BL4271 Natural History, Museums and the Public

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr I M Matthews

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Iain Matthews

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will examine how science in general, and natural history in particular, is presented to the public in a variety of locations and the role of these collections in outreach and public education. The module will commence with introductory lectures on the role and history of British museums and collections. Students will then visit various museums and natural history collections in Scotland. At some of these locations Museum staff will talk about their work. After each visit student-led seminars will be held to discuss the visits and compare what they have seen with the University's Natural History Museum, the Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History. Subsequent sessions of the module will focus on producing a display on an aspect of Biology for presentation in the Bell Pettigrew Museum.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 x 1 hour lectures (x 3 weeks), 1 x 2 hour seminars (x 7 weeks), 4 x 6 hour visits to local natural history collections / museums.

Scheduled learning hours

44

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

106

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • To understand the historical context to natural history collecting and collections.
  • To gain hands on experience of planning, delivering and reflecting on a public engagement museum activity.
  • To appreciate the historical role, and future potential, of natural history collections in public engagement.
  • To communicate ideas effectively and professionally by written, oral, and visual means.