BIOSCI 100/100G : Antarctica: The Frozen Continent

Science

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A general introduction to Antarctica and its environs including the Southern Ocean and the sub-Antarctic islands. Emphasis will be placed on the evolution of Antarctica and how resident plants, animals and micro-organisms have adapted to cope with the extreme environment. Specific topics to be addressed include: the history of Antarctic exploration and its impact on the development of Antarctic science, Antarctic ecosystems, Antarctica as a wilderness region, and the impact of humans including the exploitation of resources and the effects of pollution. This course is suitable for students with both science and non-science backgrounds.

Course Overview

Haere mai, welcome to BIOSCI 100. This is a general interest course applicable to both science and non-science students. The course is designed to excite you about Antarctica and science, and is taught by people who have lived and worked on the ice. You will learn about the Antarctic environment, history and the organisms that live there as well as many related issues that have impacts at local, regional and global scales. The course will help you develop skills in evaluating and interpreting scientific studies, and to improve your academic writing skills.
Teaching has been planned to allow you opportunities for reflection and to develop your understanding. There are three timetabled classes per week; two content lectures and one lectorial. The lectorial will provide you with opportunities to interact with your lecturers and other students while you work with that week’s information.

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
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the main geographic features of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. (Capability 3)
  2. Explain the processes that regulate the Antarctic climate and ocean circulation and how this influences the rest of the planet. (Capability 3)
  3. Describe and explain the physical features and ecological diversity of organisms in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. (Capability 3)
  4. Apply and integrate knowledge about the environment, life in the Antarctic and the activities of people in the region. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  5. Analyse current issues facing the Antarctic environment and/or the organisms living there. (Capability 2, 3 and 4)
  6. Select and analyse scholarly information from various sources (including electronic and print resources) in order to answer questions about Antarctica. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  7. Make predictions about future consequences of changes in the Antarctic environment on life in the region and globally. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  8. Communicate scientific ideas clearly and logically using academic language and formats. (Capability 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Quizzes 10% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Quizzes
Test
Final Exam
Assignments

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

Key Topics

There are ten topics in this course. Each topic is explored over a one week period.
1. Exploration
2. Human survival
3. Earth and atmosphere
4. Water and Ice
5. Ecosystems
6. Mammals
7. Fish
8. Birds
9. Human impacts
10. Politics

Special Requirements

There will be an evening test from 6.30 - 8.00 pm.
Drop-in help sessions are available at key times during the semester.

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course. During a typical teaching week there will be two hours of lectures, a one hour lectorial, and two hours of activities such as quizzes and task worksheets. Course assessments relating to a 'hot topic' in Antarctic research will require a minimum of 40 hours work. As are 12 teaching weeks, this totals to 90 hours. Since the course as a whole represents approximately 150 hours of study, that leaves a total of 60 hours across the entire semester for independent study, e.g. reading, reflection, preparing for assessments/exams. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including lectures, lectorials and workshops to complete components of the course.
Lectures and lectorials will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including workshops will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
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.

Lectures and Lectorials : lecture capture and slides are available on the web-based learning platform Canvas.
Course notes: pdf copies will be available in Canvas or you can purchase a hard copy from the university bookshop.
Online activities include Videos, Quizzes, Task worksheets
Readings include academic research articles.

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.

Feedback from previous BIOSCI 100 cohorts has changed the assessment, pace, and topic choices in the course. We continually review the course and draw upon the collective experience and wisdom of our students as well as our staff, in developing and fine-tuning this course.

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

Your course coordinator is Caroline Aspden and the course director is Craig Millar. Please let us know how best we can support you in this course. Details for how to contact us are listed below.
Caroline Aspden, phone +64 9 923 9711, email c.aspden@auckland.ac.nz
Craig Millar, phone +64 923 5186, email cd.millar@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.