HONOURS BOTANY
BOT4HNB
2018
Credit points: 60
Subject outline
The full Honours program lasts approximately 9 months and commences in early February. Both BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB need to be taken up during the one academic year.
The Honours program includes an original research project which is supervised by a member of staff of the Department. A variety of scientific techniques will be learned and students will conduct their research independently with some guidance. Scientific communication and thinking skills established during the undergraduate degree will be consolidated and further developed through various workshops and exercises. Other components of the program are designed to put to practice the various skills that are essential for a scientist including the writing of a scientific literature review, presentation of an introductory poster and a final research seminar, preparation of a style thesis, and an oral defence of the thesis.
SchoolSchool of Life Sciences
Credit points60
Subject Co-ordinatorKim Plummer
Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo
Subject year levelYear Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG
Exchange StudentsNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Must be enrolled in SHBIS or SHS or SHMES or SHSWCB or SHAVB.
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects BOT40HON, BOT42HON
Equivalent subjects BOT42HON
Special conditions This unit of study represents one semester of a year-long program
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Research, analyse and evaluate published and acquired scientific information and communicate this to a scientific audience in written form.
- Activities:
- Students will participate in a variety of workshops and exercises on database searching, Endnote, criticalanalysis, synthesising and evaluating scientific information. In addition, workshops on scientific writing provide the necessary skills to prepare a literature review, and a final thesis. The feedback provided on the literature review is useful for improving the skill to write the final thesis. Students will also submit drafts of their work to their supervisor for feedback.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills (Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills (Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills (Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Present and discuss research information to/with a scientific audience using effective oral communication skills.
- Activities:
- Students will receive a workshop on how to give an interesting and informative presentation before their introductory poster presentation is due. Students can practice presentations withintheir research group. Feedback on the introductory seminar in first semester can be used when preparing for the final research seminar. In second semester a media communication workshop will be given. A thesis defence will be held at the end of the semester. Several workshop time slots will also be allocated to discuss student progress and to answer any questions about assignments.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills (Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills (Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills (Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Critically analyse and interpret scientific information and data, assess their relevance and validity and justify the conclusions drawn.
- Activities:
- During the year students will regularly meet with their supervisor to discuss their findings and any issues that arise. Workshops will be given on critical analysis and synthesising and evaluating information.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills (Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills (Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
04. Set up experiments independently and evaluate the techniques used and the data collected in order to make necessary modications.
- Activities:
- Students will learn new techniques during their Honours year and execute these independently after initial supervision. Lab inductions will be given to students at the beginning of their project to ensure everyone works safely in the lab, complying with certified laboratory environments. Depending on the research project, students might design their own experiments and experimental protocols using the literature and/or previous methodologies. Students will analyse their data, interpret them and make adjustments to protocols, experiments when needed. During the year students will regularly meet with their supervisor to discuss their findings.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills (Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills (Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
05. Propose an experimental design for the investigation and analyse experimental data using statistical tests relevant for discipine-specific research.
- Activities:
- Several Statistics workshops will be given during the year. Students regularly meet with their supervisor for feedback and to discuss any issues that arise.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills (Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills (Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
06. Apply knowledge in discipline-relevant research when designing experiments, analysing results and drawing conclusions.
- Activities:
- Through the literature review, students will gain more insight into the area they are researching. This knowledge will be used when designing experiments, analysing and discussing results, evaluating information and drawing conclusions. Students will learn to analyse and critically evaluate scientific information during the year. Workshops will be given on critical analysis and synthesising and evaluating information.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills (Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills (Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Personal and Professional Skills (Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills (Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Subject options
Select to view your study options…
Melbourne, 2018, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorKim Plummer
Class requirements
Supervised Research
Week:
10
-
22
One 5.0 days supervised research per study period
on weekdays
during the day
from week 10 to week 22
and delivered via face-to-face.
WorkShop
Week:
10
-
22
Three 3.0 hours workshop per study period
on weekdays
during the day
from week 10 to week 22
and delivered via face-to-face.
"Workshops are run as Multiple Sessions on different days."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature Review (3000 words maximum) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 10 | 01, 03 |
| Introductory Poster (1000 words) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 5 | 01, 03, 05, 06 |
| Introductory Poster - Oral presentation (5 minute oral presentation + 5 minutes questions) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 5 | 02, 03 |
| Final Seminar (15 minutes, + 5 minutes questions) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 10 | 02, 03 |
| Thesis (8000 words maximum plus appendices) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 65 | 01, 03, 04, 05, 06 |
| Thesis oral defence (15 minutes) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 5 | 02, 03, 06 |
Melbourne, 2018, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorKim Plummer
Class requirements
Supervised Research
Week:
31
-
43
One 5.0 days supervised research per study period
on weekdays
during the day
from week 31 to week 43
and delivered via face-to-face.
WorkShop
Week:
31
-
43
Three 3.0 hours workshop per study period
on weekdays
during the day
from week 31 to week 43
and delivered via face-to-face.
"Workshops are run as Multiple Sessions on different days."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature Review (3000 words maximum) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 10 | 01, 03 |
| Introductory Poster (1000 words) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 5 | 01, 03, 05, 06 |
| Introductory Poster - Oral presentation (5 minute oral presentation + 5 minutes questions) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 5 | 02, 03 |
| Final Seminar (15 minutes, + 5 minutes questions) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 10 | 02, 03 |
| Thesis (8000 words maximum plus appendices) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 65 | 01, 03, 04, 05, 06 |
| Thesis oral defence (15 minutes) | All assessment components listed are the combined assessment for BOT4HNA and BOT4HNB. | 5 | 02, 03, 06 |