Course coordinator
Dr Peter Crisp
Consultation with me is by appointment. To make an appointment, please email p.crisp@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
This course offers practical experience in a research environment of your choice for Advanced Science students. Students undertaking this course will be working on a short laboratory or field project associated with their research topic of interest.
This course offers practical experience in a research environment. Students undertaking this course will likely be working on a short laboratory or field project associated with the topic.ﾠTypically, the project involves a small data-gathering assignment which is written up in the form of a short scientific paper, i.e. abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion and literature cited sections.
Students must organise a supervisor who should be an academic staff member or an academic associated with the school before theyﾠcan enrol in this course. Students should directly contact a potential supervisor (via email is best)ﾠand ascertain if the academic isﾠwilling to supervise for a SCIE3963 project. To choose a suitable supervisor, studentsﾠcan consult theﾠAGFS website at http://www.uq.edu.au/agriculture/ﾠor contact the course coordinator Dr Peter Crisp (p.crisp@uq.edu.au) who will be happy to assist in finding a suitable project.
Your supervisor should then email (agfs.admin@uq.edu.au)ﾠconfirming that they will be supervisingﾠyour project.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students should have adequate background in the area of their topic as assessed by the project supervisor and course co-ordinator.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
SCIE3270, SCIE3271
Restrictions
BAdvSc(Hons) students
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Peter Crisp
Aims and outcomes
To undertake a research experience to develop an appreciation of rigorous scientific investigation and analysis.
To develop the ability to write on a topic at a level appropriate for entry into a supervised industry, government or research environment.
To develop the ability to critically and constructively analyse scientific problems and questions.
To gain experience presenting and commuicating the context, aims, results and outcomes of research to peers.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Design a small experiment/project to test an idea/hypothesis.
LO2.
Independently collect and analyse data.
LO3.
Perform appropriate analysis, including statistical analysis and demonstrate critical interpretation of results.
LO4.
Write a scientific report in the format of a scientific paper.
LO5.
Deliver a seminar that presents the findings in a different reporting style to peers.
LO6.
Synthesise the research of peers and provide constructive analysis and feedback on the presentations of peers.
LO7.
Demonstrate appropriate behaviour and skills when working in a research laboratory.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project |
Report
|
60% |
18/10/2024 2:00 pm |
| Performance, Presentation |
Sequential Final seminar 1
|
15% This Assessment is considered part of the Seminar task, contributing 15% of the final grade. |
21/10/2024 - 21/10/2024
Teaching Week 13, with Seminar dates to be confirmed via Blackboard. |
| Notebook/ Logbook |
Record keeping
|
10% |
25/10/2024 2:00 pm |
| Performance |
Research performance
|
15% |
25/10/2024 2:00 pm |
| Reflection |
Sequential Seminar Reflection 2
|
pass/fail. This Assessment is considered part of the Seminar task, contributing 15% of the final grade. |
25/10/2024 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
Report
- Hurdle
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
18/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
Students should see their supervisors to obtain a topic before week 2 of semester.
The assessment will consist of a final report on the research project (in a paper-style format), assessed against the marking criteria available on the course website.
We strongly suggest you submit a draft of your report to your supervisor well before the due date.
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.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Additional Course Grading InformationSubmission guidelines
Turnitin You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain 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.
Sequential Final seminar 1
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Performance, Presentation
- Weight
- 15% This Assessment is considered part of the Seminar task, contributing 15% of the final grade.
- Due date
21/10/2024 - 21/10/2024
Teaching Week 13, with Seminar dates to be confirmed via Blackboard.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L05
Task description
An oral presentation should be given by each student at the end of their project. This seminar will be conducted by arrangement with the course coordinator. The presentation should ideally contain PowerPoint slides with graphs, photographs or drawings and minimal text. Seminars will be marked by appropriate independent academic staff in attendance.
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 guidelines
To be delivered in person at an advertised venue.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
This activity is at a scheduled time for all students, and a peer attendance and review factor is part of the assessment. Students cannot extend this assessment piece.
Record keeping
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Notebook/ Logbook
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
25/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Students will need to keep a notebook according to common guidelines in their discipline. Accurate record keeping is most important. Research must be documented in a way that anyone trained in the art would be able to understand and reproduce the work.
