Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Matthew Kosnik matthew.kosnik@mq.edu.au Contact via matthew.kosnik@mq.edu.au 14 Eastern Road, 330 before or after seminars/discussions or by appointment. Caitlin Kordis caitlin.kordis@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites Admission to MRes
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This foundation unit deeply engages students with the broad topics, big questions, strategies, new directions of scientific thought and break-through methods currently emerging in the biological, chemical, earth and environmental sciences. Activities undertaken include tailored workshops and presentations by research groups and academics, seminar attendance, directed reading of research literature, as well as the discussion and critique of wide-ranging research topics. Students will demonstrate their understanding of current research and develop their science communication skills based on the research frontiers explored; they will become embedded in our active research community, and reflect on their future goals in their chosen 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 scientific questions and methods
ULO3: Communicate current research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences with supporting evidence
ULO2: Critically evaluate and discuss current research with other researchers
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

Engagement – please read, as this is very important

As a BPhil / MRes Yr 1 student you are becoming part of our community of researchers. You need to be an active participant in the unit activities. You will be expected to lead and particpate in discussions, ask questions and engage with seminar speakers, and proactively work to find your place in our diverse research community.

Academic Honesty

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

Due dates and assessement topics

For assessments where the topic is to be derived from a seminar / discussion - you must get the topic approved by the instructor prior to submission. Topics covered in leading discussions, summary paragraphs and general audience communicaiton piece need to be distinct and span the breadth of the research undertaken within the school with no more than one of those from your area of focus. In the first two weeks of the session you will have the opportunity to adjust the due dates listed in the unit guide through agreement with the instructor. Once due dates are agreed they are final (see: extensions and penalties).

Extensions, late penalties

In-class activities must be undertaken at the time indicated in the unit guide / timetable (late submissions will not be accepted). Should these activities be missed due to illness or misadventure, students may apply for Special Consideration. All other assessments must be submitted by 5:00 pm on their due date. Should these assessments be missed due to illness or misadventure, students should apply for Special Consideration using the online form: ask.mq.edu.au.

A 12-hour grace period will be given after which the following deductions will be applied to the awarded assessment mark: 12 to 24 hours late = 10% deduction; for each day thereafter, an additional 10% per day or part thereof will be applied until five days beyond the due date. After this time, a mark of zero (0) will be given. For example, an assessment worth 20% is due 5 pm on 1 January. Student A submits the assessment at 1 pm, 3 January. The assessment received a mark of 15/20. A 20% deduction is then applied to the mark of 15, resulting in the loss of three (3) marks. Student A is then awarded a final mark of 12/20.

Off-shore students Off-shore students must email the convenor as soon as possible to discuss study options.

COVID Information and on-campus classes On-campus teaching continues to be scheduled for Session 1, 2022. Masks are compulsory for all classes in indoor spaces and social distancing will be implemented wherever possible. Students will also be required to sanitise surfaces before and after use.

Students are requested to minimise the risk of spreading COVID to themselves and others in accordance with the university and NSW Health guidelines: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirus-faqs and https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe. Students who feel unwell are requested to participate in the class using the online option (see iLearn). Any further requirements or changes to units in relation to COVID will be communicated to students via iLearn.

Disruptions to studies

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
Seminar and discussion participation	10%	No	Weekly through session
Discussion leadership	25%	No	As agreed
Goals and needs assessment	10%	No	Week 3 or as agreed
Communication plan	10%	No	Week 5 or as agreed
Summary paragraph	15%	No	Week 2 and Week 7 or as agreed.
General audience science communication	25%	No	Week 10 or as agreed.
Time on task reflection	5%	No	Week 13

Seminar and discussion participation

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

Seminars and discussion groups will expose you to a broad range of topics in the natural sciences from which you will select topics to explore in greater detail. Proactive participation in discussions following seminars is required. In addition to the seminars hosted by the school, you will also be required to attend seminars elsewhere (e.g. other departments / schools at Macquarie University, other universities, museums, botanical gardens or other research oriented institutions).