65027 Honours (Forensic Science) 1
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 24 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject consists of an individual research project on a key area of interest in forensic science conducted under the supervision of a member of UTS academic staff. Some projects are conducted externally in conjunction with an external co-supervisor. This subject is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge necessary for research and continued professional development in forensic science. With the guidance of their supervisor, students learn how to plan a project, formulate aims and hypotheses, design and implement experiments, and analyse and interpret the generated data. As part of their professional development in this subject, students learn how to work with available time and resources, use appropriate and ethical research methods, critically assess scientific literature, and report their research to scientific peers. This subject is the linked preparation subject for 65028 Honours (Forensic Science) 2 and marks are allocated on completion of that subject.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Work independently on a research project to investigate a forensic science problem or question in their chosen discipline area |
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| 2. | Create a research plan and design suitable experiments to test a scientific hypothesis |
| 3. | Critically review the literature in their chosen discipline area and identify gaps in knowledge |
| 4. | Generate new disciplinary knowledge or professional forensic science processes |
| 5. | Communicate research in oral and written formats to peer and expert audiences |
| 6. | Work effectively and collaboratively as part of a research group |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate an advanced command of forensic science knowledge and its application to investigate and find solutions to a forensic science research question. (1.1)
- Employ investigative and problem-solving skills to conduct and design experiments and critically appraise and evaluate research data and literature to identify and address challenges in contemporary forensic science. (2.1)
- Develop safe, ethical, and responsible professional conduct through work-integrated learning and/or research. (3.1)
- Discuss the impact and role of forensic science in addressing current and future challenges faced by law enforcement, the legal system, security, and the wider community, and contribute to that impact through original research. (3.2)
- Demonstrate self-directed learning skills with a high degree of personal autonomy to integrate innovative thinking and creative problem solving applied to challenges in forensic science practice and research. (4.1)
- Effectively document and communicate scientific discovery or research to coherently present complex ideas to expert, scientific, and general audiences in a variety of formats. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Graduate Attribute 1: Disciplinary Knowledge
Students will apply the disciplinary knowledge and practical skills they have developed throughout their undergraduate studies to an unfamiliar research question in order to develop new knowledge or forensic science processes, which will help reinforce their existing knowledge in their chosen discipline area. To successfully complete their Honours research project, students will continually build a much deeper understanding of their discipline or topic throughout the year by critiquing and/or using existing scientific literature to complete aspects of their project such as data analysis, experiments, or interpretation of results.
Graduate Attribute 2: Research, Inquiry, and Critical Thinking
Students will learn how to structure and investigate a research project from the design stage to the final report (thesis) and seminar by using scientific method. At the commencement of their project they will formulate scientific hypotheses and learn how to design appropriate experiments to test and evaluate these hypotheses with input from their supervisors. Students will also refine their problem-solving skills by applying existing knowledge or literature to solve unknown or unfamiliar problems.
Honours is an independent research year that provides the right environment and support for students to build on the independent learning skills they began developing in undergraduate studies. During their Honours year, students will be mentored to become competent scientists who have the ability to research new practices or literature, assess the quality and validity of new methods, and adapt to or learn new techniques. Students will be trained on and gain expertise with state-of-the-art instruments, software and processes used in forensic science industry and research, setting them up to apply their technical skills to new workplace or research scenarios. Students will also develop their ability to learn collaboratively with other scientists - necessary for continued career development in modern science - through research group meetings, discussions of common problems in the laboratory, and sharing laboratory skills.
Graduate Attribute 3: Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility
Students will refine their professional skills through independent research, participating in research group meetings, working with other researchers and students in the laboratory, and managing the day-to-day aspects of their project. Students will have an opportunity to refine key professional attributes such as time management, researching scientific literature, problem solving and personal organisation required for a successful career. As part of the initial stages of their projects, students will learn other professional skills such as laboratory risk assessment and management, conducting ethical research and maintaining thorough laboratory notes. In the second half of the project (65028), students will produce a technical scientific thesis and prepare scientific presentations.
Honours research projects are designed to address an unresolved question, limitation or need in forensic science practice designed to improve the detection, interpretation or use of forensic traces. Each of these aspects is crucial for improving the intersection with the security, policing or legal systems, and, more broadly, society's need for effective forensic science to ensure community safety. As students investigate their project, they will build an awareness of the current limitations and issues within their chosen discipline, and aid in the development of a solution to these limitations, whether it is the development of a new method or an industry-based validation or interpretation framework project.
