University College London

This course introduces artificial intelligence and neural computing as both technical subjects and as fields of intellectual activity. The course introduces basic concepts of artificial intelligence for reasoning and learning behavior; and introduces neural computing as an alternative knowledge acquisition/representation paradigm, to explain its basic principles and to describe a range of neural computing techniques and their application areas.

The UK’s departure from the EU is a historical event, with global political and economic implications. This course gives students a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of Brexit: Why did British people come to this unexpected decision? Will the British economy survive the shock of leaving the EU? Could this be the beginning of the end for the European Union? In the process, students learn about UK and EU politics, economics, and political economy. The course includes team work on multimedia projects, such as a hypothetical campaign for the next country that considers leaving the EU. The course also includes visits to the European Commission’s Representation to the UK and the headquarters of the pro-EU campaign, as well as talks by representatives of organizations on both sides of the Brexit campaign, such as the European Movement and Change Britain.

This course presents modern genetics in a specifically non-molecular context in the hope that students see that molecular biology has the potential to answer larger and more important questions rather than being simply an end in itself. Students are introduced to the genetics of a variety of creatures from peas to humans. Topics include basic Mendelism, genetic linkage and linkage maps, chromosomes, cytoplasmic inheritance, mutation and mutagenesis, quantitative genetics, family structure, population genetics, and evolutionary genetics.

The course provides an introduction to the key concepts and applications of geomorphology, with particular reference to the understanding of fluvial, slope, coastal/marine systems. The course builds upon the basic understanding of earth systems and environmental change acquired during first year students, and facilitates a deeper appreciation of the conceptual and technical issues involved in understanding how landform morphology evolves at various time and space scales. Topics include a brief history of geomorphology, showing how it has emerged from geological origins as a distinct geoscience in its own right; key concepts related to the analysis of landform morphology and the understanding of temporal and spatial scales of landform change (including computer practicals); processes of sediment entrainment, transport, and deposition, illustrated in the context of hillslope, aeolian, fluvial and coastal landforms; and the concept of morphodynamics.

The course delivers a comprehensive introduction to the field of project management. Topics include the processes of project management, leading and managing the project team, project finances and resourcing, the environment and project risk and its management, project administration and the work of the project office, and project development and the critical aspects of using project work in all aspects of organization change and development.