PHYS4213: PROJECT

• Foundations of Physics 3A (PHYS3621) AND (Discovery Skills in Physics (PHYS1101) or Laboratory Skills and Electronics (PHYS2641) or Laboratory Skills and Electronics 3 (PHYS3681)).

• None.

• None.

• This module is designed primarily for students studying Department of Physics or Natural Sciences degree programmes.
• It provides experience of work in a research environment on a topic at the forefront of developments in a branch of either physics, applied physics, theoretical physics or astronomy, and develops transferable skills for the oral and written presentation of research.

• The syllabus contains:
• A research-based project carried out within one of the Department's research groups.
• In the case of industrially linked projects, some time may be spent at the industrial site.
• Projects may involve small groups of students working in a team.
• Presentation and communication skills.
• Research methods and techniques, scientific writing and presentation, interviews.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Having studied this module students will have an understanding of the techniques used in either theoretical or experimental physics together with an appreciation of their applicability to a research project.

Subject-specific Skills:

Key Skills:

• Students will be able to work independently and develop an effective work plan.
• They will be able to solve problems with originality and be able to complete tasks efficiently.
• They will be able to resolve complex problems by identifying creative solutions.
• They will have the facility to express problems and communicate their solution via oral and written means.
• They will have the confidence to advance and extend knowledge through the development of an independent learning ability and personal responsibility.
• They will have further developed communication and oral presentation skills, including written communication of scientific concepts to a general audience.

• The project is based in a research group and may involve extensive private study, work on one or more computers or practical work in one of the research laboratories.
• In the case of industrially linked projects, some time may be spent at the industrial site.
• Supervisors monitor progress and provide guidance on the development of the project during weekly meetings.
• Students will be able to obtain further help in their project by approaching their supervisors and/or other members of the appropriate research group.
• The seminars provide formal instruction on communication skills, both written and oral, that are then reinforced by the project supervisors during the weekly meetings.
• The seminars include training sessions on general computing, testing and debugging. The drop-in sessions are designed to allow each student to obtain programming help and guidance through discussions with computing demonstrators.
• Progress is further monitored by a formatively assessed interim project progress report written over the Christmas vacation.
• Together with the project seminar, this provides opportunities for feedback and for the students to gauge their progress.
• Student performance is summatively assessed through technical performance during the project, through a formal final report on the project, through the project seminar and via an oral examination on the project report.

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