Environmental Bioanalytics (ENVM3010)

Course overview

Environmental bioanalytics refers to a wide range of methodological approaches that help environmental scientists to understand the biological components of ecosystems and how they are influenced by environmental issues. In brief, bioanalytics approaches involve the analysis of different pools of biomolecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites) and can provide insight into the diversity, function, and dynamics of ecological systems at multiple levels of organisation. The acquisition of knowledge and skills in environmental bioanalytics is an essential component of an environmental scientists’ training. This course will impart understanding of how bioanalytics approaches are applied in environmental studies. Students will be taught to analyse and evaluate bioanalytics datasets and to communicate their findings to different stakeholders. The course covers bioanalytics approaches that facilitate measurement of biodiversity, ecosystem function and biomass. Students will hear from people around the country using these methods for a range of impactful applications in environmental science, e.g.,: 1) biodiversity monitoring using marker gene sequencing, 2) ecosystem service evaluation using metagenomics and functional omics, 3) monitoring of rare/endangered species through analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA), and 4) eDNA detection of biological contaminants, pests and diseases.

Environmental Bioanalytics refers to a wide range of methodological approaches that help environmental scientists understand the biological components of ecosystems and how they are influenced by environmental issues.

This is important because we depend on the activities of diverse biological communities for the food, fibre, and clean air and water that keep us alive. Ironically though, our activities often have devasting consequences for life, especially when considering organisms that are too small to be seen.

Bioanalytics approaches involve the analyses of different pools of biomolecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites) and can provide insight into the diversity, function, biomass, and dynamics of ecological systems at multiple levels of organisation.

Hence, the acquisition of knowledge and skills in bioanalytical approaches provides environmental scientists with an essential toolkit to understand: 1) the biodiversity and functioning of organisms in the environment, and 2) how they are likely to respond to environmental change.

ENVM3010 Environmental Bioanalytics will provide students with this necessary training via weekly lectures and multiple laboratory and computer-based practical classes.ﾠ

Course requirements

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

SCIE2100

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

This course will impart understanding of how bioanalytics approaches are applied in environmental studies. Students will be taught to analyse and evaluate bioanalytics datasets and to communicate their findings to different stakeholders. 

The course begins with an overview of bioanalytics approaches, and then demonstrates how these methods can be applied in environmental studies. Applications include: 1) biodiversity monitoring using marker gene sequencing, 2) ecosystem service evaluation using metagenomics and functional omics, 3) monitoring of rare/endangered species through analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA), 4) eDNA detection of biological contaminants (e.g., faecal bacteria), pests and diseases (e.g., Salmonella/COVID-19), and 5) the use of model systems to address hypotheses relating to biological systems using environmental bioanalytics.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

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

Practical class journal

Mode

Written

Category

Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

15%

Due date

9/10/2026 5:00 pm

Task description

Assessment security

Open assessment: In this assessment you can use resources such as your notes, course materials, and other tools, including AI, while completing the task. The focus is not on memorising information, but on understanding, applying judgement, and demonstrating your own thinking.

Submission guidelines

Please submit your journal in-class during class hours to course staff.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See the Additional assessment information section below for information relating to extension applications.

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.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (the assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.

For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 

Analytical report

Mode

Written

Category

Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

15%

Due date

9/10/2026 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L06, L08, L10

Task description

Assessment security

Open assessment: In this assessment you can use resources such as your notes, course materials, and other tools, including AI, while completing the task. The focus is not on memorising information, but on understanding, applying judgement, and demonstrating your own thinking.

Submission guidelines

Online submission by Turnitin only by the due date and time. Refer to Blackboard for the submission link. No hard copy or assignment cover sheets are required. Submission via email is not accepted.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See the Additional assessment information section below for information relating to extension applications.

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.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (the assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.

For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 

Group presentations

• Identity Verified
• Team or group-based
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Oral

Category

Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation

Weight

15%

Due date

21/10/2026 - 22/10/2026

Task description

Assessment security

Open assessment: In this assessment you can use resources such as your notes, course materials, and other tools, including AI, while completing the task. The focus is not on memorising information, but on understanding, applying judgement, and demonstrating your own thinking.

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Group presentations are designed not only to assess content knowledge, but also to develop essential collaborative, organisational, and time management skills that mirror real-world professional scenarios. In most professional settings, project deadlines are fixed, and teams must coordinate to meet them despite individual challenges. Allowing extensions for group presentations undermines this learning objective by:

• Disrupting the collaborative process: An extension for one or more members can unfairly burden others or require reorganisation of the group’s work and presentation schedule.
• Reducing the incentive to plan and manage contingencies: One purpose of group work is to foster accountability and strategic delegation when unexpected issues arise.
• Interfering with course logistics: Presentations are typically scheduled to ensure fairness and allow peer feedback or assessment moderation. Changing the schedule for one group can affect the whole cohort.

Students will be scheduled to deliver their assessment. You may only be eligible for alternative arrangement if exceptional circumstances arise on the day of the scheduled presentation. Please contact your course coordinator with supporting documentation of the exceptional circumstances that prevented you from attending for consideration of an alternate arrangement.

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.

End of Semester Exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

55%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/11/2026 - 21/11/2026

Other conditions

Secure.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L04, L06, L07, L10

Task description

Assessment security

Secure assessment: This assessment is designed to protect academic integrity and assess your understanding of course concepts. You must only use the approved materials and tools for this assessment task. Use of prohibited materials in this task may be investigated and treated as academic misconduct. See assessment instructions for more details.

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Assessment Hurdle

In order to pass this course, you must meet the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):

You must obtain 45% or more on the End of Semester exam.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment.

Refer to the link above for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met. Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.

Additional assessment information

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D): https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=184

Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/uq-policies-and-rules/requirements-medical-certificates

Turnitin

By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment.”

All students must ensure they receive their Turnitin receipt on submission of any assessments. A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after seven days, will receive zero.

In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.

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.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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 for Students Policy and Procedure
• AI for Assessment Guide
• Recording of Teaching Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.