Students

CBMS234 – Alchemy, Drugs and the Quest for Immortality

2015 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Administrator
Christopher McRae
Contact via e-mail
F7B328
Lecturer in Charge
Peter Karuso
Contact via e-mail
F7B232
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
15cp or admission to GCertBiotech
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
CBMS123
Unit description Unit description
Alchemy is the art and science of converting one substance into another and it has been an important factor in shaping our society. Metals, ceramics, drugs and plastics have changed and enhanced our lifestyle. Drugs, fertilisers and pesticides have saved millions of lives, but not without some unforeseen environmental or social problems. When this happens, decisions have to be made and costs weighed against benefits. An appreciation of such issues is needed for better understanding of important problems that face society. This unit explores the way chemistry affects our lives, and the way chemists work things out. The unit does not aim to teach chemistry but looks at the impact that chemical sciences has had on civilisation, and where the latest molecular innovations are likely to lead us. The commercial significance of key biological processes and industries is addressed, emphasising the Australian context. The unit also examines connections between chemistry and other scientific fields as diverse as psychology, finance, medicine, environmental studies and astronomy, as well as revealing aesthetic and philosophical aspects of chemistry. This unit is taught online with a combination of topical lectures and multimedia material.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Be able to discuss important issues that have a chemical basis from a rational perspective
  • Be able to critically evaluate non-specialist literature (e.g. Newspapers) that discuss chemical and biochemical issues
  • Understand the role of chemistry and the molecular sciences in drug discovery and medicine
  • Understand the role of chemistry as the source and solution of environmental issues
  • Understand the role of chemistry in industry
  • Understand how chemists approach scientific and seek to solve chemical questions
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Workshop 1 8% Week 3
Workshop 2 8% Week 7
Workshop 3 8% Week 9
Workshop 4 8% Week 11
Workshop 5 8% Week 13
Essay 1 20% Week 5
Essay 2 20% Week 8
Essay 3 20% Week 12

Workshop 1

Due: Week 3
Weighting: 8%

Chemistry: Then and Now


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Understand the role of chemistry in industry
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Workshop 2

Due: Week 7
Weighting: 8%

Drugs or Biomolecules


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Understand the role of chemistry and the molecular sciences in drug discovery and medicine
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Workshop 3

Due: Week 9
Weighting: 8%

Catalysts - Industrial / Biological


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Workshop 4

Due: Week 11
Weighting: 8%

Environmental Chemistry


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Understand the role of chemistry as the source and solution of environmental issues
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Workshop 5

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 8%

Chemical Identity and New Materials


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Understand how chemists approach scientific and seek to solve chemical questions
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Essay 1

Due: Week 5
Weighting: 20%

Pick either a Book Chapter  or a Chemical Industry and write an essay


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Be able to discuss important issues that have a chemical basis from a rational perspective
  • Understand the role of chemistry in industry
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Essay 2

Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%

Write a Poem! On Chemistry, chemical philosophy or the lectures so far

or

Write a critical Essay on the philosophy of Science if it had been written by chemists


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Be able to critically evaluate non-specialist literature (e.g. Newspapers) that discuss chemical and biochemical issues
  • Understand how chemists approach scientific and seek to solve chemical questions
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Essay 3

Due: Week 12
Weighting: 20%

The life and works of a famous chemist of Nobel laureate

or

The ethical, political and social responsibility of chemists


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand how chemists approach scientific and seek to solve chemical questions

Delivery and Resources

All lectures, assessment, feedback and resources for this unit are on iLearn.

The web page for these units can be found at:  http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/  You are expected to access the web pages regularly, where you may find announcements, links to interesting internet facilities and sites of interest to the course, downloadable software, and lots of other interesting stuff.  In addition all the lectures and printed notes for the lectures will be found only on the unit web page and it is up to you to keep up with the lectures and assessments.You are expected to have access to the internet and access the unit iLearn site on a regular basis.  Please note information may also be sent by e-mail to your student e-mail account so please look at your e-mail account on a regular basis.

All lectures are on-line via the Echo360 EchoCenter page in iLearn. If you are unfamiliar with the Echo360 EchoCenter then refer to the "Student Guide to Echo360 Lecture Recordings" available from: http://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/lecture_recordings.htm.

All unit notes are presented as PDF files that require acrobat reader (http://get.acrobat.com/reader/).

All other resources are available at the Library

Unit Schedule

Lecturers: PK = Prof.  Peter Karuso;  JJ = Dr Joanne Jamie*;  MN = Ms Maree Nelson*; BO = Prof. Brian Orr*

Week # commencing

e-lecture Office hours: Tuesday 1–2

e-lecture Office hours: Friday 10–11

Assignment / activities scheduled this week

   0 .. 20 Jul

Read Unit Guide and familiarise yourself with the iLearn resources

Read Unit Guide and familiarise yourself with the iLearn resources

 Complete the unit prequiz

   1 .. 27 Jul

L1: Chemistry through the Ages BO

L2: Elements of Chemistry BO

Familiarisation with unit notes, Library services, e-resources,; Complete the unit prequiz

   2 .. 3 Aug

LIVE LECTURE L0

Introductory Remarks and navigating this unit 1 PM # LECTURE IN C5C T1#

L3: Aluminium from Ore to Oven BO plus Preview of L4, L5 & E1

L4: Bridges for Civilisation BO

Last Chance:

Complete the unit prequiz

Prepare for Workshop W1

   3 .. 10 Aug

L5: Chemistry – Creative, Useful BO                  and Central

L6: Health, Life & Natural Products PK  – Shipworm to Carbolic Acid

... W1 is due at 9 am Friday

 

W1 Pick a Pair of Elements            Prepare for Workshop W1 and Essay E1

   4 .. 17 Aug

L7: Health, Life & Natural Products PK   – Salvarsan to Penicillin; The quest for immortality

L8:      Health, Life & Natural Products - PK       What Do Molecules Look Like?

