Share in:

The unit will examine the Enlightenment. To help understand the nature and scale of the cultural changes of the time, we offer a 'map' of the conceptual territory and the intellectual and cultural climate. We will examine the impact of Enlightenment on a variety of areas including science, religion, the classics, art and nature. Finally, we will examine the forces of change which led from Enlightenment to Romanticism.

Share in:

Latin is the basis for many languages in the world. This unit will provide you with a general introduction to learning Latin allowing you to assess whether you would like to learn more. You will look at the links that exist between Latin and English, examine the structure of sentences and gain an awareness of the fundamentals of pronunciation in Latin.

Share in:

This unit covers the emergence of the Life Sciences sector out of its precursor the pharmaceutical industry. After examining some historical perspectives it uses case studies to look at developments in the science, business and, primarily, management strategies used in Life Sciences. It also briefly considers Life Sciences' place in the wider story of health provision. This introductory unit will be of interest to managers in the Life Sciences sector and to the general reader.

Share in:

This unit is designed to help those working with children between the ages of 3 and 8. You will be encouraged to explore your knowledge, feelings and attitudes in language, mathematics and science in order to understand the place that these subjects have in the life of both individuals and society as a whole.

Share in:

Observation, measurement and the recording of data are central activities in science. Speculation and the development of new theories are crucial as well, but ultimately the predictions resulting from those theories have to be tested against what actually happens and this can only be done by making further measurements. Whether measurements are made using simple instruments such as rulers and thermometers, or involve sophisticated devices such as electron microscopes or lasers, there are decisions to be made about how the results are to be represented, what units of measurements will be used and the precision to which the measurements will be made. In this unit we will consider these points in turn.

Share in:

Genetic manipulation of crops is an issue of great current interest and controversy. This unit covers some of the basic science that underpins the debate and examines the hotly contested case study of the development of ‘Golden Rice’. By looking at the science 'behind the headlines' you will acquire a clearer idea of both what is possible in GM science and what may be desirable.

Share in:

Plate tectonics is an earth sciences topic that attracts a good deal of interest, given that it a topic very often featured in popular science programmes on TV and radio. It is a subject that have strong visual appeal. The coverage is S279 is self-contained, up to date and is written in a way that will be accessible to those with interestPlate tectonics is an earth sciences topic that attracts a good deal of interest, given that it a topic very often featured in popular science programmes on TV and radio. It is a subject that have strong visual appeal. The coverage is S279 is self-contained, up to date and is written in a way that will be accessible to those with interest and motivation, all the more so for those who have some pre-existing scientific understanding.

Share in:

There are a wide range of interactions between ‘science’ and ‘the public’. Examples range from visiting a museum, or indulging in a science-related hobby, to reading a newspaper article about a breakthrough in the techniques of therapeutic cloning. Many of these interactions could be said to be ‘passive’. This unit explores the practicalities of the public becoming more ‘active’ in the direction of science practice by ‘two-way’ interactions, with dialogue taking place between science and some part of ‘the public’,

Share in:

Hearing is a familiar and important human sense that is a topic naturally of interest to those who are curious about human biology. This unit will enable you to relate what you read to your own sensory experiences – and indeed many of the questions asked have exactly that function. This unit will be best understood by those with some biological understanding.

Share in:

Providing an overview of current issues in UK science education, this unit examines what type of science the curriculum should cover and for what purpose. The unit will introduce you to practical problems in the delivery of an effective science curriculum, and particular questions at all three educational tiers - primary, secondary and tertiary - will be touched on.

Share in:

Are you about to undertake a PhD in science, technology or mathematics? If so, this unit will help you to examine your work processes. You will consider and develop the nature of postgraduate work and look at the planning of work needed at doctoral level.

Share in:

Have you ever wondered how scientists analyse the environment? This unit introduces you to the techniques used by science students at residential schools. You will learn how to determine where rocks have come from and how they were made. You will also examine the processes involved in determining the ecology of a particular area.

Share in:

The human eye is a fascinating and complicated device, but how do digital cameras capture images? This unit examines one of the human–machine interfaces that link optical information to the electronic world. You will learn how the components within a digital camera capture images for electronic manipulation.

Share in:

Where does the structure of our body come from? This unit looks at the structure of cells and how proteins are used by both animals and plants to create a framework for cellular growth. You will also learn how a material as fine as spider silk can exceed the strength of steel.

Share in:

Is your science teaching very ‘Western-oriented’? This unit is aimed at those teachers who would like to give a more global feeling to their teaching. You will learn how to source scientific articles with a greater emphasis on science and technology beyond the Western world and experience how such articles can be incorporated into teaching within the National Curriculum.