Research in Mathematical Sciences - 2019 entry

This is a unique module that runs in several research themes and provides you with a taste for and experience in research in mathematical sciences. The themes are broadly aligned with Fourth Year options. Each theme consists of lectures, student-led discussion, reading, and practical sessions. In the first part of the module, you will pick two themes to follow closely, to get exposed to different types of research. In the second part of the module, you will concentrate on one theme and get deeper experience in research approaches and skills.

This module is normally taken in the Third Year of the MMath and the MSci Mathematics programmes.

Set in at least four distinct research themes, this module will introduce you to scientific thinking and abstraction and give you knowledge/experience in core research skills: reading (and understanding), writing and presenting for the mathematical sciences.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Identify and formulate scientific research questions and undertake independent study of chosen advanced themes in the mathematical sciences;

2 Appreciate the role of reading, writing and presenting in research;

3 Develop literature search and reading skills, allowing you to distil key concepts from the literature;

4 Summarise and explain scientific concepts and projects in written words;

5 Present scientific concepts and projects;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

6 Study specified themes in abstract mathematics and/or mathematical modelling;

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

7 Work in small groups to tackle advanced mathematical and scientific problems;

8 Present scientific ideas and findings in a coherent way.

The module will address three main research skills topics. These are:

- Introduction to research and scientific thinking;

- Scientific reading;

- Presentation skills.

These topics will be introduced to the entire group before they are studied and assessed in theme-specific groups. The themes will relate directly to the research interests of the lecturing staff and will range from advanced topics in pure mathematics to research questions in applied mathematical sciences.

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.

If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 50% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Each theme will have its own Reading Lists, which may be texts, or research papers.

Reading list for this module: