Students

NSCI7900 – Research Frontiers in Natural Sciences

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Paul Jaschke
paul.jaschke@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
14ER 357
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to GradDipResFSE or GradCertResFSE
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.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Quality Education; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

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
  • ULO2: Critically evaluate and discuss current research with other researchers
  • ULO3: Communicate current research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences with supporting evidence
  • 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

All assignments must be submitted as soft copy before the date & time specified on iLearn. Specific instructions for how to successfully complete assessments will be provided on iLearn. Criteria and standards required for the assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

In-class activities must be undertaken at the time indicated on iLearn. All other assessments must be submitted by their due date or at the day and time agreed with the unit convenor. Should these activities be missed due to illness or misadventure, students should contact the unit convenor prior to applying for Special Consideration.

Engagement – please read, as this is very important

As a Graduate Diploma of Research 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 participate in discussions, ask questions, engage with seminar speakers, and proactively work to find your place in our diverse research community.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, or late submission arranged with the unit convenor, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation 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. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern.

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted

In this unit, late submissions will accepted as follows:

Seminar and discussion Engagement – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies

General audience science communication – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies

Professional development journal – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies

Requirements to Pass this Unit

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

Attendance and participation

We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

Special Considerations

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://connect.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Seminar and discussion Engagement 20% No Weekly throughout semester
General audience science communication 30% No Week 10 or as agreed
Professional development journal 50% No Week 13

Seminar and discussion Engagement

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weekly throughout semester
Weighting: 20%

 

You will demonstrate your learning by contributing to discussions following school seminars. You are also required to attend several relevant seminars and small group discussions outside the regularly scheduled seminar series. Please consult the marking guidance provided via iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of current scientific questions and methods
  • Critically evaluate and discuss current research with other researchers
  • Communicate current research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences with supporting evidence
  • Apply networking skills in a variety of contexts with peers and partners from industry and academia

General audience science communication

Assessment Type 1: Non-academic writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 10 or as agreed
Weighting: 30%

 

Using a seminar or discussion group as inspiration, you will complete a science communication piece (video, podcast, etc) aimed at a general audience.

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

Professional development journal

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 55 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%

 

Over the course of the session you will document your professional development through a series of self-scheduled activities and reflections.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate and discuss current research with other researchers
  • Communicate current research questions, methods and results in multiple formats to a variety of audiences with supporting evidence
  • 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

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

Attendance at scheduled activities

Should any activity be missed due to illness or misadventure please notify the convenor as soon as possible (ideally prior to the scheduled activity).

On-campus / in person is the preferred way to attend unit activities, but please do not attend class in person if you are unwell. See iLearn for details on attending unit activities online.

Weekly seminars and discussions will happen in person (if possible) or via Zoom link to be provided via iLearn.

Week 1 Classes

Full-day workshop: in-person with online backup available for students who are unwell. Please advise the convenor as soon as possible if you will not be attending in person so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Seminar (in-person): 1-2 pm in 14ER 280 (Tea Room)

Workshop (in-person): 2-3 pm in 14ER 280 (Tea Room)

Subsequent weeks

First Tuesday of the month (e.g. 4 March, 1 April, etc.)

Workshop (in-person): see iLearn for scheduling and room details. No seminar.

 

Every other Tuesday of the month (e.g. 25 Feb, 11 March, etc.)

Seminar (in-person): 1-2 pm in 14ER 280 (Tea Room)

Workshop (in-person): 2-3 pm in 14ER 280 (Tea Room)

Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your student email and through announcements on iLearn. Queries to convenors can either be placed on the iLearn discussion board or sent to the unit convenor via the contact email on iLearn.

Information for COVID or any other readily transmitted illness

For the latest information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please refer to the Coronavirus infection page on the Macquarie website: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirus-faqs. Remember to check this page regularly in case the information and requirements change during semester. If there are any changes to this unit in relation to COVID, these will be communicated via 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.

Changes from Previous Offering

We value student feedback to be able to continually improve the way we offer our units. As such we encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page.

Changes in the 2025 offering:

The number and focus of assessments were changed due to student feedback and a change in university assessment policy.

Unit information based on version 2025.06 of the Handbook