

Reading List

Dytham, C. (2011). Choosing and Using Statistics: A Biologist's Guide. 3rd ed. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.

Clymo,R.S.(2014). Reporting Research: A Biologist’s Guide to Articles, Talks and Posters. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Matthews,J.R. and Matthews,R.W.(2007). Successful Scientific Writing.3rd ed.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Pechenik, J. (2012). A Short Guide to Writing about Biology. 8th ed. Prentice Hall, Pearson Education