Prepare for Essay E1

   5 .. 24 Aug

L9:      Health, Life & Natural Products JJ    – Chemicals from Nature

... E1 is due at 9 am Monday

L10:  Biochemical Catalysts PK          – Enzymes at Work  

 

E1   Pick either a Book Chapter                       or a Chemical Industry                      

   6 .. 31 Aug

L11:     Industrial Catalysts – BO          The Legacy of Fritz Haber

L12:   Molecules Everywhere BO    Space, Primordial Slime

 

Prepare for Workshop 2  

   7 .. 7 Sept

L13:  Is Chemistry Art or Science? PK     

L14:  New Materials – Modern Alchemy JJ     

... W2 is due at 9 am Friday

 

W2 Pick a Pair of either Drugs                           or Biomolecules

RECESS (14 Sept – 27 Sept) prepare essay 2

   8 .. 28 Sept

L15:      Chemistry in and for the Environment #1 MN                                       

... E2 is due at 9 am Tuesday

L16:      Chemistry in and for the Environment #2 MN                                       

E2   Write a Poem! On Chemistry, chemical philosophy or the lectures so far Prepare for Workshop 3

   9 ..6 Oct

L17: Chemical Identity PK                – What are you?

L18:           Chemical Identity JJ        – How much of you is there?

... W3 is due at 9 am Friday

W3 Catalysts - Biological and Industrial                     

  10 .. 12 Oct

L19: Chemical Identity PK           – What is going on?

L20: Chemical identity PK    – The same ... but          different

 

Prepare for Workshop 4

  11 .. 19 Oct

L21:  When Things Go PK    Wrong …

 

L22:  A Famous Chemist – BO    Linus Pauling

... W4 is due at 9 am Friday

 

W4  Environmental Chemistry

Prepare for Essay E3

  12 .. 26 Oct

L23 is next week (see below)

... E3 is due at 9 am Monday

L24:  Chemical Issues MN 

 

Prepare for Workshop W5

  13 .. 9 Nov

L23:  Stop Press – The 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, PK  LIVE LECTURE 1 PM # LECTURE IN C5C T1#

 

... W5 is due at 9 am Friday

 

W5 Identity, Structure,       Composition & Change

 

Note:  CBMS reserves the right to vary details of this schedule if necessary

 

* Please note, the e-lectures given by Prof. Brian Orr and Maree Nelson are administered by Dr Chris McRae and those delivered by Joanne Jamie are administered by Prof Peter Karuso

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the role of chemistry and the molecular sciences in drug discovery and medicine
  • Understand how chemists approach scientific and seek to solve chemical questions

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop 2
  • Workshop 5
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Be able to critically evaluate non-specialist literature (e.g. Newspapers) that discuss chemical and biochemical issues
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop 1
  • Workshop 2
  • Workshop 3
  • Workshop 4
  • Workshop 5
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Be able to discuss important issues that have a chemical basis from a rational perspective
  • Understand the role of chemistry and the molecular sciences in drug discovery and medicine

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop 2
  • Essay 1

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Be able to discuss important issues that have a chemical basis from a rational perspective
  • Be able to critically evaluate non-specialist literature (e.g. Newspapers) that discuss chemical and biochemical issues
  • Understand the role of chemistry as the source and solution of environmental issues

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop 1
  • Workshop 2
  • Workshop 3
  • Workshop 4
  • Workshop 5
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Understand how chemists approach scientific and seek to solve chemical questions

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop 5
  • Essay 2
  • Essay 3

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Be able to discuss important issues that have a chemical basis from a rational perspective
  • Understand the role of chemistry in industry

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop 1
  • Workshop 2
  • Workshop 3
  • Workshop 4
  • Workshop 5
  • Essay 1

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Be able to discuss important issues that have a chemical basis from a rational perspective
  • Be able to critically evaluate non-specialist literature (e.g. Newspapers) that discuss chemical and biochemical issues
  • Understand the role of chemistry as the source and solution of environmental issues
  • Understand the role of chemistry in industry
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop 1
  • Workshop 2
  • Workshop 3
  • Workshop 4
  • Workshop 5
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify issues facing humanity that are caused by chemicals or have have their solution in chemistry
  • Be able to discuss important issues that have a chemical basis from a rational perspective
  • Be able to critically evaluate non-specialist literature (e.g. Newspapers) that discuss chemical and biochemical issues
  • Understand the role of chemistry as the source and solution of environmental issues
  • Understand the role of chemistry in industry
  • Identify chemical issues facing humanity

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop 1
  • Workshop 2
  • Workshop 3
  • Workshop 4
  • Workshop 5
  • Essay 1
  • Essay 2

Changes from Previous Offering

  1. The first live lecture (L0) is now in week 2
  2. Chris McRae will deliver L0