MPhys Physics with Theoretical Physics / Course details

Year of entry: 2027

View tabs
View full page

Course unit details:
Mathematics of a Finite Planet

Course unit fact file
Unit code	MATH35062
Credit rating	10
Unit level	Level 3
Teaching period(s)	Semester 2
Offered by	Department of Mathematics
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

The unit aims to: introduce students to the challenges created by finite resources and changes in the planetary environment due to human activity. Students will cover a variety of topics, both environmental and societal, developing mathematical analysis and interpreting this analysis in the light of the challenges. They will also be introduced to policy decision making and the assessment of political and ethical issues raised by proposed policies.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title	Unit code	Requirement type	Description
Partial Differential Equations & Vector Calculus	MATH24420	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Mathematics of Waves and Fields	PHYS20171	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Partial Differential Equations and Vector Calculus A	MATH20401	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory
Partial Differential Equations and Vector Calculus B	MATH20411	Pre-Requisite	Compulsory

MATH35062 Pre-Requisites: MATH24420 (or PHYS20171)

PHYS20171 is an acceptable alternative for those Maths-Physics students who took that unit instead of MATH24420.

Aims

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Use local, national and international reports to assess and describe the potential environmental and human impact of the problem
Manipulate mathematical and/or statistical models to describe aspects of problems from a finite planet
Interpret the mathematics in the context of the original problem, and to reflect critically on the limitations and/or accuracy of the moelling process
Develop policy suggestions based on the mathematical descriptions used, and to assess the potential impact and identify any ethical issues raised by the policy and to suggest remedies; evaluate critically the policy proposals and their effects
Choose content so as to communicate effectively to a technical audience (for the mathematics) and a more general audience (for the other areas); write documents aimed at different communities in a style and with a content that is appropriate to that readership.

Teaching and learning methods

First five weeks: 10 hours standard lectures with 3 hours example classes and discussions, 2 hours of student-led panel discussions.

Next 5 weeks: 4-5 hours (depending on semester) single topic lectures in Impact-Mathematics-Interpretation-Policy format with 8-10 hours of student-led panel discussions in the same format.

Final 2 weeks: 6 hours support for final project submission (of which 2 hours lecture on expectations and writing).

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Other	20%
Report	80%

Formative assessment: Report handed in during week 7 based on mathematics and interpretation of results.
2 Pages (1000 words)
20% Weighting

Summative assessment: Report in Impact-Mathematics-Interpretation-Policy format at the end of the course.
4 pages (2000 words)
80% Weighting

Opportunity to participate in two presentations
2 x share of 10 minute presentations
Peer review and comparison with lecture notes provided after the session

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	22
Tutorials	11

Independent study hours
Independent study	67

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Neil Morrison	Unit coordinator
Paul Glendinning	Unit coordinator

Return to course details