Laboratory, Computing and Scientific Skills 1
Module code: NT1005
The laboratory sections of this module will provide you with the skills, competencies and attitudes necessary to complete your Research Project during your degree and for a future career in science in a laboratory setting. The location and duration varies according to the practical needs of each experimental set-up, with a typical lab session running for 4 hours.
Computing is an ever-increasingly important component of scientific practice, as well as almost all careers. The computing strand of this module will ensure you have a solid base of competence in major IT packages, as well as giving you training in more specific scientific analysis and programming software.
The skills component of the module is designed to support the production of assessment pieces in the core modules and to help you develop key transferrable skills for your future career.
Topics covered
- Lab health and safety
- Standard lab procedures
- Laboratory note taking
- The sources of errors in experiments
- Analysis of data
- Using specialist equipment from physics/chemistry/biological sciences labs
- Manipulating data in R and basic data analysis
- Making professional plots in R
- Plotting multiple datasets on single figures and adding legends
- The effects of random errors in data
- Parametric tests
- R scripts and sequences of commands
- Library Induction
- Finding and citing information for academic purposes
- Advanced information retrieval and personal information management
- Career options for Natural Sciences students
- Research techniques
- Report and essay writing skills
- Analysing your writing
- Reacting to previous module feedback
- Exam techniques
- Oral presentation skills
- Effective PowerPoint presentations
- Modelling and dimensional analysis