Second year
SEMESTER ONE
Module leader: Dr Andrew Dale
This module explores the physical properties of seawater, the processes which govern the circulation of water in the world ocean, the processes governing the mixing of bodies of seawater and the interaction between oceans and atmosphere. It introduces physical oceanography as a discipline that aids the understanding of global processes, and extends the concepts introduced in first year's Principles of Physics.
Module leader: Dr Henrik Stahl
This module provides students with the fundamental knowledge of the chemistry of the oceans and helps them understand the relationship between ocean chemistry, the physical environment and marine organisms.
Chemical Oceanography covers the chemical nature of water and marine sediments, the sources and sinks of chemicals in the ocean, and the major processes responsible for the cycling of chemical elements. By learning about the interactions between the biota, seawater and sediments, students develop a first understanding of marine biogeochemistry. Practical sessions revolve around analytical investigations of sea water samples, collected during a local one-day field trip using essential laboratory techniques and instruments for marine research.
Module leader: Dr John Howe
The second year marine geology module aims to develop an understanding of the geology of ocean basins and the processes that shape the ocean crust and seafloor.
Topics covered include: the structure and evolution of ocean basins and the processes of plate tectonics, the distribution of shelf and deep-water sediments and the processes that govern their occurrence, the principles of fluid dynamics and the processes within the benthic boundary layer, sedimentary environments, and an introduction to palaeoceanography and sequence stratigraphy. A one-day field course supports the lecture series and is based around the Tayvallich Peninsula.
Module leader: Dr Tom Wilding
Science is a method of study depending heavily on the analysis of experimental data and the testing of hypotheses. This module extends the principles and statistical methods introduced in first year's Mathematics and Statistics for Science and develops the students' capacity to design experiments that generate the data required to test a hypothesis. The contexts for study of this module are based on the students’ main curriculum areas, and environmental data.
SEMESTER TWO
Module leader: Dr Liz Cook
In this introductory module to marine biology the students explore the diversity of life forms and ecosystems in the oceans and the interactions between marine organisms and their environment. The module covers principles of biological oceanography, the major taxonomic groups, marine biodiversity, and adaptations to various important marine ecosystems.
The practical element of the module focuses on species identification and the measurement of distribution patterns, e.g during a weekend field study in rocky shore ecology.
Module leader: Colin Griffiths
The Marine Skills Field Course takes places over one week in spring. The first three days are dedicated to a RYA Level 2 Powerboat course that includes a theory and practical examination. In the second part of the module students further develop their fieldwork skills by planning and conducting a two-day multidisciplinary survey of coastal waters from a research vessel.
Module leader: Dr Michele Stanley
This module introduces students to the main biochemical processes of living cells, their interactions and control mechanisms. An appreciation of these processes provides students with a deeper understanding of the complexity of life and evolution, and is a necessary prerequisite to study Marine Biotechnology in the third year. The module also outlines basic techniques in molecular biology. The practical element of this module includes the identification of bacteria using molecular analysis, and enzyme kinetics.
Module leader: Dr Bhavani Narayanaswamy
The Marine and Estuarine Systems module develops an appreciation and knowledge of the range and complexity of marine systems and their biological communities, and an understanding of how marine organisms have adapted to the physical and chemical conditions of these environments.
Students are encouraged to explore a range of marine systems from estuaries and coasts, to the deep sea, as well as polar and tropical environments. The module focuses on the interplay between biological and physical environments and on the community structures prevailing in these specific regions.
Practical sessions examine the physical structure of a fjordic system, compare deep-sea with coastal community structures, and investigate osmoregulation in estuarine crabs. Students are required to draw together physical and biological characteristics through a desk-study of the magical deep-sea hydrothermal vent systems.
Practical sessions examine the physical structure of a fjordic system and compare deep-sea with coastal community structures. Students are also required to draw together physical and biological characteristics through a desk-study of magical deep-sea hydrothermal vent systems.
Module leader: Dr Tavis Potts
With this module students are encouraged to develop an understanding of the main commercially valuable marine resources.
Topics covered include: petroleum geology; marine aggregates; desalination; energy from the sea; marine pollution and waste disposal; fisheries; aquaculture; marine biotechnology; shipping; and tourism.
