Course coordinator
Associate Professor Brett Ferguson
Consultation is by appointment. To make an appointment to see me, please email b.ferguson1@uq.edu.au
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Agriculture and Food Sustainability School
Advanced topics in plant science spanning plant biotechnology through to plant ecology including an integration of these sub-disciplines. Cutting edge advancements on plant disease, plant molecular biology, plant development, plant improvement, plant ecophysiology & sustainability, including the Australian & international context of global warming, water shortage & nitrogen fertilizer & fossil fuel limitation.
This is the capstone course for Plant Science at UQ. Plants produce the air we breathe, the food we eat, and are fundamental to life on earth. We need a doubling of food supply by 2050 to feed the world’s growing population; however, global warming and a reduced supply of arable land are major sources of concern. Plants and improved agricultural sustainability will be major parts of the solution. In this course, we seek to equip you with knowledge at the frontier of plant science and to provide you with the skills and abilities needed to pursue a career in plant science. The course includesﾠa research project carried out in your chosen area of interest in plant science. ﾠA list of potential projects will be supplied at the start of semester. ﾠIn addition, there areﾠweekly interactive seminars spanning a variety of plant science topics.
Course requirements
Assumed background
It is a good idea to have a background in plant science, including second year University level plant science, plus other level 3 plants science courses where possible.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
BIOL2203
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
In this course we seek to equip you with knowledge at the frontiers of plant science research together with skills and abilities pertaining to plant science and careers in plant science.
The course includes a research project carried out in your chosen area of interest in plant science, in addition to weekly seminars. A list of potential projects will be supplied on Blackboard at the start of semester
Independant Plant Science Research Project
This is the major assessment item for the course. You will select from a list provided at the commencement of semester, or in special cases you can propose your own project. It must be in a plant science research lab or field under the supervision of a plant science researcher. At the end of the fourth week of semester you will submit a proposal highlighting the background and plan for your research topic. Towards the end of semester, you will deliver a research seminar and prepare a research report on your topic.
Weekly Seminars and Discussions
The team of lecturers will deliver a series of cutting-edge seminars across a range of plant sciences. Students will guide discussions with the speakers and respond to and propose important relevant questions. In so doing, students will become conversant across the breadth of plant sciences, while fostering interests and expertise in sub-discipline areas. In some cases there may be suggested reading provided before the weekly session. There will be a short assignment during each lecture, based on interactive participation or a short quiz, etc. Attendance at each weekly seminar is required to gain the mark for the associated assignment.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Critically evaluate plant science research and issues in plant science.
LO2.
Apply research findings to address issues in plant science.
LO3.
Deliver an international quality research presentation.
LO4.
Prepare an independent research report.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Project plan and risk assessments
|
20% |
16/08/2024 2:00 pm |
| Quiz |
Assignments and Quizzes for each weekly seminar
|
20% |
25/07/2024 - 10/10/2024 |
| Presentation |
Seminar
|
20% |
14/10/2024 10:00 am
Presentations will be held during week 12, Monday Oct 14, 10am - 2pm. Note: if the class size becomes too large, the seminars may be split across two days, such as this Monday time slot and also the normal class time slot on Thursday, 17th Oct from 2-5pm. The length of each seminar will be determined based on how many are enrolled in the course. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Independent project report
|
40% |
24/10/2024 2:00 pm |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Project plan and risk assessments
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
16/08/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
A list of projects will be available on the course Blackboard site. You should consult this list and seek an appointment with the supervisor of the project you are interested in. Make sure to confirm the project you want to undertake with the course coordinator (Brett Ferguson). Ideally you should have organised your project by the end of the first or second week of semester. Before commencing your project work, make sure to complete all appropriate Risk Assessments and training procedures (e.g. School, Local, Online inductions). Discuss this with your project supervisor.
By the end of the fourth week of semester, you will be required to provide a project outline (1,250 – 2,000 words) with a Title page, brief background including literature review, aims and methods to be used, and references. Include a description of the steps you will undertake during the project. You may find that this changes as the semester progresses, but it is important to start with a plan. You also need to confirm that you have completed all Risk Assessments, inductions, and training procedures relevant to the project and describe any steps you need to take regarding safety. Discuss this with your project supervisor and let them see a draft of your plan well before the due date so you can get feedback.
Criteria & Marking: This will be marked out of 20: presentation (4 marks), brief background (4 marks), aims and methods to be used (4 marks), several relevant references written in a consistent style (3 marks). You should also include a timetable describing the steps you will undertake during the project (3 marks) and confirm the relevant inductions and Risk Assessments you were required to complete (2 marks).
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission: You must submit the project plan assignment via Blackboard using Turnitin.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Additional Grading InformationSubmission guidelines
Your assignment should be submitted through the Turnitin link on the course Blackboard website by 2:00pm on the date it is due.
