Environmental Research Topic

This subject is not offered in 2016.

Students must be enrolled in, or have completed, the following subjects:

Completion of a subject that addresses the content of the proposed research topic, or equivalent or prior knowledge of the research topic.

The Melbourne School of Land and Environment (MSLE) welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and School policy to take reasonable steps to make reasonable adjustments so as to enable the student’s participation in the School’s programs. MSLE contributes to the New Generation degrees and offers a broad range of programs across undergraduate and post-graduate levels many of which adopt a multi-disciplinary approach.

Students of the School’s courses must possess intellectual, ethical, and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the School. Candidates must have abilities and skills in observation; motor in relevant areas; communication; in conceptual, integrative, and quantitative dimensions; and in behavioural and social dimensions.

Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability, however students need to be able to participate in the program in an independent manner and with regard to their safety and the safety of others.

I. Observation: In some contexts, the student must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic and applied sciences. More broadly, observation requires reading text, diagrams, maps, drawings and numerical data. The candidate should be able to observe details at a number of scales and record useful observations in discipline dependant contexts.

II. Communication: A candidate should be able to communicate with fellow students, professional and academic staff, members of relevant professions and the public. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing.

III. Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function necessary for participation in the inherent discipline-related activities. The practical work, design work, field work, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, require varying motor movement abilities. Off campus investigations may include visits to construction sites, urban, rural and/or remote environments.

IV. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of professionals in land and environment industries, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the candidate should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.

V. Behavioural and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

Students who feel their disability will prevent them from meeting the above academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit.

The subject allows students to conduct an original environmental research project under the supervision of the subject coordinator and an individual supervisor.
The project itself is a maximum of 10000 words in length and is submitted towards the end of the semester.
The research project involves a review of a body of scientific literature, together with a critical evaluation of current research, and the completion of an original experiment, or a thorough exploration of a scientific issue.

1. Demonstrate competence in researching and presenting an environmental research project on an environmental topic
2. Distinguish salient features and important trends in published literature and data
3. Conduct scientific or critical research on the chosen topic, contributing to acquisition of independent research skills
4. Produce a paper equivalent in length, or in content, to a journal research paper

A written report, in the form of a scientific paper, based on the student’s original work, to be assessed by at least two people of the supervisor’s choice, due at the end of semester. The written report should be between 7,500 and 10,000 words.

N/A

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.