Research Project

Overview

Final Report Guidelines:

2 copies spiral bound.

The written report should have the following sections:

• Title page.
• Table of contents
• Summary. Maximum 350 words.
• (1) Introduction. (Literature review, project goals). Maximum 6000 words.
• (2) Experimental (or/and theoretical) section.
• (3) Results and discussion.
• (4) Conclusions and recommendations.
• (5) References.
• Appendix 1. COSHH forms.
• Appendix 2. Primary experimental data. Physical properties, etc.

Maximum 50 pages in sections 1-4 (Font: Times new Roman, font size: 12 pt., 1.5 line spacing, horizontal alignment: justified, all pages should be numbered). Section 5 and appendixes: Font: Times new Roman, font size: 10 pt., single line spacing, horizontal alignment: justified, vertical alignment: top)

Marks will be given as follows:

• Summary. (5 marks)
• Introduction. (20 marks)
• Experimental section /Theory. (10 marks)
• Results and discussion. (40 marks)
• Conclusions and recommendations. (10 marks)
• Report lay-out. (15 marks)

Students are advised to discuss the draft report with their respective project supervisors and report must be put through Turnitin for checking for plagiarism. Students have then the responsibility to contact with their supervisors to ensure their report satisfies the Turnitin checker for plagiarism before any submission. For those submitted with a high level of similarity (higher than 25%), a penalty deduction may be applied to the overall report mark and a resubmission will be required.

Final reports to be handed in before 2 pm on Friday of week 2.12. Students need also to send to the MC a pdf version of their report before 2 pm on Friday of week 2.12

Final Presentation Guidelines:

10 min PowerPoint presentation followed by 5 min questions (2 or 3 members of staff: project supervisor, one or two assessors)

Marks will be given as follows:

• Technical content:
o Introduction. (10 marks)
o Experimental methods. (10 marks)
o Results and Discussion. (20 marks)
o Conclusions and recommendations. (10 marks)

• Response to questions: (25 marks)


• Presentation skills:

o Quality of the slides: proper font, background and colour scheme (5 marks)
o Quality of figures and tables: proper font, line thickness, etc. (5 marks)
o Pace of delivery, explanation of complex graphs (5 marks)
o Voice modulation, enthusiasm (5 marks)
o Organisation of the content: clear problem definition, connectivity
between slides, number of slides (5 marks)

Student Performance marks will be given as follows:

• Quality of work done. (25 marks)
• Effort put into work. (25 marks)
• Understanding of the project. (20 marks)
• Originality shown by student. (10 marks)
• Interest shown by student. (10 marks)
• Initiative taken by student. (10 marks)

Learning Objectives

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students develop the innovative experimental and theoretical skills of the student in the context of a research project.

To qualify for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering, candidates must carry out a 12 week industrial/research project and submit a satisfactory research thesis. The candidate must demonstrate that he/she has acquired an advanced level of knowledge and understanding in the field of study and an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field, is capable of relating knowledge of particular topics to the broader field of study involved and of presenting such knowledge in a critical and analytical way. The candidate should show a degree of independence of approach, powers of observation and a knowledge of the literature of the subject. The thesis need not be considered worthy of publication.

A good BEng industrial/research thesis must demonstrate that:
i) a systematic understanding of knowledge, and an awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study, or area of professional practice;
ii) an understanding of techniques applicable to their own research;
iii) a degree of originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline.

Skills

Experimental design, execution and modelling, presentation skills, data handling.

Assessment

Assessment: Continual Assessment 100 %.

The module is assessed by Continual Assessment (100 %). One formal report to be submitted at the end of the semester, 50-60 pages (75 %). One oral presentation at the end of the project lasting 15 minutes, with 5 minutes questions (10 %). Finally, student performance marks will be given by each supervisor (15 %).

NB: Safety Course is mandatory before any student can commence experimental work in any laboratory

Course Requirements:
Attendance at 80 %.
Report submission at 100 %.
Module Pass Mark Veto at 40 %.