You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). See 6.1 Assessment Related Policies & Guidelines for links to the University Guidelines and Applications for Extensions.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used, will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Assignments and Quizzes for each weekly seminar
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
25/07/2024 - 10/10/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01
Task description
A series of cutting-edge seminars will be delivered covering a range of plant science topics. Students will participate in discussions with the speakers and respond to and propose important relevant questions. In so doing, students will become conversant across the breadth of plant science, while fostering interests and expertise in sub-discipline areas.
Key papers might be provided before the lecture to cover background information to the seminar; it is expected that these articles are read prior to the seminar.
During the seminar, there will be a short assessment, which can vary from short answer questions, to a class quiz, to interactive class participation, etc. Details will be provided in class and/or on Blackboard. Attendance at each weekly seminar is required to obtain a mark for the corresponding assessment.
Criteria & Marking: Attendance and participation at the seminars is required and expected. Marks for the weekly assessment will only be given if the seminar has been attended (otherwise a doctor’s note, e.g., is required). Please bring a phone or equivalent to complete the assignment/quiz.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission: The Assessment can be completed during class as advised by the course coordinator. Assignments may be in the form of written text and may require submission via Turnitin.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Additional Grading Information. Not all weekly Assignments and Quizzes need to be completed to pass this Hurdle.Submission guidelines
The Assessment will be undertaken and completed during class, possibly as an online quiz using a UQ Poll or Blackboard. Relevant details will be advised by the lecturer.
Legal Declaration: By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Extensions are not possible for this assessment as they are non-repeatable. Students who apply for consideration will be provided options.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). See 6.1 Assessment Related Policies & Guidelines for links to the University Guidelines and Applications for Extensions.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used, will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Seminar
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
14/10/2024 10:00 am
Presentations will be held during week 12, Monday Oct 14, 10am - 2pm. Note: if the class size becomes too large, the seminars may be split across two days, such as this Monday time slot and also the normal class time slot on Thursday, 17th Oct from 2-5pm. The length of each seminar will be determined based on how many are enrolled in the course.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
The main goals of this assessment are to develop scientific communication skills and to clearly and effectively convey project objectives and outcomes. It is recommended to prepare your seminar ahead of time and practice the presentation with your supervisor. Best to do this as early as possible to get plenty of feedback. One of the main advantages of the seminar is it helps focus on the main findings of the research, which will benefit your final report.
The length of each seminar will be determined based on how many are enrolled in the course.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
The Seminar is recorded.
Criteria & Marking: At least two staff will evaluate this assessment. The criteria are very similar to that used at the Honours level. In assigning a mark for each section examiners will consider the following points:
- Organisation and Preparation (7)
- Did the introduction clearly and concisely outline the nature and scope of the topic investigated?
- Did the introduction orient the listener to the relationship of the current project with existing knowledge?
- Were the materials and methods, and if necessary, the reasons for the choice of particular materials and methods, explained?
- Were the results clearly presented and logically ordered?
- Did the speaker use good judgement in presenting pertinent information and excluding non-essential or distracting details?
- Did the presentation standard indicate adequate preparation and rehearsal by the speaker?
- Were slides or other aids clear and helpful to the audience, rather than cluttered and confusing?
- Analysis and Understanding (7)
- Were the results adequately analysed, and critically evaluated?
- Did the conclusions relate the results to the objectives of the investigation?
- Did the speaker understand the research background and significance of the results?
- Did the speaker acknowledge any real shortfalls in the work and suggest ways to overcome or avoid these in future work, if appropriate?
- Style and Presentation (6)
- Did the speaker remember to face the audience when speaking, avoid reading the entire presentation, and avoid other distracting mannerisms?
- Did the speaker project his/her voice clearly to the audience?
- Were major concepts and conclusions explained clearly and precisely?
- Was the speaker able to increase your interest in the topic, through personal attributes: enthusiasm, imagination, etc.?
- Did the speaker keep to the allotted time and present material at a comprehensible rate?
- Did the speaker answer questions clearly and reply to the audience as a whole?
Note: if the class size becomes too large, the seminars may be split across two days, such as this Monday time slot and also the normal class time slot on Thursday, 17th Oct from 2-5pm. The length of each seminar will be determined based on how many are enrolled in the course.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Additional Grading Information.Submission guidelines
Completed in class
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). See 6.1 Assessment Related Policies & Guidelines for links to the University Guidelines and Applications for Extensions.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used, will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Independent project report
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
24/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
Provide a draft of your report (including figures and results) to your supervisor as early as you can to get feedback. Make sure you fully understand the experimental design and the results.
