MEEN40560 Research Skills and Techniques

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module is designed to equip Masters students with skills, techniques and knowledge to underpin their research projects in Engineering. The module differs significantly from most offerings in the Masters of Engineering (ME) programmes in that there is no end-of-trimester exam; instead student progress is continuously assessed. Engagement is via mix of class lectures and open discussions, on-line tutorials, and specific assignments designed to increase student experience in research-focused activities. Postgraduate student research projects, such as those on the ME programmes, should generate new knowledge and take the subject matter of interest beyond the state-of-the-art. The sources and quality of scientific and technical literature will be studied, and critical review of papers will be carried out. Writing papers – for both journals and conferences – will be considered, along with how to present a paper at a conference. Careful design of experiments is important in engineering research, and optimisation of experimental studies will be covered. Following such experiments, the resulting data may have statistical scatter, and correct interpretation of these is vital. Finally, the potential commercial value of the results of research projects will be studied, and the pathway to patents will be explored. Topics covered include the important areas of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), in Professional Practice, Dignity and Respect, Inclusive Design, Ai and Data Science, Creative Technology Innovation, Analytics and the ethical usage of technology and data, Teamwork and Communication.