Graduate School of The Environment
BIOL860 Wildlife Project
About this Unit
Semester 1, 2010
Offered: D1, D2, X1, X2 - Day and External/online delivery
Convenors: Dr Andrew Allen and Dr Michelle Power
Prerequisites/corequisites: Permission from Dean of Faculty
Credit Points: 4
This unit enables the student to undertake an independent research project. The topic of the project is flexible, but is generally aligned with the objectives of an academic staff member involved in wildlife research. Wildlife generally refers to birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish, which are the preferred taxa, but projects involving non-vertebrate taxa would also be considered.
Titles of previous projects include: Distribution of Antarctic seabirds, Tour boat interactions with bottlenose dolphins, Contraception of koalas, Survivorship of rehabilitated possums, The effectiveness of tunnels and culverts for conservation of wildlife, Distribution of Sea Eagles in Jervis Bay, Distribution of Bottlenose Dolphins in Jervis Bay, Survivorship of hand-reared ringtailed possums, Echidna reproduction.
Some possible titles for future projects include: Flush distances and disturbance of native birds; Successful bird invaders: can they be disturbed? Development of a rapid assessment unit for inshore macroinvertebrates.
Enrolling students should contact one of the course convenors at or before the beginning of the semester to help in identifying a general topic and academic supervisor.
Unit Objectives
- Acquire scientific knowledge in a particular research area by reading and critically evaluating the scientific literature
- Formulate a research question to address an issue in wildlife biology, management or conservation
- Develop an experimental approach to address this research question
- Gather, analyze, and interpret scientific data
- Communicate research findings in written and oral format
Teaching Staff
Convenors
Dr Andrew Allen
Office: Building E8C room 249
Email: aallen@bio.mq.edu.au
Phone: 9850 9251
Dr Michelle Power
Office: Building E8A room 324
Email: mpower@els.mq.edu.au
Phone: 9850 6974
Classes
Unit web page
Blackboard will be used to provide you assessment material and for communications and emails throughout the semester. Assessments will also be maintained on the website. Please ensure that you visit Blackboard regularly.
Technology Used and Required
N/A
Learning Outcomes
On completing the course, students should be able to:
- Evaluate primary scientific literature and formulate research questions
- Have knowledge of experimental design and data interpretation
- Manage for research outcomes within a given timeframe
- Write in a style suitable for publishing scientific data
- Prepare and deliver and oral presentation of research findings
Graduate Capabilities Developed
1. Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
2. Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analyzing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
3. Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analyzing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
4. Creative and Innovative
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
5. Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Projects will be developed under the supervision of a nominated academic.
Assessment Requirements
Assessments
| Assessment | Description | Weight | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 - Research Proposal | You will write a research proposal outlining the independent project that you will undertake. | 10% | 11 Mar 2010 |
| Assessment 2 - Part A: Literature Review | You will write a literature review describing what is currently known in the area of your project and how your study will contribute to further understanding in this area. | Progress assessment | 22 Apr 2010 |
| Assessment 2 - Part B: Scientific Report | You will prepare and write a scientific report on the research project that you have undertaken. | 50% | 3 Jun 2010 |
| Assessment 3 - Oral Presentation | You will prepare and orally present the findings of your project to the convenors and other students in the unit | 10% | Week 10 date TBA |
| Assessment 4 - Supervisors Report | Your supervisor will write a report on how well you performed your project, your commitment to the project, any difficulties you may have encountered and any significant outcomes | 20% |
Assessment 1: Research Proposal (10%)
Due: 9am Thursday March 11th
The first assessment comprises two parts 1) the research proposal and 2) a literature review. Although this assessment is submitted as a single document they are assessed individually. The research proposal describes the project you plan to undertake, the methods you will use and with whom the study will be performed. It must include a timetable of tasks that will be undertaken throughout the project. This is an important aspect as it will assist you with time management throughout your independent study. The requirements for acceptable research proposal are:
- The research project must entail a minimum of 160 hours of work.
- The proposed research and accompanying assessments must be able to be completed by the end of semester in which the unit is commenced (12th November 2009 for Semester 2).
- All people involved in the proposed research must be contacted in order to complete the details of the contract proposal.
- The research proposal must be approved and signed by the nominated academic staff member and approved by unit convenor
- There is no word limit on the research proposal but it should be no more than two pages and should include a timeline
Assessment 2: Scientifc Report (50%)
PART A Literature review / introduction
Due: 9am Thursday 22nd April
The literature review will provide the introduction and aims section of your final report. A literature review is a body of work that describes research undertaken in a specific area. In this instance the research review will describe what is known in the area of your project. You will need to read a minimum of 20 peer reviewed manuscripts that provide the background to your project. You then use the information from the literature to position your study within the context of published research findings. The literature review forms the beginnings (Introduction and aims) of your final report. The literature review should be between 1000 and 1500 words. There are no marks awarded for this assessment until submission of the final report. You will receive feedback that will allow you to modify this section and changes made will be taken into account when marking the final report.
