MAS8092 : MMath Project and Research Skills
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Stefan Kolb
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 30 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 30 |
| ECTS Credits: | 30.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To complete an in-depth study of a particular topic in mathematics or statistics leading to the preparation and submission of a report.
To provide students with skills in research necessary for their project.
To develop key literacy and communication skills.
To research the literature and produce a short presentation on a topic related to their project.
Module Summary
A project on an approved topic in an area of Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics or Statistics. The workload of the module will normally be 30 credits in each of Semesters 1 and 2. Details of the arrangements for the allocation of projects, the work and supervisory arrangements, and the presentation and assessment of the report, presentation and poster, are given in the web pages: https://ncl.instructure.com/courses/32642/pages/maths-and-stats-stage-4-projects and are separately available from the module leader.
Outline Of Syllabus
Students are required to liaise with their project supervisor for an approved topic in their subject area.
Workshops and seminars will cover the following topics:
Research seminars: a selection of invited speakers presenting current research topics in the students’ subject area.
Scientific literature: searching, curating and citing the scientific literature.
Presentation and communication skills.
A schedule of the delivery of the different workshops and up to date details on times and locations of the research seminars will be provided at the beginning of the course on Canvas.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Workshops and activities |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Reading group discussion |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Supervisory Meetings |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 74:00 | 74:00 | Detailed writing of the dissertation |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 418:00 | 418:00 | Background reading and other preparatory work including assessment completion |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Work on relevant Digital Skills (R or Python) |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | Work on presentation and poster |
| Total | 600:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| MAS8392 | MMathStat Project and Research Skills |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The workshops cover the use of LaTeX for the presentation of mathematical text, and advice on written, poster and oral presentations. Workshops will also cover key research skills provided by the library on scientific communication, referencing and coding in an appropriate programming language (R or Python). The supervisory meetings will assist the student in progressing with the selected topic but the majority of the work on the module will be done by the student in private study.
Attendance at research seminars will expose students to advanced research talks in their area and learn how to effectively present research findings, ask insightful questions, and engage in academic discussions. Students will then summarise this through a short report.
A small reading group seminar will allow students to discuss a chosen topic with their peers and reflect upon this with a short report.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 15 | 1 | M | 10 | 15 minutes presentation on research project. |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poster | 2 | M | 10 | Poster on research project |
| Dissertation | 2 | M | 60 | 35-to-45-page report on research project |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 10 | 1-page report on the skills activities |
| Reflective log | 2 | M | 10 | 2-page report on their selected topic |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The oral presentation, poster presentation and reading group discussion are to assess the students’ ability to explain mathematical ideas and analysis to a general audience. The activities report of activities is to ensure students have exposure to leading research in their area and learn how to effectively present research findings, ask insightful questions, and engage in academic discussions. The topics report is to assess students’ ability to self-assess and reflect on their small group discussion, developing their critical thinking and reflective writing. The dissertation is designed to assess their in-depth understanding of their chosen topic, and to develop written presentations skills.
The length of the project report may vary somewhat between projects, but it should be about 35 to 45 pages long (12 point type).
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MAS8092's Timetable