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MEnvSci Environmental Science with Industrial Experience

Year of entry: 2021

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Course unit details:
The Natural Scientist's Toolkit

Unit code	EART11200
Credit rating	40
Unit level	Level 4
Teaching period(s)	Full year
Offered by	Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

In the Natural Scientists Toolkit you will increase your confidence in mathematics and physical sciences. There are three parts to the unit, covering: (1) maths and physics problem solving, to analyse real world problems like the burning of fossil fuels, and to learn to handle geological and environmental data; (2) chemistry of the earth and environment, addressing basic chemical concepts and how they apply to topics such as water chemistry and geological processes; (3) how to program a computer to solve problems in earth and environmental sciences. The Toolkit supplements the other first year lecture and practical units, and equips you with the skills you will need for 2^nd year and beyond.

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact. Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title	Unit code	Requirement type	Description
Understanding the Earth	EART11100	Co-Requisite	Compulsory
Practical and Professional Skills Development	EART11300	Co-Requisite	Compulsory

Aims

The aim of the Natural Scientist’s Toolkit is to increase your confidence in numerical problem solving and the use of the physical sciences to the study of earth and environmental sciences.

Learning outcomes

ILO 1	practice the application of key concepts in maths, physics and chemistry, including manipulating logarithms, rearranging equations, algebra, statistics, basic calculus, geometry, and atomic and molecular structure
ILO 2	apply mathematical theory to break down and model / describe real-world example problems.
ILO 3	use calculus to solve ordinary differential equations by separation of variables, and to arrive at approximate solutions using finite-difference.
ILO 4	recognise and explain terms and symbols in partial differential equations that describe advection, diffusion, and to be able to find approximate solutions using finite difference
ILO 5	interpret the geochemical behaviour of elements based on their place in the Periodic Table
ILO 6	explain how radiogenic and stable isotopes are used to interpret the age of rocks and geochemical processes
ILO 7	show how chemical reactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere combine to form geochemical cycles.
ILO 8	explain how frequentist statistical thinking is applied in the context of hypothesis testing.
ILO 9	identify predictor and response variables and major data types (categorical and numerical, including continuous, discrete and binary), and with access to references select appropriate statistical tests for analysing each type of data.
ILO 10	apply basic statistical tests (t-tests, ANOVA, chi-squared tests, linear regression, logistic regression, mixed regression) to data.
ILO 11	apply modern computer programming concepts to deal with data, and model fundamental problems in science
ILO 12	Synthesise results, visualise data and critically evaluate different methods for solving real-world problems

Syllabus

Semester 1

L1/P1 – Chemistry; L2/P2 Maths and Physics

Semester 2

L2/P2 Maths and Physics; L3/P3 Programming

Teaching and learning methods

Semester 1:

Each week there will be two 1-hour lectures and two 2-hour practicals. Lectures are recorded and made available as Podcasts through the University podcast service, with PowerPoint slides. Practical sessions include problem-solving exercises. Formative assessments will be provided, and feedback on these assessments will be available to the students after completion. For the maths and physics module, assessment comprises of an online mid-semester assessment and end of semester (January) online assessment. For the chemistry module, there is a formative online test mid-semester, with the assessment consisting of an exam in January.

Semester 2:

In most weeks there will be two 1-hour lectures and two 2-hour practicals. All practicals will be held in computer clusters. For the first half of the semester, the maths and physics module will focus on working towards the final assessment for that section, which consists of a written report completed by week 6. In weeks 7-12, the data handling module section will be delivered through a 1-hour lecture and a 2-hour practical each week. Assessment consists of a test in week 12. The programming module will be delivered through a 1-hour lecture and a 2-hour practical in weeks 1-10, followed by just the 2-hour practical in weeks 10-12 where students can work on their chosen assignment. On that, we will provide continuous formative assessments before a combined programming exercise and written report is submitted at the end of semester based on examples from weeks 4-8.

Assessment methods

Assessment type	% Weighting within unit	Hand out and hand in dates	Length	How, when and what feedback is provided	ILO tested
Online Test (M&P)	0	Each week in semester 1 except week 6 – available for two weeks - 10 tests	30 minutes	Automated feedback and feedback in class (formative assessment)	1,2,12
Test (M&P)	12.5	Semester 1 Week 7	1.5 hours	Automated feedback and feedback in class	1,2,12
Online Test (M&P)	0	Semester 1 Weeks 9-11	Available all semester	Automated feedback (formative assessment)	1,2,3,12
Online test (M&P)	12.5	Semester 1 Exam period (January)	2 hours	Exam feedback session	1,2,3,12
Online Test (Chem)	0	Semester 1 Week 6	1 hour	In class and on Blackboard (formative assessment)	1 and 5
Online Test (Chem)	25	Semester 1 January exam period	2 hours	Exam feedback session	1, 5-7
Report (individual) (M&P)	12.5	Semester 2, weeks 1 handout- week 6 hand in	4 page	Written feedback given	1,2,3,4,12
Test (M&P)	12.5	Semester 2, Week 12	1 hour	Written feedback given	8-11
Code submission (Programming)	10	Semester 2, week 12	Submission of code to solve problem [check works]	Written feedback given	11,12
Report Individual (Programming)	15	Semester 2, week 12	Report associated with related code)	Written feedback given	11,12

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	40
Practical classes & workshops	86

Independent study hours
Independent study	274

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Ann Webb	Unit coordinator
James Allan	Unit coordinator
David Topping	Unit coordinator
Robert Gilman	Unit coordinator
Rhian Jones	Unit coordinator
Mike Burton	Unit coordinator

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