4B009B - Science, Society and Human Health 01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 4B009B
Module Title: Science, Society and Human Health
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Applied Science
Faculty Sub Group: Biology and Chemistry
Module Leader: Tracie McKinney
Module Team: Rhian Newman, Aaron Wall, Martin Powell
First Intended Intake: SEP 2027 Final Year of Intake: 2032
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 33
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100265 - biomedical sciences
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2027
Valid To 31 Aug 2033

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are: 

  • Introduce students to challenge-based learning through the exploration of engaging, contemporary case study topics   
     

  • Build student confidence in applying research, referencing, AI, and other general academic skills to a variety of specialist topics

Content Summary

This first term, first year module immerses students into the biomedical sciences and embeds key academic skills they will need to succeed in their course.  

The module is designed around a series of contemporary challenges related to human health. These challenges may change from year to year, but many will represent complex, ‘wicked’ problems – challenges described by Rittle and Webber (1973) as poorly defined, with conflicting stakeholder perspectives, and no clear endpoint. Examples of these sorts of challenges include  
antibiotic resistance, unequal access to health care, or zoonotic disease transmission. 
 
Students will explore these challenges one by one, through a combination of didactic sessions, independent research, group activities, group discussions, and debate. Students will work in groups for some elements of these sessions, allowing them to get to know members of their cohort and encouraging conversation across different perspectives.  
 
Alongside each challenge, students will focus on the application of specific, transferable academic skills. Transferable skills covered with include research and referencing skills, scientific communication, introductory statistics, introductory GIS, and the responsible use of AI. 
 
Students will demonstrate their competence in these skills through formative assessments aligning with the current challenge. At the end of the term, students will apply the full suite of academic skills to a task relating to a specific challenge. This offers a high degree of student choice, room for innovation, and repetition to master key academic skills in a low-stakes, pass/fail environment. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 56
Digital Guided Learning 10.5
Independent Study? 113.5
Formative Assessment 60
Summative Assessment 60
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Identify key factors influencing contemporary global and local health challenges, integrating biological, societal and ethical perspectives
LO2 Communicate and discuss evidence-based solutions to health challenges effectively through written, visual and oral formats

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Student Choice 1 As a Student Choice assignment, students may then choose their format: a 15-minute oral presentation, a 15-minute poster presentation, or a 2000-word essay. 15 2000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Student Choice 1

Reading List

Essential reading: 

  • Godfrey J (2022). Writing for university (pocket study skills), 3/e. Bloomsbury Academic. 

  • Goldacre B (2015). I think you’ll find it’s a bit more complicated than that. Fourth Estate. 

Supplementary reading: 

  • Media and academic articles relating to each challenge – some will be curated/provided by lecturer and students will source other on their own