Aims

The aim of this module is for the student to complete an investigative consultancy project for a client identified by the project supervisor and students. The student will develop their project from a list of project areas and potential clients provided by the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences that will enable them to undertake a consultancy-style project where the student can show their research, analytical, interpretive, critical analysis and design skills in solving a specific problem or question of interest to the client. Some projects may be a group project whereby a team of students will work together on different aspects of a single problem. In these cases the students will work together to gather information but each report must be unique and be focused on the students’ own data.
Information from other students may be used to inform the wider aspects of the study but must not be central to the student’s own work.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students will develop their project appropriate to their degree programme and their interests from a list of project areas provided by SNES academics. The students will select 3 potential project areas by the end of January, in order of preference, and only one project area per supervisor. Academic supervisors will then be allocated to the students based on their project area selections and the number of projects that can be managed by the individual supervisors. Any students who are unable to receive one of their 3 choices will meet with the Module Leader (or deputy) to identify a suitable project and supervisor.

The students will produce an agreed project plan (PP) as part of the prerequisite marine project planning module (NES858) during semester 2 that will be the design specification for their project. In semester 2 and 3 the student will undertake their planned consultancy project under the supervision of the project supervisor (or appropriate deputy). This project will provide the project outcomes and deliverables identified in the PP and test the student’s ability to advance their knowledge and research skills in this subject.

The student will produce a consultancy project report in the format of a concise, high quality professional report appropriate for their degree programme and according to the specifications of the PP.

The student will then deliver a 10 minute presentation at the end of their project to an audience of students and academics that demonstrates their ability to explain their project, its outcomes and conclusions and to answer questions based upon the scientific and technical rigour of their approach.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The students practise and develop their discipline-related skills and knowledge, and their generic skills, through independent study of an individual consultancy project. They gain the skills and knowledge delivered by the module by “learning through doing” as they undertake the project. They are supported by one or more academic supervisors who advise on experimental approach, methodology and result interpretation.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The student will produce a consultancy project report in the format of a concise, high quality professional report appropriate for their degree programme and according to the specifications of the PP from NES8502. This is awarded the majority of the module marks (90%).

The student will then deliver a 10 minute presentation at the end of their project to an audience of students, academics and project sponsors from consultancy, government and industry, that demonstrates their ability to explain their project, its outcomes and conclusions and to answer questions based upon the scientific and technical rigour of their approach. This is awarded the remaining 10% of the module marks.