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GO4001: GEOSCIENCE PROJECT A (2023-2024)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 10:43


Course Overview

This course provides the opportunity to carry out an independent, open-ended, piece of research work. This will be in an area of geoscience (geology, physical geography, archaeology) or in related subjects where a wide range of tools commonly used by geoscientists can be utilized. The project can use data that was collected during fieldwork during the preceding summer; it can be a laboratory-based study using materials already available; it can be a ‘desktop’ study utilizing digital information or any combination of these approaches. The student will be expected to develop: presentation skills; experience of reading and thinking about a specialist topic in depth; critical analysis skills of your own and other people’s scientific work and project management skills. This will help prepare for future careers beyond university. It is anticipated that this course will form the background for Geoscience Project B.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Malcolm J. Hole

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Geoscience (GX) or Bachelor Of Science In Geoscience
  • Any Undergraduate Programme
  • Programme Level 4

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the conduct of research in geosciences at an advanced level. It is intended to familiarise you with various research strategies and techniques that can be used to support work on your Geoscience Project B. The diverse research skills that you acquire should also provide a firm foundation for independent work once you leave university.

 

By the end of the course you should have a firm understanding of what makes a good piece of research, appreciate the diversity of research undertaken by Geoscientists and be familiar with the concepts that underpin a range of practical research techniques.

 

Drawing on your critical understanding of the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of alternative research strategies you should be able to select approaches to different research questions (notably your choice of research topic), and use these to build an effective argument out of your research.

 

You will improve your understanding of the research process and the different strategies associated with different types of research problem. As you acquire skills and experience, you should become more confident in your ability to tackle original, independent research. This is something that should be useful to you when you leave university.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Project Report/Dissertation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 17 Feedback Weeks 20

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be given both online (MyAberdeen) and during supervision meetings.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseCritically analyse data and select/organise the appropriate techniques to answer the research question(s).
FactualApplyApply analytical techniques by executing laboratory analyses and implementing data acquired to geoscience problems.
FactualUnderstandUnderstand the Geoscience problem that is to be investigated.
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate data and assess its applicability to answer the research question(s).
ReflectionCreateCreate a scientific report which describes in detail the research undertaken, the results and their interpretation.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualUnderstandUnderstand the Geoscience problem that is to be investigated.
FactualApplyApply analytical techniques by executing laboratory analyses and implementing data acquired to geoscience problems.
ConceptualAnalyseCritically analyse data and select/organise the appropriate techniques to answer the research question(s).
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate data and assess its applicability to answer the research question(s).
ReflectionCreateCreate a scientific report which describes in detail the research undertaken, the results and their interpretation.

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