Run by School of Natural Sciences

40.000 Credits or 20.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Dr Caroline Bettridge

The Foundation Year Project module aims to provide students with the essential skills involved in planning, undertaking and presenting a piece of independent research on a topic relevant to their degree programme. The module will link to knowledge and skills developed in the programme and place a strong emphasis on the application of these to the topic being investigated.

Under the supervision of an academic member of staff, students will develop a research project on a topic of interest to them and aligned to their degree subject. The project will address a problem/topic through an identified aim and associated objectives. The project will draw on evidence sourced from primary and/or secondary sources and will present and analyse the evidence using appropriate techniques. The project module will be an opportunity to put into practice relevant academic skills developed in the Foundation Year programme and also to apply knowledge from other modules.

threshold

Grade D- to D+ Basic understanding of relevant subject material but some errors present. Demonstrates the application of relevant techniques, but with limited success and/or some inaccuracies and misconceptions evident. There is limited evidence of engagement with available information sources. Presentation of information lacks clarity and clear structure.

C- to C+

Grade C- to C+ A more developed understanding of relevant subject material but some errors present. Demonstrates the application of relevant techniques, with some success but contains some inaccuracies with some occasional misconceptions evident. There is some evidence of engagement with available information sources. Presentation of information and associated structure is generally clear but with scope for improvement.

good

Grade B- to B+ A generally well- developed understanding of relevant subject material with occasional errors present. Demonstrates the largely correct application of relevant techniques, with only minor instances of inaccuracy and/or misconception evident. There is good evidence of engagement with available information sources. Presentation of information and associated structure is clear and well-developed.

excellent

Grade A- and above A well-developed understanding of relevant subject material with only very minor errors present. Demonstrates the highly correct application of relevant techniques, with virtually no instances of inaccuracy and/or misconception evident. There is excellent evidence of engagement with available information sources. Presentation of information and associated structure is clear and well-developed with some evidence reflectivity.

1. Produce a data set using appropriate techniques.

2. Analyse a data set using appropriate methods.

3. Communicate information effectively using appropriate means.

4. Devise and undertake an investigation to address a specified aim.

Type	Name	Description	Weight
Written assignment, including essay	- Written Project	You will be required to complete a written project. This will include a literature review, research question and hypotheses, methodological approach and analyses, Results and Discussion sections explaining expected results in line with current literature. You should also discuss and relevant implications and application from your findings. The report should be approximately 3000 words. Be sure to incorporate feedback from your verbal presentation and any written feedback from draft work.	70.00
ORAL	- Presentation	You will be required to complete a verbal project presentation. This will include an introductory justification, research question and hypotheses, methodological approach and analyses, results and a discussion section explaining expected results in line with current literature. Presentations should last 5 mins and use appropriate software e.g. Powerpoint. This presentation will contribute towards 15% of the overall module mark.	15.00
Written assignment, including essay	- Project Proposal	During the first semester, you will be required to complete a 500-word written project proposal. This should incorporate your rationale for your project, a brief summary of key literature, a clear research question and a brief overview of what methods and analysis you will use to answer your question. This plan will contribute towards 15% of the overall module mark.	15.00

		Hours
Tutorial	121 tutorial (11 hour supervision tutorial per fortnight)	12
Seminar	2*3 hour presentation seminar	6
Individual Project	Time spent working on the project and associated assignments.	363
Practical classes and workshops	Practical classes and workshops as introductions into data collection (e.g. point, scan, focal) and sampling (e.g. richness and abundance) to prepare you for your project.	19

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
• Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team

• Develop and identify research question(s) and/or hypotheses as the basis for investigation.
• Consider issues from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives.
• Collect, analyse and interpret primary and/or secondary data using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative techniques.
• Apply appropriate techniques for presenting spatial and/or temporal trends in data.
• Prepare effective maps, diagrams and visualizations.

Bioscience, Environment and Geography subject-specific skills: Reading and engaging with scientific literature.

Resource implications for students

Use of personal computers or University facilities will be required to complete the module.

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/sns-0001.html

Compulsory in courses:

• C10F: BSc Biology year 0 (BSC/BF)
• F90F: BSc Environmental Science year 0 (BSC/ESF)
• C30F: BSc Zoology year 0 (BSC/ZF)