You are a graduate scientist working in an interdisciplinary research team within a not-for-profit research and development organisation. Your team leader has requested you prepare a review of the current scientific literature in one of three potential research areas. The company is considering taking their research in a new direction and the leadership team requires background information on the potential research areas before making a decision. You should ensure your literature review synthesises recent literature to give a picture of the current state of the science in that area. You are not required to critique the literature or to take a position, however you should try to identify knowledge gaps.

Task

Write an evidence-based scientific literature review on an aspect of the topic (nanotechnology, plastic pollution or smart devices and personal privacy) you have researched. A literature review synthesises the current literature, is evidence-based, compares different sources of information and perspectives, and identifies gaps in current research. A literature review can contain a mixture of sources (e.g. scholarly books, high quality reports, etc.), however; the focus must bepeer-reviewed journal articles.

Use tutor feedback on your draft to improve your final version. Write a response to the tutor feedback.

Instructions

1. Search the scientific literature for appropriate and relevant sources of information, with a focus on peer-reviewed journal articles. 2. Actively read and take notes on these sources.
3. Write down any questions that arise for you while you are reading
3. Write a clear and concise review of approximately 1500-2000 (excluding references) words, synthesising the literature.

4. Use the following formatting/style for your Literature Review

• Write in a series of paragraphs with a short introduction and conclusion. For details and examples of the expected structure of a scientific literature review, refer to weekly tasks and assignment resources.

• Typed, 12 pt Times New Roman font

• Double spaced with 2 cm margins

• Appropriate academic writing style and mechanics – refer to grading rubric for this assignment

• Cite all of your sources, using in-text citations and an end-text reference list