BS708-7-FY-CO:
Professional Skills in Tropical Marine Biology
2020/21
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 02 July 2021
30
11 September 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
Transferrable professional skills are the most valuable assets of your postgraduate education. The ability to secure employment, and to plan, integrate and communicate in a multidisciplinary research environment provides the foundation for your successful career in environmental sciences.
In the future funding landscape it will be important that you are able to work inter-disciplinarily across natural and social sciences and the ability to explain your science to policy makers and funding agencies holds the key to a successful career as a future researcher.
The aim of this module is to equip you with an array of professional skills from utilising modern learning environments to the confident application of statistical methods for handling, analysing and interpreting large datasets.
Students will build a portfolio of professional skills that assist with finding employment along various career paths after postgraduate education. A combination of seminars and workshops is provided to include CV and application clinics, facilitate expedition planning, introduce health-and safety aspects of practical work, and increase numeracy skills.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Evaluate the issues involved in designing and executing a research programme, within the specific context of field-based, laboratory-based and desk-based research.
2. Formulate appropriate research questions, and test scientific and statistical hypotheses.
3. Design an appropriate experiment programme to test hypotheses including assessing the appropriate statistical power.
4. Demonstrate understanding of the specialised techniques and approaches involved in collecting, analysing and communicating research findings.
5. Articulate and communicate research findings in various formats to varying audiences.
6. Evaluate weaknesses in research skills and data analysis of relevant literature and scientific papers.
7. Take a critical approach to personal development planning for their career in the context of the graduate labour market.
8. Recognise personal and professional skills that will enhance employability, and research opportunities for skills development available to them during their university career.
9. Demonstrate competence in job application skills, including CV and cover letter writing and the interview process.
Employability and Transferable Skills:
1. Apply the R language and environment for statistical computing and graphics
Experience a job interview
2. Meet Alumni of the MSc Tropical Marine Biology course and start building a professional network
3. Use simple mathematical models and interpret their outputs.
The School has a policy which ensures all lecturers opt-in to making lectures available via Listen Again. Therefore, in teaching rooms where the facility is available, lectures will be recorded via this service.
40 hours of seminars, workshops and lectures.
This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non-essential items, please refer to the module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay - Test Submission |
|
|
| Coursework |
Application Portfolio |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Statistics Worksheet |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Research Proposal |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Vodcast |
|
25% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Michael Steinke, email: msteinke@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Michael Steinke, Dr Michelle Taylor, Mr Nigel Collins
School Graduate Office, email: bsgradtaught (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create a full email address)
No
No
No
Dr Nicholas Kamenos
University of Glasgow
Reader
Available via Moodle
Of 73 hours, 21 (28.8%) hours available to students:
52 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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