Projects involving lab or field work: The lab or field 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 may be monitored and stored on electronic devices.
Projects involving theoretical or computational 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. Each summary should answer a collection of questions set by the supervisor, such as:
1. Describe the work you did this week.
2. What aspects of this week's work did you find most challenging?
3. What aspects of this week's work did you find most interesting?
You are also encouraged to use the UQ Research Data Manager (RDM). Details are available at https://research.uq.edu.au/rmbt/uqrdm
Record keeping will be directly assessed by the supervisor at intervals through the semester with the complete final record submitted at the end of semester to your supervisor.
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.
Submission guidelines
To be handed in to your supervisor on or before the date it is due.
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.
Research performance
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Performance
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
25/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L07
Task description
The mark for this section will be based on the supervisor's observations during the course of the project. Depending on the project, the assessment criteria will be as follows.
Projects involving laboratory work: Students will participate in generating data. Students will prepare and perform the full experiment with care and clean up afterwards as required.
Projects involving field work: Students will participate in generating data through collection of samples or observation in the field. They will work under the supervisor’s guidance and follow relevant scientific collection procedures.
Projects involving theoretical work: Students will be marked on how well they demonstrate the following research skills:
1. Gathering relevant scientific information through the use of databases such as MathSciNet, Scopus and Web of Science and the general use of the library and internet.
2. Extracting pertinent information from scientific papers.
3. Participating in discussions with supervisor and/or research group.
4. Coping with the different sets of notation that are used in their research field.
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.
Submission guidelines
The Supervisor will be asked to submit this performance mark to the School and Course Coordinator on behalf of a student.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Students will not be considered responsible for the submission time and date for this Supervisor submitted work. Please ensure communicating with your Supervisor with regards to this assessment.
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.
Sequential Seminar Reflection 2
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- pass/fail. This Assessment is considered part of the Seminar task, contributing 15% of the final grade.
- Due date
25/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L06
Task description
During the semester each student should attend the seminar of another student or academic and write a short reflection of 200-300 words about their interpretation and impressions of the seminar, including any new ideas or constructive suggestions on the future outlook of the area of research. This is a pass/fail assessment to be submitted to the supervisor any time before the due date and could be used as a springboard for further discussions.
The seminar can be chosen by the student and could include:
- The final seminar of another SCIE3963 student; or
- A seminar presented by a student or academic at a lab meeting of the student’s host lab; or
- A seminar presented at a school, department or institute seminar series; or
- A seminar presented at a conference.
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.
Submission guidelines
Turnitin You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain 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 final exam 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
Release of Results
Unless specifically indicated by the course coordinator,ﾠevery attempt will be madeﾠto haveﾠthe 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.ﾠResults and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.
TurnItIn Assignments
Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, mustﾠonlyﾠbe 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
Please also note the University’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed atﾠhttp://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct
Re-mark Applications – refer to theﾠUniversity's Re-mark Policyﾠto 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 applicationsﾠwill notﾠbe considered without first having contacted your course Co-ordinator.ﾠ
Deferred Examinations (including Deferred Mid-Semester Examinations)
Deferred information can be located on the my.UQ website -ﾠhttps://my.uq.edu.au/ﾠorﾠDeferred examinations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SCIE3963 Course Blackboard | Blackboard is the main method of communication. Information on the writing of scientific papers and the development and delivery of seminars will be made available on Blackboard throughout the semester. http://learn.uq.edu.au | |
| SCIE3963 Course Profile |
Additional learning resources information
The necessary learning resources will be provided by the student's supervisor after consultation with the student about the details about the particular project being undertaken.
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 12 |
Practical |
Research project (Practical) Design a short research question, gather data, analyse and write-up data in form of a scientific report, working with a Project Supervisor to guide the project. The course is largely self-directed. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Seminar |
Student Seminars Students to deliver a seminar to their peers in Week 13, dates to be confirmed via Blackboard. Learning outcomes: L05 |
Additional learning activity information
This topic course is self-directed for the most part, with a seminar contact. Students are expected to work with a Supervisor for the duration of this course, and should contact the Course Coordinator should any concerns arise.
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.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
Course guidelines
Immunisation procedure only relevant if project requires such arrangements. Please consult with your Supervisor if unsure.
Comply with all regulations and rules set by your Supervisor.