2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE3091 Advances in Palaeontology

10 creditsClass Size: 55

Module manager: Dr Crispin Little
Email: C.T.S.Little@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students taking the module as an elective must take one of the following listed pre-requisite modules:

SOEE1120
SOEE1570
SOEE2145

Module replaces

EARS3091

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The ethos of this module is to expose Leeds students the cutting edge research in the wider palaeontological community by having at least half of the lectures given by external speakers invited by the module manager. These external speakers will be different year on year, so the topics covered will vary widely, although all the speakers will be asked to put their research in the context of major events on the evolution of life on the planet. The internal speakers will do the same, but also provide some framework for the course with respect to the geological timescale. So, in any one year the course will cover many of the major following topics: the origin of life and its role in controlling Precambrian sedimentary environments and atmosphere; the nature of chemosynthetic communities; the enigmatic Ediacaran fauna; the Cambrian explosion and the competing hypotheses for it; Phanerozoic mass extinction events that their effect on contemporary vertebrate and invertebrate life; major trends in the evolution of various vertebrate (e.g. birds, humans) and invertebrate groups. This module is also designed to give students further exposure to reading the scientific literature, as each of the 10 lectures is supported by 2 or 3 recent papers that the students must read for the end of semester exam.

Objectives

The ethos of this module is to expose Leeds students the cutting edge research in the wider palaeontological community by having at least half of the lectures given by external speakers invited by the module manager. These external speakers will be different year on year, so the topics covered will vary widely, although all the speakers will be asked to put their research in the context of major events on the evolution of life on the planet. The internal speakers will do the same, but also provide some framework for the course with respect to the geological timescale. So, in any one year the course will cover many of the major following topics: the origin of life and its role in controlling Precambrian sedimentary environments and atmosphere; the nature of chemosynthetic communities; the enigmatic Ediacaran fauna; the Cambrian explosion and the competing hypotheses for it; Phanerozoic mass extinction events that their effect on contemporary vertebrate and invertebrate life; major trends in the evolution of various vertebrate (e.g. birds, humans) and invertebrate groups. This module is also designed to give students further exposure to reading the scientific literature, as each of the 10 lectures is supported by 2 or 3 recent papers that the students must read for the end of semester exam.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module the student will:
1) have knowledge of cutting edge research in palaeontology from internal and external speakers.
2) have demonstrated independent learning and to critically and creatively evaluate current issues by reading the relevant scientific literature and evaluating and criticising received opinion.

Syllabus

The syllabus varies from year to year depending on the internal and external speakers invited.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			90.00
Total Contact hours			10.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

- Reading of latest literature on the topical themes: 30 hours;
- Exam revision: 20 hours;
- Lecture preparation: 40 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Practice exam papers available

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 06/10/2016

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD