EA22120 - LABORATORY TECHNIQUES

Module Identifier	EA22120
Module Title	LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Dr Bill Perkins
Semester	Semester 2
Other staff	Dr Stephen Tooth
Pre-Requisite	EA11610
Course delivery	Lecture	10 Hours 10 x 1 hour
	Practical	33 Hours 11 3-hour practical classes
Assessment	Presentation	Group project oral presentation.	15%
	Group project	Group project written report.	25%
	Report	Laboratory practical reports (11) following each of the practical exercises.	60%
	Resit assessment	Not available. The laboratory practical basis for the assessment of 60% of this module means that a student must retake the whole module.

Brief description

This module will provide training in the principles and methods of physical and chemical analysis of natural materials. The module is practically-based and the assessment reflects this. The module will introduce the theory behind instrumental methods of chemical analysis and practical training in the application of these principles. The module will introduce the methods for the physical analysis of natural materials, particularly unconsolidated sediments.

Aims

This module aims to provide training in the range of laboratory techniques used to determine the chemical and physical properties of natural materials. The module aims to provide a thorough training in theory behind a range of instrumental chemical analysis methods. These will concentrate on inorganic methods. The module will be strongly practically based (which is reflected in the assessment) and will emphasise laboratory safety throughout. The physical analysis methods will be taught on a practical basis and will be assessed using laboratory-based practicals.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module the student will be able to:

assess the quality of chemical and physical analytical data

organise and present large data sets

work effectively in small teams

make effective oral presentations

write a technical report

evaluate the chemical principles behind instrumental analysis methods

select an appropriate analytical instrument for a given analytical task, use the instrument safely and will be able to evaluate the limitations of the method

be able to use a range of physical tests to determine the physical properties of natural materials

be able to produce laboratory reports based on a variety of physical and chemical techniques

Additional learning activities

The students will work on samples which are collected during their second year field course. The samples will form the basis of a group project which is assessed. Each student will be assigned to a group of five. Once the field samples have been analysed the entire cohort will be furnished with the same data set. Each of the groups will then work on these data sets independently. The groups each make a presentation to a panel of assessors (acting as clients) which will include representatives from environmental consultancies and industry. Thus the students will be exposed to 'real life' experience of oral presentations. The presentations will be recorded on video and each group will be invited to comment on their proposal, making suggestions about improvements which might be made.