Skills, Ethics and Society (C7161)
Skills, Ethics and Society
Module C7161
Module details for 2025/26.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 4
Module Outline
Skills, Ethics & Society introduces skills that underpin science, and research as it is understood by scientists. In addition to literary and numerical skills, we will learn about the motivation for research, how we conceive and conduct experiments, and set science in a wider social context. We will look at research ethics, at the ethical principles and laws that govern animal and human experimentation, and the social questions raised by contemporary science.
Module learning outcomes
Interpret and explain a primary research paper in Life Sciences, especially the main research objectives, outcomes and how the conclusions are justified by the evidence.
Communicate an appreciation of the ethical principles underpinning science and its social dimensions.
Interpret and explain quantitative data, especially the graphical presentation, and perform basic calculations relevant to life sciences, applying appropriate units.
Explain scientific concepts in writing, with a structured narrative, use of graphics, and including information derived from citation databases and online resources, and using a conventional referencing system to build a bibliography
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 100.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Presentation | T1 Week 10 (10 minutes) | 20.00% |
| Essay | T1 Week 8 | 40.00% |
| Test | T1 Week 7 (1 hour) | 40.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Seminar | 1 hour | 00100100000 |
| Autumn Semester | Lecture | 1 hour | 11111111110 |
| Autumn Semester | Online Workshop | 1 hour | 01111100000 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Prof Daniel Colaco Osorio
Assess convenor
/profiles/531
Dr Todd Rae
Convenor, Assess convenor
/profiles/581037
Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses and modules in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its courses and modules under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of courses or modules shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.
The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.