SLE451 - Science Professionalism
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Semester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Warrnambool, Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Semester 1: Christie Lam Semester 2: Timothy Clark |
| Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in S400, S401, S494 |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 4 half-day practical experiences (workshops) (20 hours in total). |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit will develop an understanding of the ethics, integrity and professional processes that underpin Life and Environmental Science as a discipline. The aim of the unit is to engender understanding and appreciation of important concepts in science professionalism as broadly applied both within and outside science. The unit will comprise four workshops and cover topics such as: the concepts and processes of research ethics and integrity and how they are applied in research and the community the process of critical review in science; peer review of papers and grant applications; how research quality and impact are assessed; issues in diversity, gender and science; and communication of science through professional, public and social media outlets.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Demonstrate an awareness of the important issues in research integrity including the ethical basis of using animals and humans in research. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO2 | Understand the process of critical evaluation of the quality of scientific research, based on the grant application and refereed publication processes. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Be able to present scientific research in a form accessible to the general public. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Appropriately use media, including social media in the communication of science to professional and public audiences. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO5: Problem solving |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Science communication digital production | 5-7 minute digital production | 30% | Week 9 |
| Assessment 2 Grant application exercise | 4-page written assignment | 40% | Week 12 |
| Assessment 3 Research ethics assignment (editorial) | 4-page written assignment | 30% | Week 15 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
There is no prescribed text. Unit materials are provided via the unit site. This includes unit topic readings and references to further information.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.