Students

BIOL8710 – Conservation in Practice

2021 – Session 1, Infrequent attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Culum Brown
culum.brown@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(20cp from (BIOL8610 or BIOL861) or BIOL873 or (BIOL8740 or BIOL874) or (BIOL8750 or BIOL875) or (BIOL8770 or BIOL877) or BIOL8870 or BIOL887)) and permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides an opportunity to gain valuable and relevant professional experience either as an intern with a private or public organisation or through a professional project investigating the conservation sector. Students intending to undertake an independent internship in this unit should source a placement prior to the start of session. Please contact the convenor for a list of potential placements and projects. This unit can be combined with BIOL8600 Biology Research Experience for a more extended experience.

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:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate professionalism by adhering to all workplace standards, particularly with regard to ethics, occupational health and safety, and legal requirements.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the scientific, social, and legal dimensions of an issue of particular relevance to the conservation sector.
  • ULO3: Collaborate effectively as part of a team working on an ongoing conservation project by contributing to the development and implementation of a scientifically rigorous plan of action.
  • ULO4: Apply knowledge and professional skills acquired in previous units (e.g. BIOL861, BIOL887) to conservation problems.

General Assessment Information

Academic Honesty – please read, as this is very important

Presenting the work of another person as one’s own is a serious breach of the University’s rules and carries significant penalties. The University’s Academic Honesty Policy can be found at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

In this unit, we will be checking written work for plagiarism using TURNITIN. Penalties for plagiarism may include a zero mark for the assignment or in more extreme cases, failure of the unit. Plagiarism WILL be noted on your academic record. Full details of penalties can be found at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/schedule_penalties.html

 

Extensions, penalties and disruptions to studies

Late assignments will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks allocated to the exercise per day. You may hand in your work after the due date and escape penalty only if you have an acceptable reason (usually a medical certificate). Discuss your problem with the Lecturer as early as possible before the due date, however note that all requests for extensions MUST be submitted using the online form: ask.mq.edu.au.

Information about the Disruptions to Studies policy and procedure is online at Policy Central: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/procedure.html.

Information on managing your Disruptions to Studies: http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/manage_your_study_program/disruption_to_studies/

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Internship Proposal 10% No 08/03/2021
Risk assessment 15% No 08/03/2021
Daily Diary 20% No 29/03/2021
Internship Report 30% No 04/06/2021
Supervisor Report 25% No 18/06/2020

Internship Proposal

Assessment Type 1: Design Task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 08/03/2021
Weighting: 10%

You will write a short proposal explaining the work that you will undertake in your placement (internship) and skills to be learnt.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professionalism by adhering to all workplace standards, particularly with regard to ethics, occupational health and safety, and legal requirements.
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the scientific, social, and legal dimensions of an issue of particular relevance to the conservation sector.

Risk assessment

Assessment Type 1: Summary
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: 08/03/2021
Weighting: 15%

Undertake a risk assessment for the placement.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professionalism by adhering to all workplace standards, particularly with regard to ethics, occupational health and safety, and legal requirements.
  • Apply knowledge and professional skills acquired in previous units (e.g. BIOL861, BIOL887) to conservation problems.

Daily Diary

Assessment Type 1: Lab book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: 29/03/2021
Weighting: 20%

Complete a daily diary recording work undertaken and skills learnt.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professionalism by adhering to all workplace standards, particularly with regard to ethics, occupational health and safety, and legal requirements.
  • Collaborate effectively as part of a team working on an ongoing conservation project by contributing to the development and implementation of a scientifically rigorous plan of action.

Internship Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 04/06/2021
Weighting: 30%

You will write a report (literature review and methods protocols for internship) describing what is currently known in the area of your project and how your work will contribute to further understanding in this area.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professionalism by adhering to all workplace standards, particularly with regard to ethics, occupational health and safety, and legal requirements.
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the scientific, social, and legal dimensions of an issue of particular relevance to the conservation sector.
  • Apply knowledge and professional skills acquired in previous units (e.g. BIOL861, BIOL887) to conservation problems.

Supervisor Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: 18/06/2020
Weighting: 25%

Supervisors will provide a report on student performance, progress, abilities acquired and attendance throughout placement.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the scientific, social, and legal dimensions of an issue of particular relevance to the conservation sector.
  • Collaborate effectively as part of a team working on an ongoing conservation project by contributing to the development and implementation of a scientifically rigorous plan of action.
  • Apply knowledge and professional skills acquired in previous units (e.g. BIOL861, BIOL887) to conservation problems.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Entirely online

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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.

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook