Overview

This unit provides an opportunity for the application of technical and professional skills to tackle real industry and community problems. Students will work individually or in teams to address challenges set by academic/industry/community partners, applying their technical knowledge while developing professional skills in teamwork, communication, research, innovation, complex problem solving, digital literacy and self-management.

Requisites

Prerequisites

225cp in BA-SC2 or 325cp in a Science Double degree.

AND
NPS20005 Communication for Scientists
OR
NPS20011 Societal Challenges in Science

Assumed Knowledge
This unit should be taken in the final semester of study for science units

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Design and conduct research to address problems faced by scientific and industry sectors
  • Select and apply appropriate research and project management skills to execute a research or industry-based project
  • Demonstrate working collaboratively, inclusively and independently as effective team member
  • Communicate professionally in written, verbal, and visual forms, by selecting the appropriate digital tools to research or industry audiences
  • Identify and adopt safe and ethical working practices relevant to research or industry-based project work
  • Use self-management skills to lead their own learning and professional development aligned with their professional purpose

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lab
5.00 12 weeks 60
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
4.50 12 weeks 54
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Oral PresentationIndividual/Group 10 - 30% 2,3,4,6 
PortfolioIndividual 100% 1,2,3,4,5,6 
Project ReportIndividual/Group 40 - 50% 2,3,4,6 

Content

The specific content of each team-based project will depend on the industry partner, but all will involving a substantial research component, relevant to the discipline area of the placement.

  • Project Portfolio: Students will undertake a research project with an industry partner either external to the university (e.g., industry, business, government, NGO, community organisations) or internal to the university (e.g., research centres, research institutes or academic researchers). 

  • Students will develop professional knowledge and skills in the following areas:

    • Inclusive behaviours and strategies,   

    • Intellectual Property,   

    • Professional Reporting, 

    • Reflective Practice. 

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.