Chemistry for Sustainability (MSc)

How will I be taught?

We aim to provide an inspiring environment for chemical education focused on the climate crisis and need for a sustainable future. Our postgraduate degrees reflect our current research strengths and interests, with projects fully integrated into our research groups.

You’ll be taught through lectures, tutorials, workshops, group seminar activities and practical classes, supported by material hosted on Learning Central, the University’s virtual learning environment. 

Group work

You’ll work in small teams on staff-guided mini projects to develop plans to solve real-world climate and sustainability problems and develop your teamwork skills.

Laboratory work  

You’ll learn through practical demonstrations, developing your planning, analysis and results interpretation skills, as well being able to show a professional standard of reporting. You’ll gain experience in relevant laboratory procedures and techniques, extending your proficiency in practical chemistry and preparing you to undertake an independent research project in the final stages of your programme.  
  
Project  

The course has a major element of independent, supervised project work. You’ll work on a project in your preferred area of chemistry for sustainability and be allocated a topic to investigate or develop. Working under the guidance of an expert in the field, you’ll present results of your work orally and in writing.  

A key feature of this course is an original research project focusing on sustainable / green chemistry in a field you’re interested in. You’ll be supervised by one of our leading researchers with access to state-of-the-art labs, enabling you to get hands-on using the latest techniques at the forefront of scientific research. Perhaps you’ll investigate polymer recycling or catalysis for self-cleaning sanitary products for use in the global south. You might be able to do field work at local farms using insect traps containing highly specific and potent insect attractants to protect food crops or work on bioengineering microorganisms to make these complex pheromones sustainably. Computational chemistry products might attract those who wish to predict the results of chemical experiments to minimise the use of potentially harmful procedures in the laboratory.  Sustainability is interdisciplinary and we work with our leading schools in biosciences, medicine and pharmacy, providing you with the opportunity to embrace disciplines other than chemistry in our quest for environmental solutions.

How will I be assessed?

Your assessment involves a blend of methods selected to suit the outcomes of each module and the course as a whole including:  

• Formal examinations with fixed time-limits
• Class tests
• Reports on laboratory work
• Planning, conduct and reporting of project work including peer assessment
• Essays 
• Problem-solving exercises (as workshop assignments)
• Oral and poster presentations

How will I be supported?

When you join the School of Chemistry, you’ll be allocated a personal tutor to support you in academic or personal matters, as well as being supported by a range of academic tutors. You’ll see one of your tutors each week, either as part of a small tutorial group or on a one-to-one basis in a personal tutorial.  All staff  are approachable and encourage students to book appointments to discuss any issues, academic or otherwise.

You’ll be given access to a comprehensive handbook describing your programme, academic and personal advice and University academic procedures and policies. 

We make extensive use of the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Learning Central) to share information.  

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Appraise advanced chemistry principles in the context of sustainability and apply to authentic problems encountered in research and industry.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the fundamental principles and theories in sustainability.
• Identify the role of sustainable chemistry in addressing the climate change emergency and formulate responses within a wider economic and societal context.
• Appraise chemistry products and processes using sustainability metrics.
• Critically appraise solutions to sustainable discovery and manufacturing of chemicals, materials and energy carriers supporting the wellbeing of society.

Intellectual Skills:

• Develop innovative chemistry solutions to address and implement change towards creating a sustainable society.
• Solve chemistry challenges that require a thorough and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of underpinning chemistry principles and practices.
• Collaborate within chemistry and across disciplines and with stakeholders to create a holistic approach to tackling sustainability challenges.
• Critique and defend proposed chemistry solutions within a research and industrial production context, as well as across wider societal impact.
• Critically assess data on current and evolving approaches to sustainability based on thorough research and validation metrics.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Conceive and instigate chemistry projects addressing specific challenges in sustainability.
• Critically review the existing scientific literature to establish state-of-the-art for chemically based sustainable solutions.
• Contribute positively and effectively when working in a team addressing chemical challenges and communicate these complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences.
• Independently report, present and critically evaluate findings resulting from the dissertation against stated objectives.
• Construct realistic developmental road maps to achieve sustainability goals through chemical products or processes, supported by measurements and metrics.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Deploy a range of skills including self-learning, reflection and career development.
• Collect, evaluate, synthesise and interpret qualitative and quantitative data in a variety of ways, identifying means to gain new data where needed. 
• Conceive, plan, execute and communicate outcomes of significant project or research work that includes originality on the application of knowledge and critical chemistry judgement.
• Critically appraise key aspects of the Climate Emergency and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and identify their relevance in formulating a chemistry-based response.
• Take decisions based on critical thinking and an understanding of the appropriate level of autonomy in decision making.