Transferrable professional skills are the most valuable assets of your postgraduate education. The ability to critically analyse, integrate and communicate in a multidisciplinary research environment provides the foundation for your successful career in environmental sciences. In the future funding landscape it will be important that you are able to work inter-disciplinarily across natural and social sciences and the ability to explain your science to policy makers and funding agencies holds the key to a successful career as a future researcher.
The aim of this module is to equip you with an array of professional skills from utilising modern learning environments to the confident application of statistical methods for handling, analysing and interpreting large datasets. Students will build a portfolio of professional skills that assist with finding employment along various career paths after postgraduate education. A combination of seminars and workshops is provided to include CV and application clinics, facilitate expedition planning, introduce health-and safety aspects of practical work, and increase numeracy skills.

Learning Outcomes
To pass this module students will need to be able to:
Evaluate the issues involved in designing and executing a research programme, within the specific context of field-based, laboratory-based and desk-based research.
Formulate appropriate research questions, and test scientific and statistical hypotheses.
Design an appropriate experiment programme to test hypotheses including assessing the appropriate statistical power.
Demonstrate understanding of the specialised techniques and approaches involved in collecting, analysing and communicating research findings.
Articulate and communicate research findings in various formats to varying audiences.
Evaluate weaknesses in research skills and data analysis of relevant literature and scientific papers.
Take a critical approach to personal development planning for their career in the context of the graduate labour market.
Recognise personal and professional skills that will enhance employability, and research opportunities for skills development available to them during their university career.
Demonstrate competence in job application skills, including CV and cover letter writing and the interview process.