Module OSX-4404:
Perspectives in Marine Science
Safbwyntiau mewn Gwyddor Môr 2025-26
OSX-4404
2025-26
Ysgol Gwyddorau Eigion
Modiwl - Semester 1 a 2
20 credits
Module Organiser:
Martyn Kurr
Overview
The specific knowledge content of the course will be variable from year to year depending on the Seminars hosted by the School. These will range across marine biology, geology, and oceanography, and it will be this range that is an important feature of the Module. The Seminars will be almost all of a research type, such that their structure follows a similar pattern: introduction, materials and methods, results and discussion. Students will learn to synthesise information from these seminars in a formal and structured way. Furthermore, students will develop their wider engagement skills by watching marine-themed TED talks, and producing a ‘popular science’-style article in the style of The Conversation.
The specific knowledge content of the course will be variable from year to year depending on the Seminars hosted by the School. These will range across marine biology, geology, and oceanography, and it will be this range that is an important feature of the Module. The Seminars will be almost all of a research type, such that their structure follows a similar pattern: introduction, materials and methods, results and discussion. Students will learn to synthesise information from these seminars in a formal and structured way. Furthermore, students will develop their wider engagement skills by watching marine-themed TED talks, and producing a ‘popular science’-style article in the style of The Conversation. Undertaking peer-review on all of the assessments will encourage self-reflection and collaborative techniques.
Assessment Strategy
-Threshold (D-) - Abstracts: Basic abstracts that convey some understanding of the Seminar topics. Popular science article: rudimentary and relatively engaging presentation of a concept or topic from an appropriate TED talk - Good (B) - Abstracts: competent abstracts that clearly reveal a good understanding of the topic presented. Popular science article: competent and engaging presentation of a concept or topic from an appropriate TED talk - Excellent (A) - Abstract: Succinct, concise, and grammatically correct abstract that conveys a complete understanding of the Seminar delivered. Popular science article: expanded and highly engaging presentation of a concept or topic from an appropriate TED talk
Learning Outcomes
- Acquire a broader knowledge of marine science
- Be able to search for, obtain and critically analyse primary research literature following introduction by a single Seminar.
- Be able to synthesise, analyse, and communicate complex research activities, concepts, and ideas in a popular science format and be able to undertake effective reviews of peer's efforts.
- Become proficient in writing short abstracts and undertaking peer reviews on them
Assessment method
Coursework
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Abstract 1 - written on an SOS seminar in semester 1. N.B. This module asks the student to imbibe in a WIDE range of marine science, specifically OUTSIDE their normal area of expertise. Each 'abstract' requires considerable time effort to achieve in total, including the abstracting of only the most relevant of information from every presentation. The word count may appear 'low', according to the Assessment Reference Framework Guide, but this is not the case in terms of required effort.
Weighting
20%
Due date
17/12/2025
Assessment method
Coursework
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Abstract 2 - written on any of the SOS seminars in semester 1 N.B. This module asks the student to imbibe in a WIDE range of marine science, specifically OUTSIDE their normal area of expertise. Each 'abstract' requires considerable time effort to achieve in total, including the abstracting of only the most relevant of information from every presentation. The word count may appear 'low', according to the Assessment Reference Framework Guide, but this is not the case in terms of required effort.
Weighting
20%
Due date
19/12/2025
Assessment method
Coursework
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Abstract 3 - written on any of the SOS seminars in semester 1 or 2 N.B. This module asks the student to imbibe in a WIDE range of marine science, specifically OUTSIDE their normal area of expertise. Each 'abstract' requires considerable time effort to achieve in total, including the abstracting of only the most relevant of information from every presentation. The word count may appear 'low', according to the Assessment Reference Framework Guide, but this is not the case in terms of required effort.
Weighting
20%
Due date
27/03/2026
Assessment method
Coursework
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Popular science summary - written on the topic of a marine-themed TED talk of the student's choice. This work ALSO involves the peer-reviewing of another class member's work. The apparent word count is therefore below that of the standard assessments shown in the Assessment Reference Framework Guide.
Weighting
40%
Due date
23/01/2026