Introductory description

The module runs through term 1 & 2 with seminars delivered by internal researchers (PhD, PDRA, ECFs) and external professionals (e.g. industrial polymer scientists). Before each lecture you will write a 500 word 'mini-essay' on the topic to be covered in the seminar. This should include 3 questions to be asked and discussed with the speaker and 3 primary references (research articles) from the literature. Finally, you will prepare a poster on a research topic covered during the seminar series and present this at a module symposium. You will also be expected to attend the department of Chemistry external seminar series.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The lectures/seminars will be given by a combination of internal and external academic and industrial visitors. The topics of the lectures will cover a selection from the following subjects.

• Renewable Materials
• Polymers in Medicine and Healthcare
• Polymer Therapeutics
• Polymers in Energy Solutions
• Sustainability
• Polymers Used for Security
• Advanced Polymer Processing Methods
• Polymer Composite Materials, Lithography and Microelectronics
• Polymers in Everyday Applications
• Patents and Licensing in Polymer Industry
• How to Start Up Your Own Spin-off Company
• Insights of Scientific Publishing

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand the industrial importance of polymers in a range of areas.
• Demonstrate a wider knowledge of the current state-of-the art in polymer chemistry research
• Display a broad knowledge on different applications of polymers.
• To understand the wider impacts of research science in the field of polymer chemistry.

Indicative reading list

Students will engage with scientific databases and use recent literature to write ran essay (500 words) and come up with questions/discussion points on the topics covered.

Subject specific skills

Key Skills:
Demonstrate a successful literature search to select primary source relating to lecture contents.
Discuss a range of applications of polymeric materials
Communicate verbally and in writing
Manage time effectively

Cognitive Skills:
To follow the lectures and interact by asking questions.

Subject-Specific/Professional Skills:
Produce clearly written and original scientific reports.
Research and reference relevant literature.

Transferable skills

1 Critical thinking

• Recognise patterns, themes and key messages from sometimes confused and incomplete data.
• Make informed decisions on the value of a range of sources allowing an evidence based conclusion based on this analysis.
  3 Self-awareness
• Actively seek opportunities for personal development in the context of employment and life.
• Aware of personal strengths and emotional intelligence
• Reflect on learning, seeking feedback on and evaluating personal practices, strengths and opportunities for personal growth.
  4 Communication
• Communicate orally in a clear and sensitive manner which is appropriately varied according to different audiences.
• Written: Present arguments, knowledge and ideas, in a range of formats. Active listening: questioning, reflecting, summarising.
  6 Information literacy (research skills)
• Critical awareness of how information is gathered, used, managed and synthesised.
• Understanding of the relative value of different sources and the importance of provenance.
• The systematic collection, analysis and evaluation of information in the investigation of a topic.
  9 Ethical values
• Committed to living ethically and behaving consistent with the Warwick Guiding Principles.
  11 Professionalism
• Prepared to operate autonomously.
• Aware of how to be efficient and resilient.
• Manages priorities and time.
• Self-motivated, setting and achieving goals, prioritising tasks.
  12 Organisational awareness
• Understanding of business, government and third sector issues and priorities.
• Awareness of the responsibilities of organisations in society.
• Understanding organisational norms of behaviour