Cambridge University Reporter


Natural Sciences Tripos, Part III (Interdisciplinary papers), 2009-10: Notice

Part III

The Committee of Management for the Natural Sciences Tripos give notice of the following additional interdisciplinary papers, which shall be included in the examination requirements of one or more subjects.

Title of paper Mode of assessment May be offered in
IDP1: Atmospheric chemistry and global change One-hour written examination Chemistry;
Experimental and Theoretical Physics;
Geological Sciences
IDP2: The Earth system and climate changeOne-hour written examination Chemistry;
Experimental and Theoretical Physics;
Geological Sciences
IDP3: Materials, electronics, and renewable energy One-hour written examination Chemistry;
Experimental and Theoretical Physics;
Geological Sciences

Notwithstanding the examination requirements set out in Regulation 36 of the Natural Sciences Tripos, the following amendments shall apply to candidates offering interdisciplinary papers:

Part III Chemistry

Candidates may offer up to two of the interdisciplinary papers listed above, without restriction.

Candidates shall have less time to complete their other scheduled examination papers, such that, for each interdisciplinary paper offered:

Part III Experimental and Theoretical Physics

Each interdisciplinary paper shall be offered in place of one Minor Topic or equivalent work.

All candidates must offer three Minor Topics in total (to include interdisciplinary papers, Nuclear power engineering from Part IIB of the Engineering Tripos, a Long Vacation Project, and Entrepreneurship, each of which is equivalent to one Minor Topic when offered, and Advanced quantum field theory from Part III of the Mathematics Tripos, which is equivalent to two Minor Topics when offered).

Part III Geological Sciences

Candidates may offer one or two of the interdisciplinary papers listed above. Such a decision will affect the time duration of Papers 2 and 3 taken by the candidate.

Paper 2A will be a two-hour written paper for candidates offering one of Papers IDP1, IDP2, and IDP3.

Paper 2B will be a one-hour written paper for candidates offering two of Papers IDP1, IDP2, and IDP3.

Paper 3A will be a two-hour written paper for candidates offering one of Papers IDP1, or IDP3 (also includes candidates offering Paper IDP2 together with Paper IDP1 or Paper IDP3).

Paper 3 will be a one-hour written paper for candidates offering both Papers IDP1, and IDP3.

Candidates offering Papers IDP1 (Atmospheric chemistry) and/or IDP3 (Renewable energy) will also offer a literature review associated with each of these papers, of no more than 5,000 words.

The literature review will be on a topic which may be either proposed by the candidate and approved by the Head of Department, or chosen by the candidate from a list of approved topics announced by the Head of Department early in the Lent Term. The review shall be submitted to the Examiners not later than the first Wednesday of Full Easter Term.