This course provides students with an opportunity to develop generic scientific skills, including writing and presentation skills, by providing a series of interactive lectures and requiring students to prepare a short oral presentation and scientific literature review (approx. 2000 words) on a current research topic in physics or astronomy.

Weekly 2-hour lectures

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1. oral presentation (50%)

2. written report (50%)

1. To provide students with an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the principles, ethics, and rules of research, at a level appropriate for a professional researcher.

2. To develop critical assessment and communication skills, to a level appropriate for a career of leadership in academia or industry.

3. To employ these skills in preparing and delivering a written report and oral presentation on a chosen research topic.

4. To encourage students to work effectively, to develop a professional attitude to what they do and to take full responsibility for their own learning.

At the end of the course students should be able to

1. demonstrate knowledge and broad understanding of the principles, ethics, and rules of research, and show a critical awareness of the significance and importance of the topics, methods, and techniques discussed in the lectures;

2. recover, evaluate and summarise the professional literature and material from other sources concerned with a chosen research topic in physics or astronomy;

3. prepare an oral presentation summarising the current state of the chosen research topic; 

4. prepare a written literature review on the current state of the chosen research topic, which should include a critical comparison of material from the sources they have identified and a summary of likely future developments.

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