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Bioscience Capstone Project - BIO00028H

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  • Department: Biology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Peter Mayhew
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

In this module, students will conduct an extended piece of inquiry work related to biological science under the supervision of members of academic staff. The module contains taught elements encouraging the development of transferable skills and employability, both in and outside of the research project work. Students will demonstrate an awareness of the ethical and health/safety implications of their work. They will generate and test hypotheses. They will underpin their work by a range of relevant information sources, and come to conclusions via the processes of critical evaluation, synthesis and reflection. They will communicate their work via written and oral means. They will reflect on the success of their work and their skills and personal development in a short reflective report. Projects may include primary research in a lab or the field, may focus on data analysis or computational/theoretical work, or research may focus on education or communication of biological science. Projects may alternatively develop Communication/Education Resources or Critical Reviews.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25 to Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

The module provides students with an opportunity to apply and develop their knowledge and skills in communication, critical analysis, synthesis, and reflection in a creative setting which has the potential to generate new knowledge or understanding. The project trains students in gathering and presenting background information about the subject area, agreeing on investigative strategies in consultation with an academic project director, conducting experimental or other appropriate approaches for gathering and recording relevant information, analyzing and interpreting the available information, critically reflecting on their work and development, and presenting their work in writing and orally. Projects will be offered that will allow students to explore areas of interest across the discipline in Biochemistry, Biomedical sciences, Ecology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, and the outputs can be research reports or take other formats relevant to the project type.

Module learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:

Design hypotheses and execute an inquiry-based project around those hypotheses that has the potential to generate new knowledge or understanding.

Work effectively, safely and ethically on a project.

Demonstrate application of techniques appropriate to investigations in the biosciences.

Use appropriate methods to gather and critically analyse data.

Present their findings appropriately to a target audience.

Communicate and discuss the project background, aims, methods and results through an oral presentation, and a formally written document.

Critically reflect on project development, ethical considerations and the development of personal attributes and skills in the context of the work conducted.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Project report		 N/A 80
Essay/coursework
Reflective assessment		 N/A 5
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Oral presentation		 N/A 15

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Project report		 N/A 80
Essay/coursework
Reflective assessment		 N/A 5
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Oral presentation		 N/A 15

Module feedback

Marks for all summative assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Feedback will be either individual or cohort-level, depending on the assessment format. You should take the opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your supervisor.

For exam-style summative assessment, model answers will be provided for all questions along with cohort-level feedback indicating how students answered questions in general. Marks achieved per question will be added to your script.

For coursework assessments (eg. reports or essays) you will receive individual feedback on your work. This will usually be in the form of a feedback sheet that will include suggestions for further improvement.

During the teaching of the module you will receive formative feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Such feedback may include: model answers and discussion of workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual written comments on formative work.

Indicative reading

These are available through the VLE module site.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.