Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title CHEM356 - Year 3 Chemistry Project (BSc. Level)
Code CHEM356
Coordinator Dr H Zhang
Chemistry
Zhanghf@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2020-21 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (or general academic requirements):

 

Aims

In this module, students will be assigned an extended experiment or project according to their own interests and abilities. Depending on the exact nature of the project undertaken, the general aims of the module are:
• To give the student a taste of research in a contemporary area of chemistry
• To develop an appropriate experimental technique for the topic undertaken
• To show the use of appropriate characterisation techniques
• To illustrate the use of the library and other information resources as research tools or more generic tools for the appropriation of information
• To familiarise the student with the preparation of written reports
• To teach the skills necessary for the preparation and delivery of a short oral presentation.
• To enable the student to apply web based design and techniques
• To interact with outside bodies (e.g. schools) with the ai m of applying or disseminating chemical based knowledge and fostering cooperation


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Depending on the precise emphasis of the individually tailored project, by the end of the module, students should be able to:
* Give a reasoned written exposition of experimental work and achievements;
* Make valid deductions from acquired data;
* Be capable of giving comprehensible written and oral accounts of experimental work;
* Demonstrate an understanding of shortcomings, experimental errors or weaknesses in data;
* Show that they understand the wider social and/or technological relevance of their work.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

This module usually consists of extended experiments (‘mini-projects’) or other acceptable project-based work. Practical work will be conducted in either the designated inorganic/organic laboratory (CTL-7) or physical laboratory (CTL-8), or in an appropriate research laboratory (for modelling projects), depending upon topic. However, for the academic year of 2020-21, due to the pandemic lockdown and restriction measures, all CHEM356 projects are remote (except for a few lab-based projects with Unilever), including literature-based projects or computational projects. All projects run for 8 weeks (weeks 1-8 of 2nd in the 2nd semester). It is expected that a student will spend approximately 100 hours in total on project work, in addition to approximately 10 hours for project preparation and completion of brief weekly progress reports.

Progress of the project will be assessed using the weekly progress reports, by weekly meetings between the project tutors and th e students, by evaluation of the notebooks and where appropriate the quality and quantity of data analysis and interpretation.

Subsequently, a period of private study is necessary for the preparation of the written report and the oral presentation.


Syllabus

 

All CHEM356 projects (except for a few lab-based projects with Unilever) are remote, i.e., literature-based or computational. Each of the remote projects fall in the area of organic, inorganic or physical chemistry, based on students’ project preference. A group of students are assigned to a project tutor. The project tutor will decide the details of the remote project for each student. All the projects last for 8 weeks in the 2nd semester.

CHEM356 students have timetabled weekly project meetings with their project tutors. Additional meetings can be arranged if required, by directly contacting their project tutor. CHEM356 are required to submit weekly project reports via Canvas by the end of each Sunday for weeks 1-8 in the 2nd semester.
Students are encouraged to be familiar with report write-up guideline and assessment forms and perform their projects & prepare for the assessments accordingly. The final reports/project book/recorded presentations are submitte d via Canvas in week 10 in the 2nd semester.


Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.

Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours       100

  10

110
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 40
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Oral presentation There is no re-submission opportunity. This assessment cannot be marked anonymously.  15 minutes    25       
Project performance, incl. (as appropriate) record keeping, weekly progress reports capability for independent working, quality of data, quality of samples. There is no re-submission opportunity.   100 hours    45       
Final written report Standard UoL penalties apply for late submission. There is no re-submission opportunity. This assessment is not marked anonymously.  25-50 A4 pages    30