Students As Researchers (Star) Staff Project Description Form

Students as Researchers (StAR) – Staff Project Description Form.

Thank you for taking an interest in StAR, the Students’ Union run project will offer research and development opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students within the research groups at the University of Stirling, giving them the chance to become active stake holders in the research community.

If you have a current research project that you feel a student would benefit from being involved with then please fill in the attached form and person specification and return to [email protected] with the subject heading “Students as Researchers Project”. We will then upload the project to our website (stirlingstudentsunion.com) for students to apply to become a part of.

What School(s) & Department (if applicable) does the project sit within? SCHOOL of NATURAL SCIENCES

What is the project title? Beyond BITCOINS: (Programming) block chain applications and smart contracts.

Could this project involve more than one student? If so, how many? 1-3

A brief outline of the project and the student’s involvement. Blockchain, the technology which bitcoins and other virtual currency rely upon, introduces a novel programming environment where a new class of applications can be developed, such as Smart Contracts. There are currently various proposals and different variations of blockchain models. We are interested in exploring how simple application can be developed and run of different blockchains. This is part of larger research, also involving some CS students in their final projects. Furthermore, we are also interested in exploring the possible impact of such applications on society, finance, … This opens the project to skilled, non-CS students, who have an idea/interest in addressing the potential changes that such technologies may cause. What tasks will the student be involved with? e.g Lab Work, Focus Groups, Project Planning Students will study the details of a given blockchain and will develop some simple (depending on the level of commitment – can be complex if desired) applications.

What benefits/skills will the student gain from being involved with the project? e.g specific laboratory skills, presentation, report writing ect. Being exposed to ideas of a strongly innovative and developing technology which is relevant for many discipline, including computer science, finance, marketing, but with potential applications in many others. Some programming skills are needed but the project is open – and could be adapted if there is interests – to non-CS students. What will the time commitment be for this project? Please answer in Hours/Week. From a minimum of about 4hrs/week to as much as the student is willing to devote (up to a reasonable limit – of course).

How long will the student be involved in the project for? Weeks, Months, Semester long? This is ideally a semester long project, keeping into account the learning curve to understand a new technology.

Will the student need a PVG check? Needed if they’re working with minors or vunerable adults. NO

Person Specification.

Knowledge Essential Desirable Knowledge of programming principles (unless a non-CS student x interested in social/financial aspects). Understanding of and interest in the ways in which innovative technologies can have an impact on society, finance, … (your area of expertise). You are a non-CS student interested in collaborating with CS students and researchers for developing your projects/investigations.

Skills Curiosity for new technologies and their applications to society x

Desire to learn new programming paradigms (CS) x

Desire to understand technology in a given context (social ….) – non CS Abilities Good communication skills x

Good attitude to collaboration and groupwork x

Experience Exposure to scientific approach/investigation x

Values & Ethics