Minor Project

Module Identifier: PHM5920
Module Title: Minor Project
Academic Year: 2027/2028
Semester: Semester 1
Co-ordinator: Dr Chris Finlayson
Reading List: View on Aspire
Pre-Requisite: FG37540 or PH37540
Co-Requisite: PHM5760
Exclusive (Any Acad Year): FGM5920
Other Staff: Professor Huw Morgan; Dr Chris Finlayson; Dr Xing Li; Dr Dave Langstaff; Professor Andrew Evans

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Formal report to include literature review and project plan: (approx. 2500 words)	85%
Semester Assessment	Progression:	15%
Supplementary Assessment	Formal report to include literature review and project plan: (approx. 2500 words)	85%
Supplementary Assessment	Progression:	15%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Investigate a specific physics-related scientific problem.
Evaluate recent developments in the research field of interest as documented in the refereed literature.
Organise and co-ordinate their work in order to plan and implement a research project.
Interpret and discuss their results in terms of the current knowledge of the topic.
Present their work in a formal written account.

Brief description

The project includes literature research and a planning phase followed by main project work. The student normally carries out the project under the supervision of an academic member of staff within one of the research groups in the department. The results are interpreted and discussed in terms of the current knowledge of the research topic gained through the refereed literature, and the entire project-work including a literature review presented in a formal written report.

Aims

The module is aimed at developing the research and practical project skills essential for a professional physicist.

Content

The research topic will be different for each project but it will usually be within the expertise of the Solar Systems Physics research group.
The module runs throughout the semester and is supported by weekly tutorials with the supervisor.

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Application of Number	Application of number is central in the analysis of experimental data, including error propagation.
Communication	Communication of the literature survey and project findings in a formal written report.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Students improve their own learning and performance by reflecting on the outcomes of their laboratory work and planning further work.
Information Technology	Use of instrumentation and computers to analyse and present data is a fundamental requirement of a Physics project.
Personal Development and Career planning	Professional presentation of results is expected and is essential in the training to become a professional Physicist.
Problem solving	Problem solving is essential to respond to initial results and adapt experimental strategies accordingly.
Research skills	Research skills and information literacy are required as background for devising experiments to test hypotheses.
Subject Specific Skills	Yes, but detail will depend on the specific topic.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7