65862 Honours (Chemistry) 2

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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Science: Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Credit points: 24 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 65861 Honours (Chemistry) 1
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

Scientific research brings together the scientific method, knowledge, observations and sound data to answer specific questions. This can lead to deeper understanding of a research question or the development of novel solutions to problems. The honours program is designed to enhance students' ability to develop professional research skills as they undertake a research project as part of a larger research endeavour within the Faculty of Science. The research project can only be conducted following approval into the course by the honours committee and prior negotiation on the part of the student with a member within the faculty regarding supervision and selection of a suitable research topic.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1.	Develop and execute a project plan with your supervisor, within the field of your research area
2.	Establish effective channels of communication with your supervisor(s) and colleagues
3.	Apply knowledge and skills into professional scientific practice and gain new expertise
4.	Utilise appropriate methods of critical analysis to analyse scientific data sets
5.	Assess your current skills, abilities and problem solving strategies to discover how to learn through experience
6.	Communicate the findings of your research through both written and oral communication, including the contribution of the research to the scientific field

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:

Attain, critique, and evaluate knowledge in the field of chemistry and develop advanced experimental skills using established and emerging chemical techniques. (1.1)
Demonstrate an advanced application of experimental design and sampling, and critical thinking to design appropriate studies that test complex hypotheses. (2.1)
Act safely and responsibly in laboratory and practical settings, and integrate advanced knowledge of chemistry to explore complex challenges and derive potential ethical solutions to relevant societal problems. (3.1)
Demonstrate advanced self-directed learning to find, create, and reflect on multiple sources of information to derive innovative solutions to complex problems. (4.1)
Display excellent communication skills at varying levels of complexity and communicate information and findings through a variety of methods to non-expert and professional audiences. (5.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The Faculty of Science lists six graduate attributes that you will develop during your course at UTS. This subject has the potential link to all UTS graduate attributes, however since each research project will be different, the specific tasks and roles of each student will be different and as such the depth of linkage to any attribute will differ.

Graduate attribute 1 - Disciplinary knowledge

An understanding of the nature, practice & application of the chosen science discipline will be instilled in students through their research projects. Student will deepen their understanding of their chosen field through the reading of scientific research articles and application of practical skills in the laboratory.

Graduate attribute 2 - Research, inquiry and critical thinking

Students will gain a thorough understanding of how the scientific method is used for the development of a research plan to investigate a topic of interest and in knowledge acquisition. This will encompass the development of a research plan, gathering of data and then utilisation of problem solving and critical thinking to analyse the data to gain a new understanding of their research question.

Graduate attribute 3 - Professional, ethical and social responsibility

Students will acquire, develop, employ, and integrate a range of technical, practical and professional skills, and apply them in a research project context, ensuring they work in appropriate and ethical ways. Students will develop their ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in a research lab, which will allow the development of numerous skills as a professional research scientist, including time management skills, personal organisation skills, teamwork skills, computing skills, laboratory skills, data handling, quantitative and graphical literacy skills. Students will gain an awareness of the role of science within a global culture and willingness to contribute actively to the shaping of community views on complex issues where the methods and findings of science are relevant. This will be demonstrated in their ability to explain the relevance and significance of their project to the global community.

Graduate attribute 4 - Reflection, innovation and creativity

Learning beyond formal educational contexts, that is based on the ability to make effective judgments about one’s own work. Students will have the opportunity to engage in self-reflection in order to improve research approaches throughout the project. In additional, students have the capacity to learn in, and from, new related disciplines to enhance the application of scientific knowledge and skills in professional contexts.

Graduate attribute 5 - Communication skills

Students will further develop of the different forms of communication - writing, reading, speaking, listening - including visual and graphical, relevant to a career in science and scientific communication. You will also learn how to appropriately communicate with other scientists and professionals within the industry, and communicate scientific data effectively for different audiences.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is a project-based subject; therefore, the learning will be experiential and hands-on within a research laboratory setting, with guidance provided by the project supervisor and their research team. Students will be actively involved in the planning of their project from the beginning of the teaching session and working collaboratively with the project supervisor and their research team. Students will develop skills as a professional research scientist that includes working collaboratively with other scientists towards research goals.

Students will receive regular formative feedback on their understanding of the project and their practical skills from their supervisor and research team in the laboratory. Students have the opportunity to seek feedback from their project supervisor on different aspects of the research project and prior to submitting the assessment tasks.

Content (topics)

You will learn broadly the following topics:

The development, enhancement and application of professional scientific skills in the area of your chosen discipline
Aptitude and knowledge in generic skills associated with successful management of a scientific project
Critical analysis of scientific data sets
Scientific communication to a wide variety of audiences
The skills of reflection, self-assessment and the ability to learn independently

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Coursework

Intent:	This assessment task addresses the following graduate attributes: Disciplinary knowledge Research, inquiry and critical thinking Professional, ethical and social responsibility Reflection, innovation and creativity Communication
Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 4 and 6 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:	Exercises
Groupwork:	Individual
Weight:	25%
Criteria:	Further information and marking rubrics used to assess the assignments will be available in Canvas.

Assessment task 2: Final seminar

Intent:	This assessment task addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, innovation and creativity 5. Communication
Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 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:	Presentation
Groupwork:	Individual
Weight:	10%
Length:	The presentation should be 15 minutes in length, plus an additional 5 minutes for questions.
Criteria:	The criteria you will be assessed on are; Scientific content Concise, focused literature review and project aims Presentation of experimental methods Presentation of results and evidence of critical evaluation of data Evidence of research skills Appropriate conclusions Presentation structure and format Slide content is legible and supports the verbal component Verbal communication skills Clear explanation of theoretical concepts and analyses Accurate and knowledgeable answers to questions

Assessment task 3: Thesis

Intent:	This assessment task addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, innovation and creativity 5. Communication
Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 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:	65%
Length:	The report length is project dependent. As a general guide, the thesis should be no longer than 100 pages (maximum), and there is no minimum. Students should be aware that they should write succinctly, concisely and clearly, but also ensure they provide enough information so that experimentation could be repeated, using the thesis as a guide.
Criteria:	Criteria: The criteria you are assessed on are; Literature review and introduction Comprehensive, critical review of the current research Aims and objectives are clearly stated and are reflected in the content Experimental methods Layout of methods in a discipline appropriate manner with enough detail for reproduction Evidence of an experimental design process that was used to develop or refine the experimental methods undertaken Results Clearly presented and explained Appropriate data treatment or analysis methods (where applicable) with justification of this choice The data are sound, of high quality and contribute original knowledge to the area Discussion Clear and critical evaluation of results and data analysis Ability to draw inferences and relate data to hypotheses Synthesis of knowledge by discussion of results in the context of existing literature Outline of significance of research to the discipline Conclusions Address of the main aims and objectives of the project and provision of an honest reflection of the results and discussion chapters Demonstration of critical thinking skills by suggesting future research directions based on the work contained in the thesis Written communication Clear writing and structure with a logical flow The language, style, formatting and referencing style are appropriate for written scientific work Typographical and grammatical errors are kept to a minimum

Minimum requirements

Coursework was completed in subject 65861 Honours (Chemistry) 1 carried out in the previous semester. The same mark is submitted for both subjects as the assessment tasks are finalised during Honours (Chemistry) 2.

In order to pass this subject students must receive at least 50% of the marks available.