Postgraduate Course: Research Skills for Plant and Fungal Diversity (PLSC11013)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course develops the skills needed to plan, impliment and present scientific research. You develop writing and presentation skills, as well as some of the core data-management, practical and analytical skills used across plant and fungal diversity science. A key part of the course is developing and presenting the proposal for a final dissertation project in conjunction with your supervisor. |
| Course description |
This course equips participants with core scientific planning, writing and analytical research skills, and develops their awareness of career paths in plant and fungal diversity science. Through the course participants will develop communication skills for a range of audiences, consolidating the conventions of formal scientific writing and presenting, as well as communication to wider stakeholder groups. Participants will develop skills in common analytical tools, approaches and programmes used in plant diversity science, including those used for data-cleaning, management, and presentation. The course will also explore approaches and best practice in using AI for scientific research and writing. During the course, participants will develop their final dissertation research proposal in conjunction with the project supervisor, producing a final proposal and presenting it to peers and staff.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 5,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 6,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 20,
Online Activities 10,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 5,
Formative Assessment Hours 5,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
135 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Research Proposal and Presentation 50% - [LO1, LO2, LO4].
Practical Report 50% - [LO1, LO3, LO4]. |
| Feedback |
Research Proposal and Presentation: Ongoing verbal formative feedback for proposal through development, and for presentation. Written summative feedback for final grades for both parts.
Practical Report: Written summative feedback for final grade. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply specialist technical knowledge and approaches to plan, develop and do biodiversity research.
- Employ critical approaches to design and develop research.
- Apply specialist skills to find, manage, visualise and analyse data.
- Communicate research effectively using appropriate methods to peers, specialists and wider stakeholders and audiences with varying levels of knowledge or expertise.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course is designed to support and devlop the full range of graduate mindsets, with emphasis on each of Enquiry and lifelong learning, Aspiration and personal development and Outlook and engagement.
This course develops and supports graduate skills, with emphasis on each of Research and enquiry; Personal and intellectual autonomy; Personal effectiveness and Communication. It is designed to develop inquisitive, independent researchers with an ability to communicate and collaborate.
This course and its assessments emphasise skills development in: Analysis, Evaluation, Critical Analysis, Communication, IT Skills, Autonomy and Accountability. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Twyford
Tel: (0131 6)50 5455
Email: Alex.Twyford@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Madeleine Ferris
Tel: (0131 6)50 8649
Email: mferris@ed.ac.uk |
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