For top marks you will write in the style expected of a top journal such as The Plant Cell, Molecular Plant, or Plant Physiology. Manuscripts are never sent to journals by authors in a fully-formatted, journal type-set, and you also are NOT required to do this. The project report will have the structure (and maximum word count) described below and be assessed by the course coordinator and at least one other participating staff.
It is anticipated that you will spend ~50 - 60 hours total on the project (including lab work or equivalent, reading, writing, data analysis, etc.). Some weeks may be more and some less, depending on the project requirements. You may want to spend additional time researching and reading about your topic, analysing your data, and preparing your report. It is recommended that you write as much as you can along the way so you have time at the end to finish it and obtain feedback from your supervisor. Talk to your supervisor about how to be efficient and productive, and to optimize your project, possibly by reducing and/or increasing specific aspects of the work.
The Final report should be approximately 3,500 - 5,000 words (excluding Title page, Table of Contents, Figure Legends, References and Appendices). Going above or below this word limit may result in loss of marks.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Criteria & Marking
The project report should have the following structure, which is similar to that of a brief scientific paper. The % reflects the marks assigned to each component. Make sure to use an appropriate style to present your data in Figures and Tables (refer to top journals in the Plant Science field and consult your supervisor). Make sure to also cite relevant, peer-reviewed, articles relating to your project. Websites can be cited but are discouraged when peer reviewed literature is available. It is also very important to write everything in your own words as your report will be checked for originality in Turnitin.
Structure & Assessment
See instructions on the course Blackboard site.
Submission
You must submit your assessment through the Turnitin link on the course Blackboard site by the time and date it is due. Please keep an electronic copy of every assessment piece you submit.
Hurdle requirements
All assessment items MUST be completed in order to obtain a grade of 4 or higher for this course.Submission guidelines
Your assignment should be submitted by 2:00pm on the date it is due by uploading onto Blackboard via Turnitin.
You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). See 6.1 Assessment Related Policies & Guidelines for links to the University Guidelines and Applications for Extensions.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, or one grade per day if graded on the basis of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used, will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0 - 34% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 35 - 46% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 47 - 49% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50 - 64% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65 - 74% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75 - 84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85 - 100% |
Additional course grading information
COURSE GRADING RULES AND ASSESSMENT HURDLES
All Assessment is Compulsory
All required assessment items MUST be completed in order to obtain a grade of 4 or higher for this course.
Students must obtain a passing mark in the Report to pass this course.
If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course, based on marks from a combination of progressive assessment and the report assignment, and the student does NOT score a passing mark for the Report, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Turnitin Assignments
Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site.ﾠ If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.ﾠ
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
All reported work must be done by the individual student. Assignments that look and sound alike will be reported as plagiarism – a serious offence at UQ. Please note the university’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed at http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct
Results
Unless specifically indicated by the course coordinator, every attempt will be made to have the results for progressive assessment available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will not be available until grades release day. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.ﾠﾠﾠ
Re-mark Applications – refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility
Before applying for a remark, students should consider the following:
- You have consulted the course coordinator for feedback
- Your academic grounds for remark have been discussed and are valid
- Wanting a higher grade is not grounds for a remark. A remark can decrease your grade.
Remark applications will not be considered without first having contacted your course Co-ordinator.
Information for students can be found at https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-result
Deferred and Supplementary assessment (including Deferred Mid-Semester Examinations)
Deferred and Supplementary information can be located on the my.UQ website
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL3200 Advanced Topics and Applications in Plant Science Blackboard Site | Blackboard and lecture discussions are the main method of communication. Learning Guide, Course readings, etc., are made available through the Blackboard site. | |
| Course Profile |
Additional learning resources information
Resources for weekly seminars will be provided on Blackboard.
Resources for research projects will be supplied by the project supervisors.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 11 |
Lecture |
Weekly Seminars and Discussions A series of cutting-edge seminars will be delivered across a range of plant science research areas. Students will guide discussions with the speakers and respond to and propose important relevant questions. In so doing, students will become conversant across the breadth of plant sciences, while fostering interests and expertise in sub-discipline areas. There may be suggested material to read before a weekly session. A short assessment will occur during each lecture (based on interactive participation, or a short quiz, etc.), with attendance at each seminar required to gain the mark for that weekly assignment. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Case-based learning |
Independent Plant Science Research Project This is the major assessment item for the course. You will select from a list provided at the commencement of semester, or in special cases you can propose your own project. It must have a plant science focus and be conducted under the supervision of a plant science researcher. At the end of the fourth week of semester you will submit a proposal highlighting the background and plan for your research topic. Towards the end of semester, you will deliver a research seminar and prepare a research report on your topic. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Symposium |
Project seminars You will present on your independent research project, including background information, materials and methods, and project outcomes, etc. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.