Physics and Chemistry are enabling disciplines. the modern world has complex questions that need a range of tools to solve. Chemistry and Physics supply these tools.
Why do postgraduate
BSc is a good survey degree but by doing it you can't necessarily call yourself a Chemist
PG study is sharply focussed on a particular area and they build on ug to fill in all of the advanced details
Master of Science
1 more year of study and research
entering the real world they need to not just absorb knowledgt but generate knowledge - knowledge goes from passive to dynamic
prepares people to do PhD - research on the cutting edge
Taught Masters
Chemistry/Physics but less academic more employment focus - Master of Drug Discovery
the programme is developing more and will be interdisciplinary but not until 2018
Honours
is the beginning of Masters OR more general degree with converts to a taught Masters.
testing ground for people unsure about focus or pg study in general
not great to international mobility
domestic students get funding from government but Master part 1 they don't
To make it in the world you needs a Masters
Research
they start to experience this at undergraduate but really dive into it as pg
Taught = project based, industry or led placements (60 points)
Masters = research masters equivalent (90 points)
You need to be a pg student to be let loose in the labs or become involved in research/approval of drugs into country
How do people find their topic?
work with research mentor - often supply student with idea, students may want to work wiht a particular supervisor and in their lab. Often this work is part of a funded grant and this provides direction for the topic
more directed at the start and then they are freer and freer as things go along to develop their own ideas and follow them.
Strong interactions between research centres and the core
research groups - Chemistry spectroscopy (strength of school) - several people interact on this. Also relates to MIR spectroscopy which has medical applications etc. (I am not sure this i the correct spelling of spectroscopy)
Funding
Scholarships for Masters
Stipends, which are usually written into grant proposals
2x masters students might cost same as 1x PhD
conference/research visits/field trips
They have more scholarships than other areas
they top-up standard scholarship in order to be more internationally competitive
Ferrier - chem/bio interdisciplinary area, give it a great boost through facilities and expertise in institution
MacDiarmid - chem/physics
Student experience
students are integrated as part of the School and then within this as part of research groups.
all contribute to research programmes
there are functions where everyone comes together - students meet socially as well as through research work
what you are doing matters, you are part of advancing knowledge
no isolated, nobody works alone, you always work collaboratively
you are testing against reality\
there are pg workshops over the summer period, these help build both technical and communication skills. as part of this PhD students may give workshops based on something they have developed. Workshops work in conjunction with MASA (sp?) pg group
Connections
GNS
Media School at hospital and DHB
NIWA (not sure how much)
Start up area - commercialisation
Kai Chang - graduate currently working in commercialisation
