Students

FOSE7000 – Research Communications in Science and Engineering

2024 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Matthew Kosnik
Contact via email
14ER 330
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit teaches students to effectively communicate research concepts and findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences in written, oral and visual forms. It explores the critical link between the creation of disciplinary knowledge and the dissemination of that knowledge to benefit human societies. The unit emphasises the importance of maintaining standards of academic integrity in publication and communication. It also specifically addresses the steps involved in producing a high-quality research thesis.

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: Effectively communicate research concepts and findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • ULO2: Demonstrate advanced writing and presentation skills
  • ULO3: Provide constructive feedback to others
  • ULO4: Evaluate current issues and debates in research ethics and integrity

General Assessment Information

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%.

Engagement – please read, as this is very important

As a BPhil / MRes Yr 1 student you are part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering research community. You are expected to actively participate in the unit activities by: asking questions, voicing your opinions, particpating in discussions, providing constructive feedback to your peers, and proactively working to find your place in our diverse research community. You are expected to contribute to a supportive and respectful dialogue. Disrespectful, offensive, belittling or exclusionary behaviour will not be tolerated (https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=55).

Academic Honesty

Academic integrity is fundamental to research. Presenting another person's work as your 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, all written work will be checked 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

Individual assessments

Each assessment has been designed to be as authentic to as possible. Marking criteria / guidance for each assessment are provided via iLearn. Due to the number of students the oral presentations will be split over the last two weeks of the session, but all student AV is due prior to the workshop in week 13 (even if you are not presenting until week 14). Both poster and oral presentations require an abstract to be submitted 3 weeks prior to the presentation (see iLearn and linked marking critera for extra details). All of your assessments will be based in your own discipinary area, but each presentation must cover a distinct topic.

Due dates and assessement topics

All assessments are due prior to the weekly scheduled workshop for the week indicated in the unit guide. Any student who is unable to meet a deadline should contact the unit convenor prior to the deadline to (possibly) avoid late pentalties.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Students enrolled in session based units with written assessments will have the following university standard late penalty applied. Please see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/assessments for more information. Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.  

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted 

In this unit, late submissions will accepted as follows: 

  • The summary paragraph, general audience writing piece and integrity reflection are subject to the standard late submission penalty. The abstract portion of the oral and poster presentations are also subject to the standard late submission penalty.
  • Oral and poster presentations must be given during the allocated time slots to the audience of your peers and markers, so late presentations will not be allowed unless a special consideration is granted. Providing peer feedback on the oral and poster presentations requires you to be present at the allocated time slots, so late feedbak will not be allowed unless a special consiferation is granted.
  • See marking guidance on iLearn or consult the convenor for additional information. 

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://ask.mq.edu.au/  

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Workshop activities 10% No Weekly
Summary 10% No Week 3
Poster presentation 23% No Week 4 (abstract), Week 8 (poster)
Integrity reflection 11% Yes Week 5 or as agreed
General audience writing piece 23% No Week 12
Oral presentation 23% No Week 11 (abstract), Week 14/15 (presentation)

Workshop activities

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

 

You must complete all of the assigned pre-workshop and in-workshop activities.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Effectively communicate research concepts and findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • Demonstrate advanced writing and presentation skills
  • Provide constructive feedback to others
  • Evaluate current issues and debates in research ethics and integrity

Summary

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Week 3
Weighting: 10%

 

You will write a summary of a current research topic in your discipline suitable for a general audience (analogous to the summary included in ARC grants).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Effectively communicate research concepts and findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • Demonstrate advanced writing and presentation skills

Poster presentation

Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 21 hours
Due: Week 4 (abstract), Week 8 (poster)
Weighting: 23%

 

You will prepare and present a research poster to a professional standard aimed at an audience of your peers, and you will provide constructive feedback on the posters of others.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Effectively communicate research concepts and findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • Demonstrate advanced writing and presentation skills
  • Provide constructive feedback to others

Integrity reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Week 5 or as agreed
Weighting: 11%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

You will write a short reflection on a current topic in integrity, ethics and/or inclusion relevant to your discipline.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Effectively communicate research concepts and findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • Demonstrate advanced writing and presentation skills
  • Evaluate current issues and debates in research ethics and integrity

General audience writing piece

Assessment Type 1: Non-academic writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 21 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 23%

 

You will write a piece for a general audience (analogous to the Conversation) on a current research topic in your discipline.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Effectively communicate research concepts and findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • Demonstrate advanced writing and presentation skills

Oral presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 21 hours
Due: Week 11 (abstract), Week 14/15 (presentation)
Weighting: 23%

 

You will deliver an oral presentation on a current research topic in your discipline aimed at an audience of your peers, and you will provide constructive feedback on the presentations of others.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Effectively communicate research concepts and findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • Demonstrate advanced writing and presentation skills
  • Provide constructive feedback to others

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

You are encouraged to attend class in person if at all possible. If you cannot attend in person, you are still required to attend classes during the scheduled time online (see iLearn for links). Please bring a laptop or tablet to each workshop to facilitate your participation in workshop activities.

Remote / online / off-shore students: If you are not based in the greater Sydney area you must email the convenor as soon as possible to discuss study options. Remote / online engagement is possible, but with greater notice comes more time to plan our options. 

Week 1: Workshops will take place as normal. There are pre-workshops activities that you are expected to complete prior the workshop each week, including week 1.

Methods of communication: We will communicate with you via your university student (not HDR) email and through announcements on iLearn. Queries to convenors can either be placed on the iLearn discussion board, sent to the unit convenor via the contact email on iLearn or discussed prior to or after workshops.

Illness information and on-campus classes: On-campus teaching is the default mode of delivery. Students who feel unwell due to any illness are requested to participate in workshops using the online option rather than attend in person (see iLearn for links). 

 

 

 

Unit Schedule

This unit meets weekly -- typically 2 x 1.5 hr sessions with half or more of those sessions spend engaged in participatory activities. 

See timetable for dates, times and locations.

See topic schedule on iLearn.

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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 2024.02 of the Handbook