BS707-7-AP-CO:
Methods in Marine Biology
2025/26
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn & Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 20 March 2026
15
12 March 2025
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC C16112 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSC F71012 Marine Science and Sustainable Development,
MPHDC16148 Tropical Marine Biology,
MPHDC16184 Tropical Marine Biology,
PHD C16148 Tropical Marine Biology,
PHD C16184 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIB097 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIBA97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad)
The UK Natural Environment Research Council recently listed the most wanted Postgraduate and Professional Skills Needs in the Environment Sector. Multi-disciplinarity, Data Management, Numeracy, and Translating Research into Practice were among the top most wanted and cross-disciplinary skills identified. This module aims to widen the skill base in practical research by introducing a range of methodologies to aid in the investigation of marine processes.
The seminars (6 hours each) and practicals (7 hours each) address the most wanted skills and support the material delivered in theory modules. Students will acquire many of the fundamental and some specialised practical skills to effectively operate as professional marine biologists.
The aim of the module is:
- To sharpen the skill base in practical research by introducing a range of methodologies that aid in the investigation of marine processes
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate an ability to follow science-based methodologies to undertake a research task.
- Apply scientific knowledge to analyse and critically assess numerical information (data).
- Integrate, compare or contrast own findings with published information.
- Use reference databases to support scientific argumentation.
- Communicate results and statistical information in written and visual formats.
Employability and Transferable Skills
- Communicating scientific information
- Planning and executing teamwork to set deadlines
The School has a policy which ensures all lecturers opt-in to making lectures available via Listen Again. Therefore, in teaching rooms where the facility is available, lectures will be recorded via this service.
This module will be delivered via:
- 12h seminars
- 14h practicals
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Moodle Quiz (Biogeochemistry) - Deadline Only - Do Not Submit On FASER |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Scientific Report ( (Biogeochemistry) 1000 words 13.12.24 3pm |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Moodle Quiz (Physiology) - Deadline Only - Do Not Submit On FASER |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Scientific Report (Physiology) 1000 words 28.02.25 |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Michael Steinke, email: msteinke@essex.ac.uk.
Dr John Ferguson
School Graduate Office, email: bsgradtaught (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create a full email address)
Yes
No
No
Dr Sebastian Hennige
Available via Moodle
Of 23 hours, 11 (47.8%) hours available to students:
12 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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