NES3501 : Advanced Marine Research Topics I
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
- Module Leader(s): Dr Guenther Uher
- Lecturer: Dr Marco Fusi, Professor Grant Burgess
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module provides a 'finishing course' for students with interests in postgraduate studies in Marine Biology, and will provide insights into various topics at the forefront of contemporary research in this science area. Study units will include blocks of eight lectures and workshop-type teaching. The overall goal of the module is to illustrate modern, multidisciplinary research across a range of marine sciences reflecting active Marine Biology research areas in the School.
Outline Of Syllabus
Three x 8 hour blocks based on current themes in Marine Science linked to academic staff research interests. Content will be drawn from themes such as:
Marine Chemical Ecology
Marine Biotechnology
Coral Reef Ecology and Restoration
Marine Remote Sensing
Public Engagement with Science
Biological Nitrogen Fixation
Oceanographic Modelling
Global Sea Levels and Circulation
Estuarine Biogeochemistry
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 24:00 | 24:00 | Preparation for and completion of end of module assessment |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | Core content lectures. 8 x 1hr per ‘theme’ |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 24 | 2:00 | 48:00 | Lecture follow-up including recap and preparing lecture notes |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Computer-based workshops to practise data analysis and research data sources and scientific literature |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Workshop follow-up and interpretation of outcomes |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 86:00 | 86:00 | Wider background reading |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will present relevant, research-focused course material, allowing students to gain a greater appreciation of the research activities undertaken by academic staff. Students will be further encouraged to develop their critical thinking skills.
Directed research and reading will support the information received through formal lectures by guided independent study using key papers from primary literature. Students build upon the independent learning skills developed at Levels 4 and 5.
Assessment preparation and completion will allow students to fully prepare for the online examination. They will have the opportunity to consolidate and build upon knowledge gained in the taught sessions.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 1440 | 1 | A | 100 | 24 hour take home exam. Students will spend 3 hours completing this exam. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The written exercise will be an online exam. It will assess the level of knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the module, including student reading. The online examination will present students with two questions from each of the three topics, and students will answer one question per topic using a maximum of 1000 words per essay. This online examination will be completed over twenty four hours within the assessment period.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES3501's Timetable