Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (25/11/2024 - 08/02/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Mathematics & Physics School
This course is an introduction to research in Mathematics and/or Physics. It provides generic skills and knowledge relevant to further progress in their studies. It allows students the opportunity to apply those skills to a research project in their discipline of interest.
The students in this course will investigate a project in a true research environment under close supervision of an experienced staff member.ᅠ This will give them a unique opportunity to develop core research skills relevant to a wide spectrum of scientific research, including written and oral communication, research skills in the selected discipline, and recording and analysing data.
For more information on the SCIE3250 project and to download the application form, please check here --
https://smp.uq.edu.au/current-students/scie-project-courses
In the School of Mathematics and Physics we are committed to creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. We value and respect the diverse range of experiences our students bring to their education, and we believe that this diversity is essential for fostering a rich culture of knowledge sharing and meaningful exploration. We hold both students and staff accountable for actively contributing to the establishment of a respectful and supportive learning environment.
Bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form are strictly against our principles and against UQ Policy, and will not be tolerated. We have developed a suite of resources to assist you in recognising, reporting, and addressing such behaviour. If you have any concerns about your experience in this course, we encourage you to tell a member of the course teaching team, or alternatively contact an SMP Classroom Inclusivity Champion (see Blackboard for contact details). Our Inclusivity Champions are here to listen, to understand your concerns, and to explore potential actions that can be taken to resolve them. Your well-being and a positive learning atmosphere are of utmost importance to us.ᅠ
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
#24 prior to enrolment and approval from Head of School
Restrictions
Students may count a maximum of #4 of project based courses to their degree.
Course contact
Course coordinator
Aims and outcomes
The broad goals of the course are to provide students with a hands on research experience. They learn core research skills and participate in an individual research project associated with a discipline of interest to them.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Gather required information and formulate that information into a form which is usable to solve a problem
LO2.
Demonstrate the ability to make scientific observations
LO3.
Communicate, in both written and oral form, ideas pertaining to scientific research or theoretical results obtained
LO4.
Demonstrate your ability to participate in an individual or group research project.
LO5.
Develop and strengthen core research skills including gathering information and conveying concepts and conclusions.
LO6.
Be able to describe the social and civic responsibility or ethical and legal aspects pertaining to research.
Assessment
Assessment summary
Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
---|---|---|---|
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Notebook/ Logbook |
Recording
|
10% |
29/11/2024 - 24/01/2025
Weekly by Each Friday |
Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Literature Review
|
Pass / fail |
20/12/2024 4:00 pm |
Presentation |
Oral presentation
|
20% |
13/01/2025 - 24/01/2025 |
Project, Thesis |
Project Report
|
70% |
24/01/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Recording
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Notebook/ Logbook
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
29/11/2024 - 24/01/2025
Weekly by Each Friday
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06
Task description
Projects involving lab work:
Students will keep a notebook for the laboratory work according to common guidelines in their discipline or the supervisor's specifications. The lab notebook is an important document to record experimental design and data in a manner that can be easily understood by another person from this area of research. It should contain enough detail to enable another person to replicate the experiments. In some cases data maybe monitored and stored on electronic devices.
Projects involving theoretical work:
Students must submit a weekly summary of research work undertaken. The exact format of the summary will be determined by the supervisor and may be electronic.
Submission guidelines
Weekly reports should be submitted directly to the student's supervisor via email.
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 ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.
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.
Literature Review
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- Pass / fail
- Due date
20/12/2024 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L05
Task description
Students have to prepare a literature review on the topic of their research project. An approximate length of the review is 10 printed pages.
The supervisor will provide references for several relevant papers to review however, the review should not be limited to these papers but also include other relevant papers found by the student.
You must achieve a pass for this literature review in order to pass the course.
Submission guidelines
The literature review should be submitted via Turnitin by the deadline. A copy should also be emailed to the supervisor.
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 ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.
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.
Oral presentation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
13/01/2025 - 24/01/2025
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L06
Task description
Students will give a presentation about their research project.
Typically this presentation is 15-20 minutes in length and given in front of a small group (e.g. during a lab or research group meeting). They can also be given online.
The format (including length) can be modified to suit the audience and depends on the supervisor’s preferences.
The presentation will be marked by the supervisor with moderation by the course coordinator.
Submission guidelines
The oral presentation should be video-recorded. The video record should be submitted to Blackboard.
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.
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.
Project Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project, Thesis
- Weight
- 70%
- Due date
24/01/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06
Task description
A detailed report must be written in a journal style format.
The report must contain :
- title
- abstract
- introduction with aims and relevance of study
- description of theories, methods and results
- discussion of results as well as consideration of literature
- references
The exact format should follow the guidelines of a journal in the respective field/area of study, specified by the supervisor.
Students need to hand in at least one draft to their supervisor for feedback. It is the responsibility of the student to negotiate a due date with the supervisor so that feedback can be given adequately.
The final project report will be marked by the supervisor with moderation by the course coordinator.
Submission guidelines
The report should be submitted via Turnitin by the due date and time.
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 ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.
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.
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: Mark of 1%-24% |
2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark of 25%-45% |
3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: ᅠMark of 46%-49% |
4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: ᅠMark of 50%-64% |
5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark of ᅠ65%-74% |
6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark of 75%-84% |
7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mark of ᅠ85%-100% |
Additional course grading information
If you do not pass the Literature Review, you will be ineligible to receive a grade of 3 or higher. Similarly, if your score on the Research Project falls below 40% of the available marks, you will not be eligible to attain a grade of 4 or higher.
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 my.UQ 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 in this course will be an oral exam. 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
Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.
Please note:
- Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
- Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
- If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
- If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
- If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
- For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum date applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
- Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
- If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
- There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.
Assessment tasks evaluate students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
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.
Filter activity type by
Please select
Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Not Timetabled |
Research Project Students will participate for 8 weeks in a research project. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
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.