Nottingham Futures
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| LIBA2003 | Liberal Arts | 2 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- LIBA2003
- School
- Liberal Arts
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
This module focuses on applied knowledge for Natural Science and Liberal Arts students as it asks students to engage with the research undertaken at the University of Nottingham and use it to address contemporary issues within the city. As science and technology are accelerating at a rapid rate, we are beset by dangers across the world that threaten our environment, challenge our society and endanger life on Earth. These are concerns which impact upon communities and change peoples’ lives. Therefore, we need to focus our skills as scientists, humanities scholars and social science researchers and then integrate these approaches into an interdisciplinary agenda. We need collaboration.
The University of Nottingham is at the forefront of dealing with these issues, as it is a world-leading institution for its research. Within this module, students will learn in workshops led by scholars from across the university about how they can apply their skills across different fields and integrate their knowledge with others to solve problems. Students will study scientific techniques and social policies and will engage with how the social, political and cultural impact of new ideas or initiatives can be planned or understood. Once students have examined how interdisciplinary science and humanities research can be
combined in these fields, they will then apply these concepts to address problems in the local area.
Through workshops and lectures, students will engage with the economic, social and environmental issues that are preventing or impairing development that can meet the needs of current and future generations in Nottingham. Students will be asked to solve the question: how can we improve Nottingham’s future? In the spring semester students contribute to solving local sustainability issues by proposing policies or strategies that address issues based on the latest technological, scientific, political and social research of the university. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students can apply their disciplinary
knowledge of the sciences, arts and humanities and work to improve life in Nottingham. This might be achieved through scientific advances discussed in this module, which may include
- alterations in transport technology so that it is more efficient and less polluting;
- improving the design of housing to accommodate a growing population within a limited space;
- allowing people to feel the psychological benefits of the natural environment when there is limited access to green spaces;
- driving the growth in new industries that provide employment ;
- clearing up pollution in soil, water and air to provide health benefits;
- how behavioural changes in peoples' use of public transport can be used to improve the take-up of buses or trams
Target Students
Available to Year 2, Year 3, or Year 4 students across the University, including Exchange and subsidiary students.
Classes
- One 2-hour workshop each week for 23 weeks
Assessment
- 30% Assignment 1: Article for Wider Audiences (20%) and Accompanying Infographic (10%) on local sustainability issue (Individual) (1,000 words in combination)
- 20% Assignment 2: Review paper critically analysing of a specific area of the university research portfolio (Group) (4000 words)
- 30% Assignment 3: Policy or strategy paper for implementing UON research in the local area (Group) (4000 words)
- 20% Assignment 4: In-class presentation on “A Sustainable Future for Nottingham” (Individual) (5-10 minutes)
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
Through this module, students will develop their knowledge of the methods and approaches of the university's interdisciplinary research teams and then apply these ideas to address sustainability issues in the local area. Students will be required to research local issues connected to poverty, health, education, equality, environment and employment and propose solutions based on cutting-edge university research. Students will be required to understand the concepts, methodology and results in an interdisciplinary research area and critically evaluate its impact on society. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams in order to gain appreciation of how different subject disciplines can contribute to solving a problem from technological, scientific, political and/or social viewpoints. The aim of the module is to build awareness and experience of working in an interdisciplinary environment and solving problems that can have an impact on society.Learning Outcomes
• be able to coordinate and work as part of a group in an interdisciplinary team
• apply approaches and methods from across the humanities and sciences
• understand, evaluate and apply data from research teams to solve problems
• communicate complex, academic arguments to a range of audiences
• examine sustainability and public engagement issues as an interdisciplinary problem