Climate Change III - Research Project

This subject is not offered in 2015.

170 hours including contact hours, class preparation and reading and assessment-related tasks

Or evidence of a subject understanding as to the causes and impacts of climate change

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The final subject of the climate change sequence will provide a capstone and knowledge transfer experience to this sequence. A key part of this subject is a research project which may be associated with a partner such as a community group, school, government department or agency, industry or other organisation. Each student will work as part of a small multi-disciplinary team researching a particular climate change related problem or question. Students will learn how to work across disciplines, working effectively and considerately together to deliver an agreed output for their target audience. Each tutorial group will be moderated by a suitable member of the university faculty. All projects are presented to an expert panel of community and industry sustainability and climate change professionals in the final weeks.

The subject specifically builds on the understanding of climate change developed in the two prerequisite subjects. Small groups of students with a range of disciplinary backgrounds will partner with an organisation outside the university or work independently of that organisation to explore the implications of climate change and potential responses.

The primary aim is to equip graduates with knowledge and skills to provide leadership in the wider community discussion of these issues.

• An individual research report of 3000 words, due at end of semester (worth 60%).
• Oral presentations, proposal preparation and critical reflection pieces (equivalent to 1000 words) due during the semester (worth 40%).
• Minimum attendance of 9 (75%) tutorials required.

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

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

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.

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

• The ability to write a logically argued and properly researched essay.
• The ability to critically assess information from a range of sources, and assess its quality and relevance to the questions under consideration.
• The ability to work as part of a small multi-disciplinary team on a major project.
• The development of project leadership skills.
• Oral communication skills through presentation and investigation of relevant material.