The module will focus on contemporary debates and span themes across water science and river management to provide students with an insight into latest research findings/ advances, ongoing research debates, and ‘hot topics’ in water science and river management. Guest lectures, a field day and a conference day will provide a good overview of the newest research and its application in management. In student-led seminars, students will critically review the research and its management applications, and discuss possibilities for advancement of the research agenda. Case studies will be drawn from research projects in the United Kingdom and globally, to illustrate their application, with local field visits to key sites to view projects first hand. Students will be asked to evaluate the research and to suggest next steps for future research projects and management applications.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of current debates in water science
Critically review a series of scientific papers and evaluate the importance of their findings in advancing a specific field, and water sciences more widely
Recognise the relevance of research to current environmental and socio-economic debates and discuss the application of research findings in management practice
Verbally present, discuss and summarise ideas, demonstrating a high level of comprehension
Write well-argued and structured reports and synthesise information effectivelyGain experience leading a seminar
Assessment: 50%: leading of discussion session (2-3h) + contribution to discussion seminars and 50%: 2000 word coursework summarising state-of-the-art research and suggesting future research to inform management Reassessment: 50%: 15 min presentation and 50%: 2000 word coursework summarising state-of-the-art research and suggesting future research to inform management
