Students

GEOS335 – Marine Science Capstone

2019 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer, Convenor
April Abbott
Contact via email
12 Wally's Walk, Level 3
By appointment
Lecturer
Katherine Dafforn
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
6cp from (BIOL373 or GEOS309 or ENVE301 or ENVS301)
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
In this interdisciplinary capstone unit students consolidate their learning across the biology, earth and environmental science subjects that comprise the Bachelor of Marine Science degree and prepare themselves for appropriate transition to the next stage of their careers. This involves active reflection on prior learning, building and articulating a positive self-understanding, exploring opportunities, clarifying goals, acquiring adequate employability and workplace skills, and building linkages with professional communities and industries. A series of activities including guest speakers will facilitate students' reflection on their studies and desires for their own career paths. The course also covers key topics such as communicating science, the publication and review process, research ethics, and career pathways.

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:

  • Evaluate and synthesise data to address questions related to marine science
  • Design and implement a research plan to address a specific scientific question
  • Demonstrate competency in a range of marine science relevant laboratory and field techniques
  • Proficient science communication and advocacy for the importance of interdisciplinary linkages in understanding marine processes
  • Assess and plan for future careers through the recognition and development of transferable skills and reflection on professional ethics.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research Proposal 20% No Week 4
Notebook 10% No Week 8
Data Report 20% No Week 10
Professional Online Profile 15% No 12
Final Presentation 25% No Week 13
Reflective Journal 10% No Week 13

Research Proposal

Due: Week 4
Weighting: 20%

Students will write a research proposal prior to field work.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Design and implement a research plan to address a specific scientific question

Notebook

Due: Week 8
Weighting: 10%

Students will keep a field and laboratory notebook to document their research project.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate competency in a range of marine science relevant laboratory and field techniques

Data Report

Due: Week 10
Weighting: 20%

Students will summarise their research results into a written report.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and synthesise data to address questions related to marine science
  • Demonstrate competency in a range of marine science relevant laboratory and field techniques

Professional Online Profile

Due: 12
Weighting: 15%

Students will build a professional online presence in stages throughout the unit.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Proficient science communication and advocacy for the importance of interdisciplinary linkages in understanding marine processes
  • Assess and plan for future careers through the recognition and development of transferable skills and reflection on professional ethics.

Final Presentation

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 25%

Students will give an oral presentation on their research projects.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and synthesise data to address questions related to marine science
  • Proficient science communication and advocacy for the importance of interdisciplinary linkages in understanding marine processes

Reflective Journal

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%

Students will complete a reflection on their experience of planning and executing a research project and how that experience has informed their future plans.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Assess and plan for future careers through the recognition and development of transferable skills and reflection on professional ethics.

Delivery and Resources

This unit will require a one day field trip, field supplies will be provided but students will need field work appropriate clothing.  No textbook is required for this unit.  Regular announcements and resources will be provided via the iLearn site.  

Unit Schedule

The mandatory field work for this unit will take place on Sunday 25th August.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

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

Graduate Capabilities

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

  • Demonstrate competency in a range of marine science relevant laboratory and field techniques
  • Proficient science communication and advocacy for the importance of interdisciplinary linkages in understanding marine processes
  • Assess and plan for future careers through the recognition and development of transferable skills and reflection on professional ethics.

Assessment tasks

  • Notebook
  • Data Report
  • Professional Online Profile
  • Final Presentation
  • Reflective Journal

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

  • Evaluate and synthesise data to address questions related to marine science
  • Design and implement a research plan to address a specific scientific question

Assessment tasks

  • Research Proposal
  • Data Report
  • Final Presentation

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 outcomes

  • Evaluate and synthesise data to address questions related to marine science
  • Design and implement a research plan to address a specific scientific question
  • Demonstrate competency in a range of marine science relevant laboratory and field techniques
  • Proficient science communication and advocacy for the importance of interdisciplinary linkages in understanding marine processes

Assessment tasks

  • Research Proposal
  • Notebook
  • Data Report
  • Professional Online Profile
  • Final Presentation

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 outcome

  • Proficient science communication and advocacy for the importance of interdisciplinary linkages in understanding marine processes

Assessment tasks

  • Professional Online Profile
  • Final Presentation