School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Science Project
  • Unit Code

    SCI3150
  • Year

    2026
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Eddie VAN ETTEN

Description

This unit takes the form of independent study where students undertake a research project in a science discipline relevant to their course under the direct guidance of an academic staff member, typically working in small groups.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Devise a plan for a research project, including outlining objectives, proposed methodology, budget, risk assessment and timetable.
  2. Apply discipline knowledge to define a research problem and then design and complete with a structured plan to address this problem.
  3. Use the discourse of the discipline to effectively communicate the findings of a research project through a written report and presentation.
  4. Report in writing and verbally key findings of a research project.

Unit Content

  1. Identification and clarification of the objective(s) of the research project.
  2. Identification of information relating to the investigation.
  3. Preparation of plan for a research project addressing background, rationale, significance, methods and resources, logistics, budgets, timeframes and risk assessment, including health and safety considerations.
  4. Conduct research, comprising fieldwork, lab work or desktop studies, that provide the basis for a capstone end of semester report.
  5. Processing of data and analysis of the results.
  6. Preparation of a written capstone report.
  7. Verbal presentation of the research project results and conclusions.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

For more information see the Semester Timetable

WIL - Project

Students undertake an activity in collaboration or consultation with an industry partner but do not spend any time or only a very small amount of time  (e.g. 1-2 short visits) in an actual workplace.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Formal classes consist of weekly workshops. These cover introductory information, preparation of project plans, work safety and risk assessment, specific research skills, research methodology and data analyses, and presentation skills (both written and oral). Students meet with their appointed supervisor(s) on a regular basis for guidance and feedback on their progress.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentProject plan15%
ExerciseDevelop appropriate WHS (Work Health and Safety) documentation5%
PresentationSeminar or Poster Presentation20%
ReportCommunicate research project findings60%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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