MT4XG-Current Topics in Weather and Climate Research

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Part 3 Meteorology with a Year in Oklahoma MMet
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Prof Bill Collins

Email: w.collins@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides an overview of current weather and climate research.

Aims:
To gain an overview of current weather and climate research as carried out in a variety of different groups and gain experience of different types of scientific writing.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• Understand the range of current research in Meteorology;

• Summarise academic research in a style appropriate for an interested, non-specialist reader;

• Present a critical overview of a meteorology research seminar based on attendance at the series of departmental seminars;

• Appreciate the significance of the selected research topic in the wider context of meteorology and climate and its applications to developments in these fields.

Additional outcomes:

Students should:

• Gain better insight into postgraduate research to help inform their career choice;

• Gain experience in note-taking and learning from an advanced seminar format;

• Have opportunity to interact with a number of leading research scientists;

• Develop their written communication skills by practice in writing reports of different styles;

• Gain an appreciation for the relevance of their undergraduate studies to different research fields.

Outline content:
Students will attend the weekly research seminars held in the department in order to develop an overview of current topics in weather and climate research. Students will choose one particular research colloquium to make an in depth study of this particular area of research and write a detailed, scientific report on the talk. Students should outline the relevance of the work to the particular field of study and its applications. Students will also write two short reports on seminars of their choice in a style appropriate for an interested, non-specialist reader.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Students are expected to attend around 18 seminars over the autumn and spring terms. In addition students will attend a preliminary introductory session on the organisation and assessment of the module. Two tutorial sessions will be provided for discussion of assignments and feedback.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	1
Seminars	9	9
Tutorials	1	1
Guided independent study:	39	40
Total hours by term	11	6
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

N/A.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Two short (300 work) non-technical reports on seminars of the student's choice to be submitted by the end of the Autumn and Spring terms: 15% each.

Complete a short proforma on each seminar: 0.5% each.

An extended report on a seminar to be submitted by the end of the Spring term: 60% 

Formative assessment methods:
Feedback will be provided on short reports.
Feedback will be provided on a draft of the extended report if submitted by the end of week 1 of spring term.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
It is not possible to retake this module in the same format. If a student fails the overall programme, reassessment will be by re-submission of the report in the September following final examination.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 8 April 2019