Aims: To provide experience of project planning and the gathering of information from a variety of sources in preparation for a research project. To perform preliminary calculations and/or construct experimental apparatus, and become familiar with computational/experimental techniques that will be used in Research Project Unit.
Learning Outcomes:
Students should be able to: demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts and theories relating to the chosen field of research; know what action they need to take in order to progress the research project; make effective contact with other researchers in the Department who are also working in a related field; demonstrate how to perform calculations and/or construct experimental apparatus in preparation for a more extensive period of research work in the chosen field; follow a prepared course of action in order in progress the project.
Skills:
Use of a variety of IT techniques to find information. Scheduling a programme of work, report writing. Calculations, development of mathematical models and/or experimental techniques.
Content:
Explanation of expectations and timetable for the work. The student selects a research project and is allocated a supervisor who monitors progress. The student will be expected to interact with other researchers in the same filed working in the Department. Detailed critical review of any available literature in the research group and the sourcing of additional information, e.g. library, web. Detailed analysis of information gathered in the literature review to guide experimental/research work. Familiarisation with proposed experimental/theoretical methods. The students will have gathered practical experience of the calculations and/or experimental methods. They will need to make decisions about any changes or additional sources of information that they need to obtain in order to complete the next phase of work. Preparation of report. The length will be about 6,000 words supported by 20 figures/diagrams/tables, etc Project planning and decisions about the next phase of work should be included.
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