SCISCHOL 100A/B : Science in Action

Science

2025 Semester One (1253) / Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to the big questions in science, approaches to scientific research, and how science and scientists play a role in society. Students will explore scientific knowledge and enquiry from a broad, cross-disciplinary perspective.

Course Overview

Creativity and collaboration, but also grit and perseverance, are key to scientific enquiry to tackle some of the big questions on how the world works and devise strategies of improvement. Often different disciplines "talk" to each other, something that is not immediately visible to an emerging scientist. In this course, you will meet researchers and experts from various subject fields to learn about multi- and interdisciplinary approaches. In guest lectures, you will have opportunities to ask experts questions about the why and how and further explore a topic via guided small group discussions and tasks. Importantly, you will be part of a community of like-minded people who love science and are willing to engage, learn and share their insight and aspirations for their chosen subjects.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: Programme Director approval Restriction: SCISCHOL 101 To complete this course students must enrol in SCISCHOL 100 A and B, or SCISCHOL 100

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
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Be able to establish how some scientific disciplines work in the context of their own discipline, and across other fields within and outside of science. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Discover and develop your own personal and academic strengths to support decision making processes about your own interests in science. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Communicate and present ideas about scientific approaches in small group discussions and through peer feedback. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7)
  4. Prepare and present current topics in science by critically evaluating an approach or solution to a given societal, environmental, political, health or other problem. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Presentation 60% Group & Individual Coursework
Reflection 20% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Presentation
Reflection

Key Topics

The course is designed to be interactive, and students have plenty of opportunity to engage with guest speakers, course teachers and peers in critical discussions about anything to do with science or careers in science. Topics vary from semester to semester, here are some examples from previous semesters: artificial intelligence meets psychology; nanoparticles from plastics and the environment; mental health research in NZ; how DNA can save biodiversity; human learning; enzymes in biotech.
For more information about the program please go to the Science Scholars website at https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/science-scholars-programme/science-scholars.html

Special Requirements

To pass the A component of SCISCHOL A/B students must attend and participate in the weekly class meetings (online, in-person) and complete the individual and group assignments as outlined in the Canvas Course for that semester. There is no final exam.

Workload Expectations

This course is a 15 point course but split into two parts of 7.5 points each taking place over Semester 1 (component A) and Semester 2 (component B). Students are expected to spend 5 hours per week per semester which includes 2 hours of face-to-face time (lectures & discussion) and 1 hour of reading/ thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments, presentations and reflections.  

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at weekly seminars  to complete component A of the course.
Learning activities in the seminars will not be available as recordings.
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.

No special learning resources are required.

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.

Class reps help facilitate the communication between the course teachers and the students. They speak and advocate on behalf of the students of the course and are the go-to point for students with any course-related enquiries or concerns. Class reps are voted for by students in the first couple of weeks of a semester and their names (typically two per class) and contact details are posted on the Canvas home page.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 31/10/2024 08:16 a.m.