3rd/4th year mini-conference & MPhys project info-session

Dr Manus Hayne
Projects & Dissertations Organiser Department of Physics, Lancaster University
3rd/4th year mini-conference Introduction About the talks Lay summaries Questions MPhys projects 12/13 Introduction Selection of MPhys projects PHYS452 Literature search PHYS451 Project Questions

3rd/4th year mini-conference (PHYS300/PHYS431)

Why?
A chance to develop your presentation skills key transferrable skills A chance to learn some interesting stuff from your peers A taste of what a real scientific conference is like even a conference photo (Department photo) Good fun! Free lunch! Who? Compulsory attendance/presentation for all 3rd & 4th year physics majors Any other 3rd years (e.g. Nat Sci, exchange etc.) are encouraged to attend but would not normally be expected to make a presentation Open to all physics students, staff

3rd/4th year mini-conference

What? 3rd years must make a 10 minute (+ questions) talk on 3rd year mini-project, project or dissertation Students who did a project or dissertation (PHYS356/7, PHYS376/7) must do a presentation on that module Everyone else should choose a subject from one of their mini-project modules Assessment criteria are (all equal weighting) Quality of slides, verbal presentation Scientific content Understanding There is a fixed penalty of 5% for poor timing (from 1 minute) 3rd year talks will be in three parallel sessions, and will be marked by two members of academic staff (incl. at least one Project Moderator = HS, RWLJ, JMcD, AS) Parallel sessions will contain a mixture of degree schemes

3rd/4th year mini-conference

What?
4th years must make a 15 minute talk (+ questions) on their MPhys project and present a poster Talks will be given in two parallel sessions Talks will be marked by (Mick Denton +1) or (MH +1) Posters will be in refreshment/foyer area Marking of posters will take place during the parallel sessions Assessment criteria are entirely concentrated on the actual presentations, NOT on the project itself (marks contribute to PHYS431 not PHYS451/452) Equal weighting for talk & poster (40% of PHYS431 each) Talk has a fixed penalty for timing (1 minute) 4th year posters will be marked by MD and helpers

3rd/4th year mini-conference

How? All talks should be in .ppt, .pptx or .pdf files and MUST be uploaded onto LUVLE by midday Tuesday of the week of the mini-conference Students get priority in asking questions after talks: Staff are instructed not to grill students

When? Wednesday 6th June and Thursday 7th June (all day) Attendance throughout the mini-conference is compulsory for 3rd & 4th years

Where?
Management school 4th year sessions: LT1 & LT6 3rd year sessions: LT1, LT6 & LT12 Breakout areas: Posters, lunch, tea & coffee breaks etc.

3rd/4th year mini-conference

Lay summaries (3rd years only) A short text aimed at the public on the subject of your talk Length: MAX 200 words (with a heavy penalty for going over) Assessment criteria: Title, readability, avoidance of jargon, Key message, structure, level of detail, appeal When? Teaching session (also including basic tips on preparing a talk) Wednesday 16th May 11 am in Cavendish LT with Mick Denton Workshop to enable you to discuss your summaries and talks Wednesday 23rd May 10-12 am in Hannaford Lab Lay summaries to be submitted by 12:00 Thursday 31st May

How much?
Talk and summary are worth 7% and 3% respectively of your project/dissertation/mini-project unit mark

3rd/4th year mini-conference

MPhys projects 12/13: Introduction

Two modules PHYS451 MPhys project (45 credits = 1.5 units) PHYS452 Literature search (15 credits = 0.5 units) Compulsory for and exclusive to 4th year MPhys (& MSci) Worth, in total, 60 credits (2 units) half of the last year!! PLUS related module PHYS431 Research presentation skills A lot of work, but a lot of fun! Clearly, with all that time spent on a topic it is important that It interests and motivates you You get on with your supervisor! Dont worry though It is very rare for students not to enjoy their MPhys project A large number of students stay to do a PhD in the same (or another) research group

Selection of MPhys projects: Rules

Students on a themed course should do an MPhys project in that specialisation Topics are General physics Particle physics Astrophysics/Space physics Cosmology Theoretical Physics Straight physics students do not have to do general physics, but other options may have prerequisites MPhys projects cannot be on the same subject as a 3rd year dissertation or summer vacation internship Supervisors should allocate places on a first-come-first-served basis, and should not cherry-pick Caveat I: Some projects have prerequisites or may require strong mathematical skills Caveat II: Themed students get priority on themed projects

Selection of MPhys projects: What to do

The current list of MPhys projects is listed on the Web

You are welcome to talk to several members of staff about potentially doing a project

You are welcome to suggest a topic to a potential supervisor but the supervisor must agree (obviously!)

