Students

BIOL7900 – Research Frontiers in Biology

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances

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
Matthew Kosnik
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is centred around the Department of Biological Sciences seminar series. It is designed to expose MRes students to the broad range of current research topics in biological sciences. Through the seminars and discussions with seminar speakers students will engage deeply with current research topics, develop their science communication skills, become embedded in our active research community, and reflect on their future goals in the discipline.

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 an understanding of current biological research questions and methods
  • ULO2: Evaluate, synthesise and discuss current biological research with other biological researchers
  • ULO3: Communicate current biological research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences
  • ULO4: Apply networking skills in a variety of contexts with peers and partners from industry and academia
  • ULO5: Critically reflect on your current knowledge and transferability of these in relation to your career aspirations inside and/or outside academia

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
Seminars and Discussions 10% No Weekly
Time on task reflection 5% No Weekly
Social media 10% No TBD
Goals and needs assessment 10% No Week 3 or as agreed.
Summary paragraph 20% No Week 4 or as agreed.
General audience science communitcation 20% No Week 7 or as agreed.
Short opinion 25% No Week 10 or as agreed.

Seminars and Discussions

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

 

The aim of attending seminars and discussions is to broaden your knowledge and provide research inspiration. Departmental Seminars & Discussions This is a forum for visiting scientists to convey topics of interest to the department and an excellent opportunity for Department members to learn about cutting edge research. These seminars will form the basis for the discussion groups, as well as your other assessments. Following each Department seminar, you will meet with the speaker as a group and discuss the topic they presented. These discussions allow researchers to explore the topics they covered in more depth, and for you to benefit from their knowledge and thoughts. Proactive participation in a discussion group subsequent to the departmental seminar is required. External Seminars In addition to the Biology Seminar Series, you will also be required to attend 3 seminars elsewhere (e.g. other departments at Macquarie University, other universities, museums, botanical gardens or other research oriented institutions).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of current biological research questions and methods
  • Evaluate, synthesise and discuss current biological research with other biological researchers
  • Communicate current biological research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences

Time on task reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 5%

 

Through the semester students will keep a time on task diary, and the end of the session they will reflect on the time required to perform various tasks and reflect on their time management.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically reflect on your current knowledge and transferability of these in relation to your career aspirations inside and/or outside academia

Social media

Assessment Type 1: Non-academic writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: TBD
Weighting: 10%

 

Students will use social media and reflect on its role in science communication and professional networking.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply networking skills in a variety of contexts with peers and partners from industry and academia
  • Critically reflect on your current knowledge and transferability of these in relation to your career aspirations inside and/or outside academia

Goals and needs assessment

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 3 or as agreed.
Weighting: 10%

 

Students will discuss research aspirations with a potential supervisor and researchers at various career stages to reflect on their research interests, preferred methods and modes of work and future goals.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate, synthesise and discuss current biological research with other biological researchers
  • Apply networking skills in a variety of contexts with peers and partners from industry and academia
  • Critically reflect on your current knowledge and transferability of these in relation to your career aspirations inside and/or outside academia

Summary paragraph

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 4 or as agreed.
Weighting: 20%

 

Using a departmental seminar as a basis, students will write a Nature summary paragraph.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of current biological research questions and methods
  • Evaluate, synthesise and discuss current biological research with other biological researchers
  • Communicate current biological research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences

General audience science communitcation

Assessment Type 1: Non-academic writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 7 or as agreed.
Weighting: 20%

 

Based on one of the seminar topics, students will complete a science communication piece (blog, video, podcast, etc) aimed at a general audience.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of current biological research questions and methods
  • Evaluate, synthesise and discuss current biological research with other biological researchers
  • Communicate current biological research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences

Short opinion

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 10 or as agreed.
Weighting: 25%

 

Based on one of the seminar topics, students will write a short article to a professional standard.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of current biological research questions and methods
  • Evaluate, synthesise and discuss current biological research with other biological researchers
  • Communicate current biological research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences

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

Weekly seminars and discussions will happen via Zoom link to be provided via iLearn.

One full day workshop in week one is provided in person (with online back up available for those unable to attend in person). It is preferred that students attend the workshop in person if it is possible and they are felling well, but no formal medical certificate is required. Please advise the convenor as soon as possible if you will not be attending in person so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
07/02/2021 SC linkage

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook