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Module

NES3501 : Advanced Marine Research Topics I

  • Offered for Year: 2025/26
  • 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. 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

3 x 2 week intensive blocks of teaching focused on current themes in multidisciplinary marine science linked to academic staff research interests. Content will be drawn from active research themes such as:

Marine Biotechnology

Coral Reef Ecology and Restoration

Marine Remote Sensing

Public Engagement with Science

Climatically Active Trace Gases in the Oceans

Nutrient Limitation and Ocean Fertilisation

Oceanographic Modelling

Global Sea Levels and Circulation

Ocean Deoxygenation

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion124:0024:00Preparation for and completion of end of module assessment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture241:0024:00Core content lectures. 8 x 1hr per ‘theme’
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading242:0048:00Lecture follow-up including recap and preparing lecture notes
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops62:0012:00Workshop follow-up and interpretation of outcomes
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops61:006:00Computer-based workshops to practise data analysis and research data sources and scientific literature
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study186:0086:00Wider background reading
Total200:00
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.
Workshops will allow students to apply concepts introduced lectures to real world case studies, and to critically evaluate outcomes in the light of current research. These workshops will develop data literacy and critical thinking.
Directed research and reading will support the information received through lectures and workshops 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.

The end-of-module assessment will assess the level of knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the module, including independent study.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Digital Examination14401A10024 hour take home exam. Students will spend 3 hours completing this exam.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The end of module assessment will be a 24 hour take home exam and will assess the level of knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the module, including student reading. The 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.

Reading Lists

Timetable