\begin{center}
\Large
\ovalbox{
\textbf{MAS8306}
}

\vspace{0.3cm}

\textbf{Topics in Statistics: \\ Environmental Extremes}

\vspace{0.65cm}
\large
\textbf{Lecturer: Dr. Lee Fawcett}
\vspace{0.2cm}

\normalsize

Office: \textsf{Room 2.07, Herschel Building}\ \ Phone: \textsf{208 7228} 

\vspace{0.2cm}

Email: \texttt{lee.fawcett@ncl.ac.uk} 
       

\end{center}


%\vspace{0.2cm}
\normalsize 
\noindent \textbf{Classes}	
\begin{itemize}
\item There will be two \textit{lectures} every week: Tuesdays at 2pm (King George VI LT5, before Easter; Herschel TR4 after Easter) and Wednesdays at 12 noon (Daysh G.05).     

\item There will also be the occasional \textit{computer practical session}: these have been scheduled on Mondays at 9am in teaching weeks 3 and 6 -- I will remind you about these closer to the time.  These will take place in the Chart PC cluster of the Barbara Starng TC.  
\end{itemize}

\noindent \textbf{Assessment and deadlines}
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|} \hline
                Assessment      &Weighting  &Date/Deadline     \\ \hline \hline
                Homework 1      & &4pm, Thursday 25th February \\
                Homework 2      &10\% total &4pm, Thursday 10th March \\
                Homework 3      &  &4pm, Thursday 12th May \\ \hline
                Mid--semester test&5\% &12 noon, Wednesday 13th April \\\hline
                Exam (half of MAS8306) &35\%   &May/June 2016\\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{center}


\noindent \textbf{Other stuff}
\begin{itemize}
\item Notes (with gaps) will be handed out in lectures.
\item A summarised version of the notes will be used in lectures as slides.  
\item The course website can be found via the ``Additional teaching information'' link on the Maths \& Stats webpage, in the MAS8306 Blackboard page, or directly via:

\begin{center}
\Large
\textbf{\texttt{\textcolor{red}{http://www.mas.ncl.ac.uk/$\sim$nlf8}}} \\

\end{center}
\normalsize

\item Please check your University email account regularly, as course announcements will often be made via email.

\item There is an excellent course textbook available to buy: \textit{An Introduction to Statistical Modeling of Extreme Values}, by Stuart Coles.  
\end{itemize}