The Ocean Science course utilises a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials and workshops, laboratory and field practicals, individual and group-based project work and a wide range of student-centred learning activities.

 

Assessment methods are chosen to match the learning outcomes for each module. Examples of assessment methods used in Ocean Science modules include written essays and technical reports, literature surveys, reports on practical work, oral presentations, poster presentations, in-class tests and formal examinations. Modules are generally assessed either by 100% coursework (including in-class tests) or by 50% coursework and 50% formal examination.

 

 

In stage 1, the main practical work is arranged within two field weeks that occur roughly halfway through each term. These involve a number of half-day practical activities including some boat work that introduce students to oceanographic instrumentation and explore principles that have been covered in lectures. There is also another field practical on a local rocky shore.

 

In stage 2, practical work occurs within individual modules (for example a boat practical measuring oceanographic parameters in Plymouth Sound in the global ocean module) and also within the field week that is held in the March or April each year. This is a non-residential course based at Teignmouth on the south-east Devon coast involving boat work to measure flow properties and mixing in the Teign Estuary, survey and mapping work on the beach and a study of water properties down the Teign catchment.

 

In the Final Year, the main element of practical work is likely to be within the work completed for the Final Year Project although this will depend on the topic studied. This is an individual research-based piece of work exploring an area of particular interest to the student.

 

The final year project constitutes one third of the final stage work and, consequently, is a highly valued part of the course. It represents a significant piece of independent, research-based work which is carried out with the support and guidance of a member of academic staff who acts as Project Advisor. Students are encouraged to develop their own project idea and wherever possible projects have a practical component. This may include acquisition of new data, either via field or laboratory work, or analysis of existing data. Sometimes projects are linked to research being undertaken by the Project Advisor. Some examples of recent projects in Ocean Science include:

 

"Plastic degradation in simulated marine environments"

"Are the number of Blue Shark (Prionace Glauca) found in the south-west approaches in decline?"

"The effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas on coral reef fisheries"

"Study of the variability of jet stream characteristics over the North Atlantic"

"The effects of changing sea surface temperature on hurricane activity"

"A review of Dorset beaches - beach classification and beach safety"

"The impact of china clay pollution on water quality in the Plym Estuary"

"An investigation of sediment trends on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight"

"The effect of the Anton Dohrn seamount on north-east Atlantic current flow"

"Freak waves: modelling and application relevant to the south coast of Britain"

"Optical properties of the Tamar Estuary"

"Investigation into the variation of marine phytoplankton blooms over time"

 

 

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