244 research outputs found
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Realâlife research projects improve student engagement and provide reliable data for academics
Student engagement can have a positive influence on student success. Many methods exist for fostering engagement but tend to be generic and require tailoring to specific contexts, subjects, and students. In the case of undergraduate science students, practical classes are a popular tool for increasing engagement. However, despite strong potential for improvement via links with âreal lifeâ research projects (RLRPs), few academic staff incorporate research participation with teaching activities. This is potentially due to poor time availability and low opinions of students' ability to collect reliable data. This study aims to examine whether involvement with RLRPs can generate reliable scientific data and also act as a motivational tool for engaging tertiary science students. A preexisting core activity for firstâyear biology and marine biology students was modified to include a short RLRP component. Studentâbased data collection and a questionnaire about experiences were used to examine the reliability of studentâcollected data and student perceptions of RLRPs. Results indicated that error rate in studentâcollected data was minimal. Irrespective of participating in a ânormalâ practical class or a class with a RLRP component, students collected equally accurate data. However, when the topic aligned specifically with their degree subject, student accuracy was higher. All students surveyed reported high motivation with the idea of RLRP participation, placing high importance on this from an educational and employability perspective. Yet, students were not confident about participating in RLRPs until they had engaged with one, suggesting that introducing such projects into taught sessions earlyâon may encourage students to seek further opportunities in the future. In conclusion, incorporating RLRPs into the curriculum of undergraduate science courses has considerable potential benefits for both students and academic staff
The benefits of guide training for sustainable cetacean-based tourism in developing countries, case study â Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve, Mozambique
Socio-cultural relationship between recreational sea anglers and blue sharks (Prionace glauca) in the United Kingdom
Regional assessment of the conservation status of snubfin dolphins (<i>Orcaella heinsohni</i>) in the Kimberley region, Western Australia
Ranging Patterns and Site Fidelity of Snubfin Dolphins in Yawuru Nagulagun/Roebuck Bay, Western Australia
Shipping in the north-east Atlantic : identifying spatial and temporal patterns of change
This work was supported by a faculty PhD bursary from the University of Portsmouth. Work was supported by the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme.Maritime traffic is increasing globally, with a four-fold increase in commercial vessel movements between 1992 and 2012. Vessels contribute to noise and air pollution, provide pathways for non-native species, and collide with marine wildlife. While knowledge of shipping trends and potential environmental impacts exists at both local and global levels, key information on vessel density for regional-scale management is lacking. This study presents the first in-depth spatio-temporal analysis of shipping in the north-east Atlantic region, over three years in a five-year period. Densities increased by 34%, including in 73% of Marine Protected Areas. Western Scotland and the Bay of Biscay experienced the largest increases in vessel density, predominantly from small and slow vessels. Given well-documented impacts that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is crucial that this situation continues to be monitored â particularly in areas designated to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems which may already be under pressure.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
Optical Properties of Organic Haze Analogues in Water-rich Exoplanet Atmospheres Observable with JWST
JWST has begun its scientific mission, which includes the atmospheric
characterization of transiting exoplanets. Some of the first exoplanets to be
observed by JWST have equilibrium temperatures below 1000 K, which is a regime
where photochemical hazes are expected to form. The optical properties of these
hazes, which controls how they interact with light, are critical for
interpreting exoplanet observations, but relevant experimental data are not
available. Here we measure the density and optical properties of organic haze
analogues generated in water-rich exoplanet atmosphere experiments. We report
optical constants (0.4 to 28.6 {\mu}m) of organic haze analogues for current
and future observational and modeling efforts covering the entire wavelength
range of JWST instrumentation and a large part of Hubble. We use these optical
constants to generate hazy model atmospheric spectra. The synthetic spectra
show that differences in haze optical constants have a detectable effect on the
spectra, impacting our interpretation of exoplanet observations. This study
emphasizes the need to investigate the optical properties of hazes formed in
different exoplanet atmospheres, and establishes a practical procedure to
determine such properties.Comment: 4 figures, 1 Table, Published in Nature Astronom
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