Unit information: Advanced Chemistry Project in 2021/22

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	Dr. Davis
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	CHEM20370 or CHEM20170 CHEM20190 CHEM20220 or CHEM20480
Co-requisites	CHEM30016 or CHEM30019 CHEM30006 CHEM30017 or CHEM30018
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.

Supplementary or resit assessment of this unit is only possible through engagement in the following academic year.

Resources

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. CHEM30004).

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 Faculty 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. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.