Unit information: Advanced Chemistry Project in 2015/16

Unit name	Advanced Chemistry Project
Unit code	CHEM30004
Credit points	40
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Wyatt
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	CHEM20170 Intermediate Inorganic & Materials Chemistry CHEM20180 Intermediate Organic & Biological Chemistry CHEM20190 Intermediate Physical & Theoretical Chemistry CHEM20480 Intermediate Practical & Analytical Chemistry (or CHEM20220 in place of CHEM20480)
Co-requisites	CHEM30019 (or CHEM30016) Advanced Inorganic & Materials Chemistry CHEM30011 Advanced Organic & Biological Chemistry CHEM300006 Advanced Physical & Theoretical Chemistry, CHEM30018 (or CHEM30017) Advanced Computational & Interdisciplinary Chemistry.
School/department	School of Chemistry
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

Project work allows students to experience and learn from the challenge of performing an open-ended activity. Students not only become expert in a particular topic, but also develop a broad range of transferable key skills. By working with a member of academic staff on a current topic in chemistry or chemical education students will consolidate and extend their knowledge and understanding of chemistry. The project will also allow them to develop important transferable skills, becoming independent learners with excellent written and oral presentation skills, proficient in the use of IT and good at working both on their own and as part of a team. The format of the project may be flexible, but typically will consist of a literature investigation and/or a research project. Support for the project will be provided by a project supervisor and second assessor. The unit will be assessed through a report and oral presentation.

By performing an open-ended investigation, students will:

• become expert in an advanced topic in chemistry or chemical education, building upon their existing knowledge and understanding to learn about new concepts and applications
• develop key transferable organisational, communication and personal skills that will prepare them for possible careers in both the scientific and non-scientific sectors

Intended Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific learning outcomes The unit will enable students to

• build on and apply their existing knowledge and understanding of chemistry through the study of a novel topic in chemistry or chemical education
• explore new concepts and, in doing so, develop new knowledge and understanding of an advanced topic in either chemistry or chemical education
• maintain a laboratory notebook or reflective diary as an accurate record of their work
• where appropriate, gain experience of advanced practical techniques and equipment and/or computational methods

Generic learning outcomes The unit will also help students to develop transferable skills in

• time management and other organisational skills
• independent study, and the development of diligence, motivation and initiative
• team working
• research methods, including sourcing, reviewing, summarising and referencing existing literature
• use of IT
• oral presentation
• written work, including the presentation of introductory material, experimental details, results, discussion, conclusions and references in an appropriate format

Teaching Information

Students will work with a member of staff and their research group. Students will identify in advance several preferred project topics and supervisors. Academic performance will then be used to determine the final allocation to ensure an even distribution of students across academic staff. Students will be expected to work semi-independently under the direction of their project supervisor, using their initiative to develop the project. Students may also be expected to attend seminars and group meetings. Project work will be supported by regular formal and informal meetings with the project supervisor and a second assessor.

Assessment Information

Summative assessment:

• Project Report: 90%
• Oral Presentation: 10%

The project report will usually be between 40 and 50 pages in length. The report will normally be separated into a literature review and a section on the student’s original research work. Although the subject of the two sections will usually be related, this need not necessarily be the case. Equally, it is recognised that there may also be occasions where it is more appropriate to produce a single integrated project report. Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of the material presented All elements of the unit will be assessed by both the project supervisor and second assessor through the application of detailed marking criteria.

Reading and References

Key reading and references will depend upon the topic chosen. Students will be expected to make extensive use of the library resources available to them, including text books, reports and theses and research journals