Students
PHYS7900 – Research Frontiers in Physics and Astronomy 1
2021 – Session 1, Weekday 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
Convenor
Matt Owers
7 Wally's Walk, rm 2.703
By appointment.
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit will engage students with research frontiers in physics and astronomy. Students will attend research seminars and journal clubs within the department's major research centres as well as follow a directed reading program of current literature. Students will be expected to actively critique and review selected literature through reports and group discussions. |
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: use your broad physics knowledge to gain insight into difficult and unfamiliar research material presented in written or spoken form.
- ULO2: discuss the context for a range of frontier activities in several research fields of physics and astronomy.
- ULO3: give written and oral presentations of contemporary research results and offer critical analysis of those results.
- ULO4: evaluate and describe how new results sit in the context of existing knowledge and ideas, and assess the likely impact of new research.
- ULO5: demonstrate the technical skills needed to access and navigate the scientific literature.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opportunity essay | 25% | No | Outline Week 6, Full essay Week 13. |
| Journal club participation | 20% | No | Throughout session. |
| Journal club presentation | 30% | No | Throughout session. |
| Seminar Forum | 25% | No | Throughout session. |
Opportunity essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 28 hours
Due: Outline Week 6, Full essay Week 13.
Weighting: 25%
An essay on a research opportunity relating to a recent research breakthrough.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- use your broad physics knowledge to gain insight into difficult and unfamiliar research material presented in written or spoken form.
- discuss the context for a range of frontier activities in several research fields of physics and astronomy.
- give written and oral presentations of contemporary research results and offer critical analysis of those results.
- evaluate and describe how new results sit in the context of existing knowledge and ideas, and assess the likely impact of new research.
- demonstrate the technical skills needed to access and navigate the scientific literature.
Journal club participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Throughout session.
Weighting: 20%
Assessment of informed participation in group discussions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- use your broad physics knowledge to gain insight into difficult and unfamiliar research material presented in written or spoken form.
- discuss the context for a range of frontier activities in several research fields of physics and astronomy.
- give written and oral presentations of contemporary research results and offer critical analysis of those results.
- evaluate and describe how new results sit in the context of existing knowledge and ideas, and assess the likely impact of new research.
- demonstrate the technical skills needed to access and navigate the scientific literature.
Journal club presentation
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Throughout session.
Weighting: 30%
Presenting selected research papers to peers.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- use your broad physics knowledge to gain insight into difficult and unfamiliar research material presented in written or spoken form.
- discuss the context for a range of frontier activities in several research fields of physics and astronomy.
- give written and oral presentations of contemporary research results and offer critical analysis of those results.
- evaluate and describe how new results sit in the context of existing knowledge and ideas, and assess the likely impact of new research.
- demonstrate the technical skills needed to access and navigate the scientific literature.
Seminar Forum
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Throughout session.
Weighting: 25%
Engaging with peers to discuss seminars, using an online forum.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- use your broad physics knowledge to gain insight into difficult and unfamiliar research material presented in written or spoken form.
- discuss the context for a range of frontier activities in several research fields of physics and astronomy.
- give written and oral presentations of contemporary research results and offer critical analysis of those results.
- evaluate and describe how new results sit in the context of existing knowledge and ideas, and assess the likely impact of new research.
- demonstrate the technical skills needed to access and navigate the scientific literature.
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
Background
This unit focuses on accessing and understanding research results through seminars, colloquia
and papers.
It addresses questions such as:
- How do we make a start on understanding unfamiliar material?
- How do we present material describing other people's results?
- How do we lead and contribute to a discussion of a third party's research work?
The key idea is that as scientists approaching new topics, the quantity and technical difficulty of material can be overwhelming. Nevertheless there are techniques that can allow us to grab footholds and start to develop a basic understanding of the material. In this unit, we will do this many times by encountering new research in several forms (papers, talks etc); following it up online by looking for further literature and other information; and reporting our conclusions in different ways: journal club discussions, short blogs and discussion fora.
Amongst other things we will try to evaluate:
- novelty and potential impact
- wider context of the work
- probable correctness
- quality of presentation
We will also think about the ways scientific research is a human activity. This has implications for how scientists and teams of scientists plan their projects over a series of papers, and what are appropriate ways for us as consumers of scientific reporting to discuss and critique the work of others. We will also discuss factors around the process of publication, including the peer review process, research funding and careers which are all linked to the overall enterprise of research as captured through the Academic Literature. The intention of this unit is that it should be unfamiliar and demanding, but rewarding. The skills developed and assessed are entirely different from any other unit this year. If you put in the time, it should be very achievable to perform well. This is also a unit where discussion and (respectful) exchange of opinions is central. The more each of us puts in, the more fun we will have.
Technologies used and resources
Part of the unit will involve online searching and accessing of current literature.
Unit Schedule
Class timetable
Main tutorial/workshop:
Week 1: Introduction session.
Week 2: Example Journal club presentation.
Week 3: Library workshop
Week 4 onwards: The floor is yours! At times decided in class, one or two students will present a journal club of around 20-25 minutes at each session and lead a discussion of the paper. Other topics related to seminars we've seen may come up from time to time.
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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
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.
Changes from Previous Offering
Matt Owers replaced Gavin Brennan as Unit convenor.
Unit information based on version 2021.01R of the Handbook