Module Overview
This is a triple module in which a student undertakes an individual project under supervision of a research-active member of staff and during which the student is exposed to various research material and undertakes various tasks in relation to scientific communication. The individual project can be undertaken at an external collaborating establishment. Projects will be offered to students in a wide range of subjects aligned with their course specialism. The student will meet regularly with their supervisor in order to receive guidance and review progress.
Module Overview
The aim of the this module is to use appropriate cosmological models to understand the Universe from early to current and late epochs,
Module Overview
This module provides an introduction to Indian philosophy and gives students the opportunity to study some of the classic texts of Indian philosophy in detail. While texts will be studied in English translation students will also gain a familiarity with the elements of classical Indian (principally Sanskrit) philosophical vocabulary. Topics will be drawn from both the astika (orthodox Hindu) schools such as Naya-Vaisheshika and Samkhya-Yoga and nastika schools such as Jainism and Buddhism, and will cover areas such as logic, epistemology, metaphysics, and linguistics.
Module Overview
In contemporary research, condensed matter physics pertains to the physics of condensed phases of matter such as solid and liquids. Depending on the properties of interest, condensed matter physics is traditionally split in two different sub-fields: solid state physics dealing primarily with the behaviour of electrons in periodic solids, and soft-matter physics dealing with the properties of assemblies of atoms in a somewhat confined space. This module introduces the basic ideas of these two worlds from Drude’s model and the band theory of conductivity in solids to the physics of colloidal and polymeric systems.
Module Overview
This module explores fundamental questions about humanity's relationship with the natural world through the lens of philosophical inquiry. Drawing on both classical and contemporary thinkers, we examine key debates in environmental ethics, from the intrinsic value of nature to questions of ecological justice and sustainability. Students will critically assess different philosophical approaches to pressing environmental challenges, including climate change and biodiversity loss, while developing sophisticated arguments about environmental responsibility and stewardship. The module combines careful philosophical analysis with practical application, making it relevant for students interested in environmental issues, public policy, or fundamental questions about human-nature relationships. Through thoughtful discussion and analysis, students will be able to develop valuable critical thinking skills while engaging with one of the most significant intellectual challenges of our time.
Module Overview
This module gives a mathematical foundation of ideal and viscous fluid dynamics and their application to describing various flows in nature and technology.
Students are taught methods of analysing and solving equations of fluid dynamics using analytic and most modern computational tools.
Module Overview
The module aims to equip students with methods to analyse and solve various mathematical equations found in physics and technology.
Module Overview
A paradox arises when a collection of seemingly plausible claims lead to an absurd conclusion. For example, it seems true that if two people differ in height by just one millionth of a millimetre, then if one of them is tall, so is the other. However, this apparently logically entails that if anyone is tall, everyone is tall, which is absurd. (This is an example of the so called Sorites paradox.) Because paradoxes have this nature, they force us to reexamine things we take to be true. They are thus very valuable for improving our understanding of the world. In this module we will examine a number of paradoxes relating to different aspects of the world, such as time, movement, inquiry, and truth, hopefully gaining insights related to all these topics along the way.
Module Overview
This module provides an introduction to the major issues in contemporary philosophy of artificial intelligence. Students will explore the ethical challenges posed by current AI systems, including concerns about bias, transparency, and their impact on labor markets and society. They will examine speculative and existential questions about aligning AI with human values, preventing catastrophic misuse, and predicting AI's future role in human enhancement. The course also examines profound theoretical questions, such as the potential for moral agency and consciousness in AI, and the role of AI in personal relationships. This module equips students with the philosophical tools to critically analyze the most transformative technology of our time.
Module Overview
This module explores a variety of questions relating to the concept of evil, and introduces students to a range of philosophical theories of the nature of evil. Students can explore the language and ontology of evil, the concepts of ‘radical’ and ‘banal’ evil, and examine how the existence of evil is accounted for by key figures in the history of philosophy. Typically, questions to be considered include: Is evil an irreducibly theological concept? Are notions of evil relative to individuals or cultures? Is evil a positively existing force or is it the absence of some quality, as darkness is the absence of light? Why are humans capable of wickedness?
Module Overview
This module is designed to provide students with an insight into the teaching of science at secondary school level and does this by combining university lectures with an experience of a placement in a secondary school science department. The module is particularly aimed at those considering a career in science teaching and provides students with an opportunity to engage with cutting edge science education research and will examine how this research impacts directly on classroom practice.
Students will have the opportunity to gain an insight into some of the key ideas in science pedagogy and how these are implemented in the school science lessons and will develop an understanding about the barriers to learning science that many students experience.
Module Overview
It appears that everything we do or think is in time. We live temporal lives. However, it is not entirely clear quite what the nature of time is, nor how it bears on our lives. Therefore, in this module we will investigate time itself. As will become clear in these investigations, a proper understanding of time, requires reflection on various aspects of ourselves and our environments.