SCIGEN 201/201G : Innovating in a Knowledge Society

Science

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Interdisciplinary examination of science innovation at policy, organisational and project levels including context, impacts and roles of business and research organisations, and ways innovations are presented and received. Case study analysis of the business environment including how innovation is both enabled and constrained in science-based organisations and society, and innovation strategies in science–based organisations.

Course Overview

Today’s knowledge society requires science graduates who are innovative. In this course, you will extend your skills and knowledge beyond what you learn in your chosen discipline by gaining knowledge, skills and understanding of scientific innovation. You will develop basic competencies in innovation, communication, and collaboration that are essential skills for successful innovation. You will critically examine the way scientific innovations are developed and explore the social, cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of scientific innovations.  

Major topics include:
What is science innovation?
The science innovation ecosystem.
Understanding the power and influence of stakeholders.
Creating value from science innovations.
Co-innovation: working effectively in science innovation partnerships.
Contested Innovations: Responsible science innovation and Social License to Operate
Social, Cultural, Environmental, and Economic Impacts of Science Innovation
Innovation competencies - collaboration, communication, networking

You will engage with a core group in a weekly tutorial to explore key innovation competencies and skills.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and critically explore New Zealand’s science ‘innovation system’ (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8)
  2. Develop competencies in innovation, communication and collaboration skills (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  3. Understand and critically evaluate how science innovations are brought into use and practice. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8)
  4. Critically explore how collaboration and co-innovation can enable effective science innovation. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  5. Critically explore the wider social, cultural, environmental and economic impacts of science innovations (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Tutorials 10% Group & Individual Coursework
Creative Output 10% Group Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
Tutorials
Creative Output
Final Exam

Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html

As part of the University-wide Tuākana community, The School of Environment Tuākana Programme aims to provide a welcoming learning environment for and enhance the success of, all of our Māori and Pacific students. We are led by the principles of tautoko (support) and whanaungatanga (connection) and hope you find a home here at the School. Students who have identified as Māori and/or Pacific will receive an invitation to our online portal introducing the Programme, the resources we have available, and how you can get involved. This course is supported by our Programme Coordinator, Kaiāwhina/Māori student adviser, and Pacific student adviser. They are able to organize group study and facilitate direct assistance regarding material taught in this course. 

Key Topics


  • What is science innovation?
  • The science innovation ecosystem.
  • Understanding the power and influence of stakeholders.
  • Creating value from science innovations.
  • Co-innovation: working effectively in science innovation partnerships.
  • Contested Innovations: Responsible science innovation and Social License to Operate
  • Social, Cultural, Environmental, and Economic Impacts of Science Innovation
  • Innovation competencies - collaboration, communication, networking

Special Requirements

Tutorials (1 per week) are compulsory and are held on 10 weeks during the semester.  Week 1 and week 12 do not have a tutorial.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures (2 hours per week), 10 hours of tutorials (1 hour per week - not weeks 1 and 12), 36 hours of reading and thinking about the content (during the semester), and 48 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation (during the semester).

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled lectures and required at tutorials to complete and receive credit for components of the course.  There is a 10% tutorial group engagement component in this course (with tutorial worksheets/quizzes) and a 10% creative output relating to a topic about science innovation.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
There is NO mid-year test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All required learning resources are made available through the canvas and the course talis reading list.  You will be taught how to use the library online resources to access resources for your assignments.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

SCIGEN 201/201G recognizes that nearly all of its students come with no prior experience or understanding of innovation.  Past students have not always recognized the immediate relevance of innovation to their disciplines.  These include design thinking, collaboration,  communication, and a wide range of innovation competencies that employers are looking for in science and other graduates.

Your  lecturers who come from the Science Faculty and the Business School have  worked closely to carefully integrate the lectures, assignments, and tutorials to ensure a cohesive and connected  course structure.  The students rated the course well in the 2022 SET evaluation - indeed it ranked higher for student satisfaction in all areas of evaluation compared to other Faculty of Science courses.  Our assignments will enable you to engage with science innovation in New Zealand.  Our tutorials will give you first-hand experience in working in groups to engage in science innovation. 

This is not a course about creating a business, it is a course about science innovation.  This course provides you with additional skills, competencies, and understandings that will enable you to do what most scientists and graduates want to do...to make a difference in the world.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 06/11/2023 08:40 a.m.