Graduate Attribute 4: Reflection, Innovation, Creativity
In order to generate new discipline knowledge or industry practice, Honours students will be mentored by their supervisors and senior research students to develop their ability to produce innovative methods or practices to address current limitations in forensic science. As students become more independent in their project, they will learn to independently seek and test solutions to unfamiliar problems they encounter during their project, as well as their project hypotheses, using literature or practical research.
Graduate Attribute 5: Communication
The communication of a student's project findings are an essential part of their Honours year. Students will get an opportunity to continue developing their written scientific communication skills by writing a technical scientific thesis and critical literature review. Both written works require students to critically analyse and distill a variety of data and sources in a coherent body of work. Depending on their project, some students may also have the opportunity to collaborate on the drafting of a journal article. As part of their final assessment, students will also refine their oral communication skills via their final seminar. Those participating in the mid-year WSU-UTS Research Student Symposium will have the opportunity to practice their presentation skills in a conference-style atmosphere.
Teaching and learning strategies
Guided learning
Teaching and learning in this subject involves a combination of individual project-linked, forensic science and advanced research/career science skills workshops. Students will master crucial laboratory skills in formal training sessions with professional research technical officers and/or industry supervisors. With assistance from their supervisors, students will learn other practices required in a research environment, such as preparing risk management plans, project plans, designing experiments, and research ethics.
Supervisors will provide guidance and personalised feedback on assessments to help students learn academic writing, literature critique and presentation skills. Students may also request one-on-one meetings with their supervisors to discuss specific problems or progress. More detailed information on student feedback modes is presented in the Assessment Feedback section. As the student develops subject matter expertise, they are expected to develop more independence in their learning and responsibility for their project.
Students will also attend a series of seminars held throughout the year on a variety of topics, such as scientific communication, research skills, advanced forensic science concepts, and the intersection with related disciplines such as policing and criminology. These will help students learn and practice professional skills.
Independent learning
As they develop into independent researchers, students will be responsible for further developing their professional attributes and knowledge. Students will be responsible for balancing their research time with seminars and other commitments, providing draft work for critique in a timely manner, and providing regular updates to their supervisors. Students will also learn to use online resources such as scientific literature, webinars or tutorials to find solutions to project problems, develop a deeper understanding of their research topic and results, or select appropriate data analysis methods. Online support materials provided on Canvas are designed to complement in-person and supervisor guidance on literature review and presentation writing and general research practices.
Research group meetings and collaborative learning
All Honours students are an active part of their research group and are expected to show 'good citizenship' within their respective groups. Each research group has a different meeting calendar (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) and students should contact their supervisors for the schedule. Research group meetings are your main channel for receiving regular feedback and guidance from your supervisors and other research students. This includes attending and giving updates at group meetings and participating in other activities such as journal clubs or practice seminars, which will help you learn and refine critical review, scientific and presentation skills. Students will have the opportunity to learn from other students in their research group and assist others by providing or receiving project suggestions, assistance or feedback from each other. Students are encouraged to assist each other with day-to-day problems in the laboratory and to learn from senior research students in the laboratory.
Content (topics)
The content of each research project will be determined by the supervisory panel in consultation with the student. The initial project background and aims are published in the Honours project proposal booklet. Students are expected to work with their supervisors to prepare a project plan in the initial weeks of semester. Laboratory inductions and the risk management plan should be completed during the orientation period wherever possible as these processes are essential for gaining security access.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Oral project plan
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 2. Research, inquiry, and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, innovation, creativity 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 3 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 5% |
| Length: | 10 minutes (includes question time) |
| Criteria: | A detailed marking scheme is available on Canvas. You will be assessed on your ability to:
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Assessment task 2: Critical literature review
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry, and critical thinking 4. Reflection, innovation, creativity 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 3 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Literature review |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Length: | 5000-7000 words |
| Criteria: | The literature review feedback and marking proforma is available on Canvas. You will be reviewed and assessed on your ability to:
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Assessment task 3: Final seminar
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry, and critical thinking 4. Reflection, innovation, creativity 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 20 minutes. Presentations should be approximately 15-17 minutes in length to allow time for questions. |
| Criteria: | A detailed marking scheme is available on Canvas. You will be assessed on your ability to:
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Assessment task 4: Thesis
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry, and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, innovation, creativity 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Thesis |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 60% |
| Length: | Approx. 70-100 pages |
| Criteria: | Detailed marking criteria are available on Canvas. You will be assessed on your ability to:
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