Students

BIOL8750 – Contemporary Conservation in Australia

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Adam Stow
adam.stow@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MBiotech or GradDipBiotech or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or GradCertConsBiol or MEnv or GradDipEnv or MSusDev
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides a current perspective of the values, threats to existence and conservation of Australian wildlife. The special characteristics of the Australian biota (plants, animals and other organisms) and the key threatening processes are discussed as well as its global and historical context. The role of biological research in informing conservation management is explored, and how conservation-based research is communicated and interpreted. An emphasis is placed on case studies in conservation biology with critical analysis of conservation successes and failures.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Life on Land

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: Describe theoretical concepts in conservation biology and current conservation issues in Australia and abroad
  • ULO2: Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • ULO3: Evaluate literature on conservation issues within peer-reviewed scientific literature and present them in the popular media
  • ULO4: Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
  • ULO5: Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

General Assessment Information

Requirements to Pass this Unit To pass this unit you need to achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50% across all assessment tasks

 

Late Submission Policy

  • 5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.
    • Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.
    • Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.
  • After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.
  • Extensions:
    • Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.
    • Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Need help? Review the Special Consideration page HERE

 

Participation

There is no mandatory attendance of in person sessions for this unit. We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. This unit includes presentation from a range of conservation professionals and practitioners, as such participation offers the chance to engage in questions and discussions. 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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Research Abstract 20% No 13/04/2026 Individual Yes Open
Research Presentation 40% No 27/04/2026 Individual Yes Open
Popular science article 40% No 16/05/2026 Individual Yes Open

Research Abstract

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 34 hours
Due: 13/04/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

A written abstract for your assessment requiring an oral presentation. You will summarize the research being presented, stating the significance, approach, results and conclusions. This assessment will support an understanding of scientific methods and scientific communication.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

Research Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: 27/04/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will give a presentation to provide a research update and synthesis on a conservation issue of interest, integrating scientific literature published for your topic. You will distil, interpret and present the research, highlighting the significance, questions, methods results and key conclusions. This assessment will support the development of skills and knowledge that can be applied to answer questions and communicate the outcomes.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Communicate scientific research and issues in conservation to various target audiences in verbal and written form
  • Identify how research in conservation biology influences environmental management practices and assess how effectively this is undertaken
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

Popular science article

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 66 hours
Due: 16/05/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will write a popular science article based on published scientific paper on conservation issues from a journal within conservation biology. You will summarize, interpret, contextualize and critically evaluate scientific research. This assessment will develop writing skills and the capacity to communicate scientific research to a broad audience.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe theoretical concepts in conservation biology and current conservation issues in Australia and abroad
  • Evaluate literature on conservation issues within peer-reviewed scientific literature and present them in the popular media
  • Demonstrate a capacity for undertaking literature-based research into key topics in conservation biology and synthesising the current state-of-knowledge

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Lectures will be mostly provided during the on-campus practical class sessions (lectorials), these are recorded and made available via ECHO. Several online practical sessions will be run by zoom and recordings will be made available. Resources, further details and updates will be made available via ilearn.

Practical classes will commence week 2 of S1.

We will communicate with you via your university 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.

Unit Schedule

Lecture

Date

Topic

Lecturer

Email

1

2/03/2026

Introduction to conservation in Australia and Unit summary

Adam Stow

adam.stow@mq.edu.au

2

9/03/2026

Australian reptiles and their conservation

Adam Stow

adam.stow@mq.edu.au

3

16/03/2026

Australian Mammals and their Conservation

Sally Potter

sally.potter@mq.edu.au

4

23/03/2026

Zoo's and conservation

Ben Pitcher

bpitcher@zoo.NSW.gov.au

5

30/03/2026

Australian birds and their Conservation

Simon Griffith

simon.griffith@mq.edu.au

6

20/04/2026

Biological Control

Jaco Le Roux

jaco.leroux@mq.edu.au

7

27/04/2026

Urban Ecology and Conservation

Peter Davis

peter.davis@mq.edu.au

8

4/05/2026

Invasive Species (Pre-recorded)

Rick Shine

rick.shine@mq.edu.au

9

11/05/2026

Australian plants and their Conservation

Caragh Threlfall

caragh.threlfall@mq.edu.au

10

18/05/2026

Marine conservation and scientific communication

Vanessa Pirotta

vanessa.pirotta@mq.edu.au

11

25/05/2026

Environmental monitoring and Biodiversity Assessment 

Melanie Bishop

melanie.bishop@mq.edu.au

12

1/06/2026

Applications of e-DNA

Anthony Chariton

anthony.chariton@mq.edu.au

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 2026.02 of the Handbook