Societal Challenges in Science
Overview
The aim of this unit is for students to create social impact by engaging with a community or industry partner to develop a project which addresses a real-world challenge. In doing so, students will examine how science can contribute to our understanding of diverse societal issues. Students will develop key skills relevant to tackling real industry and community challenges, including project planning, working with stakeholders and professional communication.
Requisites
Rule
100cp in BB-ENGSC
OR
COS10025 Technology in an Indigenous Context Project
OR
NPS10001 Introduction to E-Science
OR
NPS10003 Sustainability Challenges in Science
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Contextualise their role as a scientist within a project team and within society more broadly
- Apply critical and creative thinking to articulate the role of science in addressing societal challenges
- Develop a project plan incorporating an appropriate data management strategy
- Evaluate approaches to identifying and engaging project stakeholders, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Contrast approaches to communication for different purposes and audiences
- Explain the role of ethics in professional practice and research
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On Campus Class |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On Campus Workshop |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
8.50 | 12 weeks | 102 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Individual/Group | 100% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Content
- Social and economic sustainability
- Effective scientific communication
- Working critically with data
- Stakeholder engagement
- Project planning
- Research ethics
- Team dynamics
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and STEM knowledge systems
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
- Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.