Science Research Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

120 hours total time commitment.

Excellent results in a discipline appropriate to the project (normally an average of at least 75% in relevant second and third year level subjects) and approval of the relevant Head of Department and the Science Student Centre.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

An individual program of supervised research in which the student designs a research project, in consultation with the supervisor, carries out and presents the results of the project. Detailed requirements are to be negotiated with the supervisor and the Science Research Project Coordinator(s).

Each student will receive feedback on their progress through ongoing consultation with their supervisor.

Despite the differences between individual programs, each aims to provide students with the opportunities to gain expertise in project design, management and reporting.

Written report including data presented in a variety of formats, up to the equivalent of 4000 words, submitted at the end of semester (70%); 15 minute oral report, or poster presentation of equivalent preparation time toward the end of semester (15%); supervisor assessment of research competence according to student's contribution to project design and implementation (15%).

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This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students are expected to develop skills in:

• locating and synthesising information available in scientific (and in some cases other) literature in order to establish the need for, and potential scope and context of, the research project;

• developing creative ways of solving unfamiliar problems by devising a methodological approach to address the research question being raised;

• managing the time allocated to completing specific tasks;

• collecting and analysing data (qualitative and quantitative) including an assessment of the statistical validity of the research results; and

• communicating the results in written form, requiring critical analysis, synthesis and organisation of knowledge, and the construction of a rational and lucid scientific argument.

Depending on the project, students may also find they learn other important skills such as how to take account of ethical considerations in designing a project.

This subject is available for science credit for students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and New Generation BSc), BASc or a combined degree BSc course/

This undergraduate research project subject is available in a number of Departments/Schools. A list of those participating this year can be found at http://www.studentcentre.unimelb.edu.au/eastern/subject_information/research_subjects

Enrolment in the subject is contingent on the availability of a supervisor. A suitable supervisor may not be available in any particular semester.

Students wishing to be considered for this subject must complete a Science Research Project application form and submit it to their Student Centre. This form is available from the Science Student Centre and must be signed by the relevant Head of Department or departmental Science Research Project Coordinator.

If a student is intending to request that this subject contribute to completion of a major, the form must also be signed by the coordinator of the major. This option is not available in all majors.

This subject may involve the use of animals in experiments.