Vouchers are used to avoid confusion about who is doing what project

We are aware that there are a lot of you (39) and that some projects are popular BUT NOTE There are 59 places available There is a huge variety of interesting topics NB A number of students may have already verbally agreed projects (which is OK!), but these agreements need to be formalised with the voucher

During the MPhys projects: Who does what?

Each student is allocated a supervisor, a shadow supervisor, a second marker (and a moderator), all of which are academic staff

Supervisor: responsible for setting up and the project and guiding the student

Shadow supervisor: may assist the supervisor, ensure that all goes well, help in case the supervisor is away, ill etc.

Second marker: is an independent person sufficiently knowledgeable in the field to mark the reports (and do the viva)

Moderator: is one of five people whose task as a team is to ensure that projects are assessed fairly across the department NB Normally there will be no direct communication between the moderator and the student

PHYS452 Literature Search (15 credits = 0.5 units = 150 hours)

Academic aims The PHYS452 Literature Search gives an opportunity to make an independent and in-depth study of a chosen subject in preparation for the PHYS451 MPhys Project, and to prepare a review of that subject in the form of a written report Learning outcomes On completion of a Literature Search the student should be able to use library, journal, textbook and other information resources to investigate a subject discern, assimilate, organise, understand and summarise relevant information write a structured scientific document which reveals an understanding of, and critically reviews, a subject

Assessment is by a written report and independent learning mark from the supervisor Presentation: 20% Motivation and purpose: 20% Content: 25% Understanding: 25% Independent learning mark: 10%

PHYS452 Literature Search

But what happens in practice? MPhys project subjects are selected in the summer term (3rd year), reports are submitted end of Week 2 (Michaelmas term, 4th year) Students should meet with their supervisor in the summer term to discuss the scope of the literature search to provide some initial references As the literature search progresses contact should be maintained to ensure the student stays within scope and on track, but note that the literature search can/should be broader than the project itself there may be some scope for shifting the emphasis of the project as a result of interests discovered in the literature search material submitted for assessment in PHYS452 should NOT be resubmitted for PHYS451 theory projects may contain a significant formally taught element

PHYS451 MPhys Project (45 credits = 1.5 units = 450 hours)

Academic aims The MPHYS project, PHYS451, is a major research project completed in the fourth year of the MPhys. Subjects will be chosen to be appropriate to the particular Physics degree specialisation, and will build on the work done in the PHYS452 Literature Search. Project work gives students the opportunity to carry out research or a detailed investigation into a specific area of physics appropriate to their chosen degree theme The project requires students to develop and apply analytical and problem-solving skills in an open-ended situation. This will involve use of the library, computer, research laboratory and other resources as appropriate, working alone or in a small group. The project work will normally be closely connected to a research group. Learning outcomes Students will have conducted a substantial project which will have required them to investigate an area of physics in a systematic way using appropriate techniques systematically recorded their work reported their results and their interpretation in written and oral form

PHYS451 MPhys project

Timetable Week 1: Investigatory part of the project should commence Week 15: Investigatory part of the project should be completed Week 20: Draft copy of report sent to supervisor for comment (optional) Week 22 (start): Deadline for submission of report Week 26/27/28: Oral examinations Week 27: Mini-conference Assessment Independent learning mark from supervisor (30%) Initiative, log book keeping, overall performance Report mark Presentation (10%) Project motivation and purpose (5%) Content (20%) Understanding (15%) Oral/viva mark (20%)

PHYS451 MPhys project

Log books are a key research tool! are compulsory are available from Louise Crook should be a contemporaneous record of everything you did in your project should have all entries dated should not be a final best version should not have pages ripped out (simply cross out any incorrect stuff) can have things pasted in, e.g. printouts of graphs must be regularly seen and signed by your supervisor must be submitted with your report

A risk assessment is required for experimental projects

PHYS451 MPhys project

Further information on everything to do with MPhys projects

http://www.physics.lancs.ac.uk/current_staff_and_students/undergraduate_ resources/projects-dissertations-and-reports