E-Science

This subject is not offered in 2012.

Students studying this subject are expected to be competent in the general use of computers, including file management, productivity software such as word processors and spreadsheets, and the use of the internet for research.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

This subject focuses on approaches and tools for management and manipulation of scientific data. Topics may include: the nature of data; data lifecycle and management; data access; data analysis and manipulation; data visualisation, security, storage and curation. Students will learn how to manage research data, communicate research results to a wide audience, and oversee the efficient extraction and integration of information from diverse data sources, and how data might be preserved sustainably.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• understand the scientific data lifecycle;
• understand and be able to apply principles for managing scientific data collections;
• access and contribute to distributed data collections;
• manipulate structured and unstructured data; and
• appreciate the role of scientific data management in the creation, communication and preservation of scientific knowledge.

A 25-minute group class presentation and short written report (500 words), due date to be determined by a schedule that will be distributed early in the semester (15%); a 1500 word individual assignment to develop a scientific data management plan that demonstrates principles for managing scientific data due during the first half of semester (20%); a data manipulation and visualization group project expected to take approximately 30 hours (35%) due near the end of the semester; a 2-hour end-of-semester written examination (30%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should have developed the following generic skills:

• understand the scientific data lifecycle;
• understand and be able to apply principles for managing scientific data collections;
• access and contribute to distributed data collections;
• manipulate structured and unstructured data; and
• appreciate the role of scientific data management in the creation, communication and preservation of scientific knowledge.