| CODE | BIO5170 | ||||||
| TITLE | Project in Applied Biology | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 30 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Students will be required to write a dissertation based on research work that would be preferably at an advanced level and original. The dissertation will describe the research and present results and conclusions in a scholarly manner. Furthermore, the dissertation will be laboratory/field-based (i.e. experimental/survey/observational) or take the form of a literature review or be based on advanced analysis of an existing data set (e.g. meta-analysis, modelling etc), provided that an original contribution is made. The dissertation must be based on work of a sufficiently advanced nature performed by the student during the course, and preferably will generate results that are publishable in the mainstream scientific literature. Research projects will be offered within the following areas: - Aquaculture - Aquaculture-environment interactions - Bioremediation - Biotechnology - Conservation biology - Conservation genetics - Ecological assessment and monitoring - Ecology of marine benthos - Environmental management - Ethology - Faunistics and biogeography of the Maltese Islands - Fisheries science - Fish biology - Functional ecology - Genetics - Genomics - Influence of physical/chemical factors on marine habitats/species - Isolation and bioactivity of natural products - Marine and coastal ecology - Marine ecotoxicology - Marine pollution studies - Microbiology - Utilisation of plant and microbial resources - Vegetation ecology Study-unit Aims: This study-unit is mainly aimed at equipping the student with the necessary practical and theoretical skills to undertake a research project. The student will gain the necessary experience in biological research, identify a research question, plan experiments/field surveys/observations, present, analyse and interpret data, make an appraisal and draw conclusions on the results obtained. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate knowledge of the principles underpinning the experimental approach to answer a scientific question in biological research; - Apply principles and techniques used in biological research, including reviewing the scientific literature, formulating and testing hypotheses, designing a survey/experiment in the field and/or laboratory, collecting and analysing data, interpreting results and writing an appraisal and discussion based on the results obtained; - Identify and evaluate aspects of the research topic that require further investigation and research; - Demonstrate knowledge of subject area covered by the research project. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Undertake a literature review; - Identify a question/problem for a research project; - Formulate testable hypotheses; - Design a survey/experiment to collect data and test hypotheses; - Use appropriate techniques and procedures to analyse data; - Present and interpret results; - Make an appraisal and draw conclusions on the basis of the results obtained. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Primary and secondary literature relevant to the specific dissertation topic. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Dissertation | ||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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