| Unit name | Advanced Topics in Current Research |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CHEMM0029 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Davis |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) | |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Chemistry |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
This unit aims to explore key chemistry in contemporary areas of research which build upon and broaden concepts introduced in the first three years. The unit is structured to allow you to develop your subject specialism as well providing opportunities to explore new cross-cutting topics.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is mandatory for Chemistry programmes because it allows you to demonstrate the high level of understanding of specialist areas of chemistry appropriate for an MSci chemistry student. It is optional for Chemistry with Scientific Computing programmes because it allows students from this programme to choose an additional 20 credit points of chemistry rather than computing units in the final year.
This unit will be mandatory for Chemistry and optional for Chemistry with Scientific Computing programmes. The taught content will also be available as a mandatory 20 credit point unit for Chemical Physics students and an alternative optional 20 credit point unit for Chemistry with Scientific Computing programmes. For these 20 credit point variants the students will be assessed differently.
An overview of content
The material covered will have a “research frontiers” theme, examining topics that are at the cutting edge of contemporary research. The unit aims to explore key reactivity in new areas of chemistry which build on the three key themes of Structure, Change and Analysis introduced in core units in years 1-3 and the optional unit choices available in earlier years. The selected topics will reflect the research strengths of the school and be drawn from current, emerging, and cross-cutting research themes:
• Chemistry and Catalysis
• Chemical and Synthetic Biology
• Environment and Energy
• Computational Chemistry, Theory & Dynamics
• Functional Molecules and Materials
• Cross-cutting and emerging themes
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
The unit gives you exposure to selected topics at the frontiers of research in chemistry and provides an opportunity to specialise in key thematic areas.
Learning Outcomes
1. Synthesise knowledge and understanding beyond basic chemical concepts and apply across a range of current contemporary chemical research fields.
2. Develop key skills and knowledge in key thematic areas to underpin future careers or learning.
3. Critically evaluate current research to propose original solutions/insights to solve problems in chemistry and wider contexts.
We aim to use a blended learning approach involving a mixture of asynchronous and synchronous lectures, online resources, individual student led enquiry and team-based student led enquiry.
Summary of approximate student workload:
Self-study and continuous assessment: 316 hours
Lectures equivalents: 72 hours
Tutorials/workshops: 12 x 1 hour
Total: 400 hours
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks:
Learning support will be provided by small-group workshops or whole class problem sessions which will offer questions that will help students build the learning framework necessary to answer exam questions on the topics.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark:
The unit will be assessed by an end-of-year open note exam (100%).
When assessment does not go to plan:
The re-assessment tasks will directly mirror those in the assessment tasks
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CHEMM0029).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
