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CHEM3061: Chemistry and Society

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Type	Tied
Level	3
Credits	20
Availability	Available in 2025/2026
Module Cap
Location	Durham
Department	Chemistry

Prerequisites

Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012).

Corequisites

Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012) OR [Bioactive Chemistry 3 (CHEM3211) OR Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411)] AND Chemistry BSc Dissertation (CHEM3161)

Excluded Combinations of Modules

Chemistry into Schools

Aims

To provide a research-led capstone module in Chemistry, where BSc students in their final year can develop independent research skills, group-work skills and business skills. To allow students to develop their expertise in chemistry through independent study and peer-presented lectures, guided by discussion groups supervision sessions with a staff member.
To broaden the student's knowledge of chemical principles, particularly those that impact, technology, health, industry and the environment.

Content

Chemistry and Society is designed to broaden the student's knowledge of chemical principles, particularly those that impact, technology, health, industry and the environment.
Students will work in groups to study topics within the broad areas of: Pharmaceutical and bioactive chemistry.
Materials for technology.
Commodity chemicals.
Chemistry for sustainable development. These topics will be presented to staff and peers through short written summaries, oral presentations and posters. Groups will be supported by regular meetings with a staff supervisor.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Describe and critically analyse the topic of their presentations and poster at an advanced level

Subject-specific Skills:

Presentation of complex chemical arguments at an appropriate level for a specific target audience.

Key Skills:

Completion of the module will enhance skills in working as a group, information retrieval and focussed scientific writing.
Skills in organising and participating in effective meetings will be developed.
Poster preparation and oral presentation skills will be developed.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Summatively assessed group presentations will take place at the end of each of Terms 1 and 2 to allow students to study a topic in significant depth, followed by the preparation of a written executive summary for each group presentation.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total	Monitored
Lectures	4		1 hour	4	Yes
Training sessions	3		1.5 hours	4.50	Yes
Discussion Classes	16	2 per week	1.5 hour	24	Yes
Presentations	28		0.5 Hour	14	Yes
Poster Session	1		3 hours	3	Yes
Preparation and Reading				150.50
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Poster		Component Weighting: 30%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Poster		100

Component: Coursework		Component Weighting: 70%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Coursework		100

Formative Assessment

Will be provided through project meetings with supervisors.

More information

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