- Department: Chemistry
- Module co-ordinator: Dr. Nick Wood
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
- See module specification for other years: 2021-22
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23 |
This module is designed to provide training in advanced skills, to contribute to students’ preparation for the demands of the final year of the MChem course, whether in a research lab in York, on an Industry placement, or at a University abroad. This is achieved by developing students practical skills (MChem Advanced Practicals), scientific writing skills (Scientific Writing course, and MChem Group Miniprojects), project planning and independent working skills (MChem Group Miniprojects), and problem solving skills (Integrated Spectroscopy).
In the Autumn term, students complete the MChem Advanced Practicals, a selection of single-day laboratory and computational exercises which aim to give students hands-on experience in using advanced techniques, such as the use of Schlenk lines for handling air-sensitive compounds. The Scientific Writing course runs parallel with the MChem Advanced Practicals, and aims to introduce and develop higher-level scientific writing skills, commensurate with writing project reports and scientific literature.
In Spring term, students complete the MChem Group Miniprojects. A range of miniprojects are available, covering different research disciplines within the Department. As a small group, students engage with a research-type task, with support from a miniproject supervisor. The miniprojects are substantially less structured than standard “core” practical work, mimicking the unpredictability of real research. The students collect data as a group, then write reports individually, for submission early in the Summer term (9 credits) and complete a group poster (1 credit). Alongside the Spring term Miniprojects, the students also complete the Integrated Spectroscopy course. This course is designed to foster students’ problem-solving skills, focusing on complex spectroscopic problems. Relying principally on lecture content from previous years, this course requires students to gather data from different sources, and bridge gaps in their understanding, in order to make progress solving the problems. This course is supported by regular 1:1 drop-in sessions.
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Mini-Project Report/Poster |
N/A | 50 |
Essay/coursework Online Assessment |
N/A | 25 |
Open Examination Integrated Spectorscopy Assessed Workshop |
N/A | 25 |
Non-reassessable
The 10 cr associated with the group Miniproject is based on an individual report (9 cr) and a group poster (1 cr).
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Online Assessment |
N/A | 25 |
Open Examination Integrated Spectorscopy Assessed Workshop |
N/A | 25 |
Miniproject supervisors will provide regular feedback on progress with experimental work and some guidance during the writing up period. as well as during the writing up period. Miniproject marks and feedback are made available in the Summer term. Integrated Spectroscopy marks are made available in the Summer term.
Increasingly, specialised texts and the research literature will be used to support the course (and individual lecturers will give you lists of recommended literature), the Department continues to recommend the following core textbooks for Year 3: