Module Information
Module Identifier
PHM4410
Module Title
ADVANCED TOPICS IN MODERN PHYSICS
Academic Year
2011/2012
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
Successful completion of level 3
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 1 introductory lecture |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 2 tutorials, one with module coordinator and one with appropriate lecturer |
| Practical | 40 hours of practical sessions |
| Workload Breakdown | (Every 10 credits carries a notional student workload of 100 hours.) 40 hours of practical sessions to include libraray research, and laboratory-based research 2 hours of tutorials 1 introductory lecture 60 hours of self study |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Oral presentation on mini-project | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Oral presentation on current topic in science | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Science article, in popular science format (e.g. New scientist, Astromony today etc.) | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Formal report on mini-project | 30% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate independent learning by undertaking a review of a topical paper, a review of supporting literature and provide a commentary on the paper.
2. Demonstrate skills in the communication of current physics topics through a popular science article describing the background and contribution of modern physics in an accessible way.
3. Demonstrate the ability to present a current science topic to a non-specialist audience and manage questions from that audience
4. Undertake a short research project in modern physics, (materials, solar, space weather or astrophysics). Demonstrating an understanding of the research topic and its impact.
5. Present the results of the research project in a formal report
6. Present the results of the research project in a conference-type forum and answer questions from a general physics audience on that research.
Aims
It is important for undergraduate students to be able to be familiar with and be able to communicate ideas in modern physics. Not only will this be an essential skill for any research-based career but will also develop presentation and communication skills that will be essential for any career path.
This module will be a restructured form of the existing communication physics module by introducing some of the components of the advanced technique modules in materials and solar system physics.
Students will make presentations on a current topic in modern physics and on a short project that students will carry out. Both presentations will be made before an audience of their peers and the overall aim is to develop and enhance presentation skills, providing experience of and feedback from a conference environment.
This module will be a restructured form of the existing communication physics module by introducing some of the components of the advanced technique modules in materials and solar system physics.
Students will make presentations on a current topic in modern physics and on a short project that students will carry out. Both presentations will be made before an audience of their peers and the overall aim is to develop and enhance presentation skills, providing experience of and feedback from a conference environment.
Brief description
This module aims to provide Mphys students with experience of presentation in a conference-type environment. The module has two components. In the first part of the module students will undertake a review of a recent, topical paper in physics. Students will undertake a literature review and will be required to provide a popular science article on this paper. Students will then make a presentation on this paper before their peers and will be evaluated on the quality of this presentation and handling of questions from the audience.
The second part of this module comprises a mini-project and will be aligned to the student’s degree trajectory. Here students will undertake an advanced project in materials physics, advanced space weather or astrophysics and these projects may include experiment, data processing, image processing or some combination of all of these. Students are then required to produce a project report and to make a presentation of the results of the project in front of an audience of their peers.
An important skill is to communicate physics, and indeed any science, to an audience of non-experts and to hone this skill a small mini-conference will be arranged in which all Mphys students and all staff will take part. Students will be assessed on the quality of the presentation and the handling of questions.
The second part of this module comprises a mini-project and will be aligned to the student’s degree trajectory. Here students will undertake an advanced project in materials physics, advanced space weather or astrophysics and these projects may include experiment, data processing, image processing or some combination of all of these. Students are then required to produce a project report and to make a presentation of the results of the project in front of an audience of their peers.
An important skill is to communicate physics, and indeed any science, to an audience of non-experts and to hone this skill a small mini-conference will be arranged in which all Mphys students and all staff will take part. Students will be assessed on the quality of the presentation and the handling of questions.
Content
The module consists of the following components
1. Students will review and make a presentation on a recent, topical physics paper in materials physics, solar system physics, space weather or astrophysics. A literature review will be performed and a popular science article written. There will be a presentation on this paper.
2. Students will undertake an experimental project that depending on trajectory will comprise either a materials physics experiment, or an investigation into current research in solar system physics, space weather or astrophysics (e.g. processing and modeling of solar data). A report will be written on this project and results will be presented.
1. Students will review and make a presentation on a recent, topical physics paper in materials physics, solar system physics, space weather or astrophysics. A literature review will be performed and a popular science article written. There will be a presentation on this paper.
2. Students will undertake an experimental project that depending on trajectory will comprise either a materials physics experiment, or an investigation into current research in solar system physics, space weather or astrophysics (e.g. processing and modeling of solar data). A report will be written on this project and results will be presented.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Mathematical prowess will be required and evaluated throughout this module. |
| Communication | Oral and written communication skills are developed and improved by feedback throughout this module |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Students will receive feedback on communication and quality of their presentations to improve research and presentation performance required for final year projects. |
| Information Technology | Students will be required to use electronic resources for research as well as instrumentation, computational processing of images, use of online data bases and archives and use of software for data and image processing. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | This module is designed to prepare students for communication of physics in written and conference environment. These skills form an integral part of any career and are transferable to any discipline or career path. |
| Problem solving | A research level project in modern physics is undertaken |
| Research skills | Literature searches and scientific enquiry are an integral part of this module. |
| Subject Specific Skills | |
| Team work | n/a |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7