To provide students with an opportunity to develop research skills by carrying out a literature review of a current research topic in physics, at a level appropriate for a professional physicist.

Week 1 - Workshop on literature and database searches

Week 2 - Workshop on scientific writing skills

Week 7 - Oral presentations

Week 9 - Report submission

Phys 4022P P4PR30H Physics Project

Phys 4023P P4PR20H Physics Project

Phys 5015 Research Skills

Solid State Physics; Atomic Systems; General Physics Workshop

Literature survey, quality of the research findings and knowledge of the subject 40%

Written report 40%

Oral presentation 20%

To provide students with an opportunity to develop research skills by studying in depth a current research topic in physics, which will include an extensive literature searc and written and oral reports on the topic to a level appropriate for a professional physicist.

By the end of this course students will be able to: 

■ demonstrate a knowledge and broad understanding of a current research topic in physics.

They should be able to:

■ carry out an extensive literature search using the relevant databases for the research topic;

■ critically evaluate the state of the art in the research field;

■ analyse and interpret research results based on the literature investigation;

■ summarise the research information in a clear and properly structured review in the form of a written report;

■ perform a critical analysis of the potential of this field for future research;

■ give a brief presentation to academic members of staff on the literature review carried out.