PART B Final scientific report
Due date 9am Thursday 3rd June
Assessment will be based on a report to be written in the form of a scientific paper (max 5000 words) in the form of a specified scientific journal to be established with your supervisor. The report will have an expanded introduction that provides a comprehensive review of relevant literature (PART A). You will need to state the Journal and provide a copy of the journal instructions with your submitted report.
Assessment 3: Oral Presentation (20%)
Due: week beginning May 10th (in session to be determined)
Your project findings need to be presented in oral format to the group and unit conveners. You will need to prepare a Powerpoint presentation comprising an introduction, methods and results to date. Although you will have not completed your analysis or report you should have collected and analysed a significant data set that will enable some discussion and potential outcomes of your project. Feedback will assist you in interpretation and preparation of the final report. Please invite your supervisors along to the presentation.
Assessment 4: Supervisors Report (20%)
The supervisors report will enable your project supervisor to comment on your time contribution to the project, the skills you developed and any difficulties that may have slowed progress such as complications with methods or equipment.
Assignment Submission
All assignments must be submitted by 9am on the due date and include a Faculty of Science cover sheet that has been completed, signed and attached to the cover of your assignment. Download the Assignment Cover Sheet.
Collection boxes are located in the reception area of Faculty of Science Centre (E7A room 101). The centre opens from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm and outside normal hours, a collection box will be available in the entrance of E7A. Extension requests are to be accompanied by a special consideration form that is processed via the Faculty office as detailed under Policies below.
Electronic versions of your written assignments need to be submitted to Turnitin and the log number recorded on your assignment cover sheet before submission to the Science office. Details for submission to Turnitin can be found under assessments on the unit Blackboard site
How do I Request an Extension?
Examination Conditions
Special consideration
All requests for special consideration should be submitted through the Student Enquiry Service, Registrar and Vice-Principal's Office. You must also provide your Lecturer with a copy of the documentation lodged at the Student Enquiry Service when submitting assignments. We strongly recommend that you see your Lecturer or Tutor on all such occasions to discuss the matter with her/him.
Important information, including Undergraduate Student Forms and deadlines for submission, is available at: http://www.student.mq.edu.au/
Requirements to Complete this Unit Satisfactorily
To complete this unit and gain an overall 'pass' you will need to obtain greater than 50% mark for each assessment in this unit. The unit will be graded on a HD, D, C, P & F basis. It is compulsory to also attend the three one-hour sessions. Absences or request for extensions require submission of a special consideration form via the Faculty of Science office (E7A level 1) see policy on special consideration at Policy Central.
Required and Recommended Texts/Materials
Recommended on a case-by-case basis.
Academic Honesty
Macquarie University defines plagiarism in its rules: "Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own." Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties. You must read the University's practices and procedures on plagiarism. These can be found in the Handbook of Postgraduate Studies or on the web at: http://www.student.mq.edu.au/plagiarism/
The policies and procedures explain what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, the procedures that will be taken in cases of suspected plagiarism, and the penalties if you are found guilty. Penalties may include a deduction of marks, failure in the unit, and / or referral to the University Discipline Committee.
The GSE recommends that students familiarise themselves with the information contained on the Georgetown University Honor Council website which discusses plagiarism in an easy to understand and comprehensive manner.
All assignments will be screened with "Turnitin" anti-plagiarism software
University Policy on Grading
Academic Senate has a set of guidelines on the distribution of grades across the range from Fail to High Distinction. Your final result will include one of these grades plus a standardised numerical grade (SNG).
On occasion your raw mark for a unit (i.e., the total of your marks for each assessment item) may not be the same as the SNG which you receive. Under the Senate guidelines, results may be scaled to ensure that there is a degree of comparability across the university, so that units with the same past performances of their students should achieve similar results.
It is important that you realise that the policy does not require that a minimum number of students are to be failed in any unit. In fact it does something like the opposite, in requiring examiners to explain their actions if more than 20% of students fail in a unit.
The process of scaling does not change the order of marks among students. A student who receives a higher raw mark than another will also receive a higher final scaled mark.
For an explanation of the policy see:
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/Guidelines2003.doc or
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/detailedguidelines.doc
Special Consideration Policy
The University is committed to equity and fairness in all aspects of its learning and teaching. In stating this commitment, the University recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from performing in accordance with their ability.
The Special Consideration Policy is instituted to support students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption such that they do not reach their usual demonstrated performance level.
Student Support Services
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.
Advice for Students with Disabilities/Health Conditions
The Equity Support Unit (ESU) provides support and assistance to students with a disability / health condition in aiming to ensure that they do not experience disadvantage in reaching their academic potential. Service provision is determined on a case-by-case basis following an assessment of a student's needs and the provision of supporting documentation. Service provision is also dependent on the availability of resources.
To register with ESU, download an Advice of Disability / Health Condition form from http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/academic-index.html. This form must be completed annually, irrespective of whether a disability / health condition is temporary, long-term or permanent. Students wishing to request support services from the ESU should make an appointment to see a Disability Advisor immediately after enrolling at Macquarie University.
Phone: (02) 9850 6494/7497
Fax: (02) 9850 6063
TTY: (02) 9850 6493
Email: equity@mq.edu.au
In person: Level 2, Lincoln Building (C8A), Macquarie University
Website: http://www.sss.mq.edu.au/equity