Module Aims:
Modern interdisciplinary research requires the ability to understand and interpret work of a mathematical and statistical nature that is expressed in an unfamiliar specialist language, to glean from that work the important mathematical and statistical problems and directions of research, to formulate tractable problems and to collaborate in a research team with complementary skills in order to tackle the problems. A key part of the MSc training is this innovative module aimed at preparing students for such research collaborations and teamwork and at training in skills that cannot be taught in a traditional classroom environment.
Teaching:
During
a first stage, the students will learn how to capture and formulate
mathematical or statistical problems from applications. Workshops on hot
interdisciplinary research topics will be organised. In groups of 3-4
people the students engage in one area, receiving guidance in regular
meetings by research study group leader(s). The outcome will be a
project proposal including evidence of own preparatory work and a
presentation followed by a short defense.
During a second stage, the
students will carry out the proposed projects where changes to the
groups are possible subject to balanced group sizes. Guidance will still
be provided in regular meetings by the research study group leader(s)
but more independent working will be required. The outcome will be a
written report, a presentation, a poster and a webpage.
To document
progress, each group will keep a portfolio containing individual and
group elements such as workshop logs, meeting logs, and activity
reports.
Objectives:
Both stages involve team work and training in:
- discussion and study of 'good' mathematical and statistical problems,
- formulation of problems and evaluation with respect to difficulty,
- project planning and management,
- communication, internal (within the group) as well as external (presentations),
- preparation of posters and creation of web-pages to present results.