Overview

The course will consist of a series of lectures, online resources, self-directed reading assignments and online tests, along with 4 x 3 hour laboratory practicals on campus and a half-day fieldwork session (although these may be altered if laboratory/ vehicle capacity is limited due to pandemic regulations in force at the time). The module will introduce a range of academic and practical skills and students will be given guidance on how to design and carry out experiments, and how data should be collected, analysed and reported. Students will be introduced to the philosophy of science and the scientific approach, and to the diversity of practical techniques used in the biosciences. There will be guided exercises so that students can become familiar with the use of Blackboard, the library catalogue, Microsoft Word, and Excel spreadsheets.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -A threshold mark (40%) equates to demonstrating a moderate level of both practical and transferrable skills and an ability to interpret and present experimental results in a clear manner.

-good -A good mark (>60%) will be awarded when a student demonstrates an ability to work with a good degree of accuracy, to critically evaluate the experimental data, to present results clearly and concisely and to relate their findings to theoretical concepts.

-excellent -An excellent student (>70%) will demonstrate an ability to work with a high degree of accuracy. They will be able to think critically and synthesise information from lectures and from reading the primary literature. They will display a high level of critical understanding of data, analysis, interpretation and presentation.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to competently use basic laboratory equipment, such as micropipettes, light microscopes and dissecting equipment.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to work safely in the field or a laboratory and be aware of potential hazards and their associated risk.

• Keep accurate records, and write well structured, coherent, scientific reports, with well-presented tables and figures and appropriately-cited literature and reference lists.

• Perform simple scientific mathematical calculations and data manipulations.