Availabilities:
| Location | Domestic | International |
|---|
| Lismore | | |
| National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour | | |
| Online | | N/A |
Unit description
Introduces students to the role of science in understanding complex socio-ecological interactions involved in our biggest global challenges, including climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss and pollution. Students will build an understanding of the foundations, philosophies and ethics that underpin science and society. Engaging with complexity and Indigenous thinking enables students to develop creative solutions to complex global challenges.
This unit also supports students to develop academic skills, including academic writing, literature searching, referencing, collaboration, critical thinking and science-communication.
Unit content
Using case studies of globally important environmental challenges, the following will be explored:
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The development of science philosophy, and how it influences society and nature.
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The value and limitations of science, including ethical considerations of research practice.
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Intersections and connections between Indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge.
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The role of science in society and vice versa: the ways that science can affect the functioning of societies, and societal influences on the operation of science.
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Societal engagement in science for developing complex and comprehensive solutions, including the role of stakeholders in addressing global environmental challenges.
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Skill development in academic research, writing, referencing, collaboration and reflection.
Learning outcomes
Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.
GA1: Intellectual rigour,
GA2: Creativity,
GA3: Ethical practice,
GA4: Knowledge of a discipline,
GA5: Lifelong learning,
GA6: Communication and social skills,
GA7: Cultural competence| On completion of this unit, students should be able to: | GA1 | GA2 | GA3 | GA4 | GA5 | GA6 | GA7 |
|---|
| 1 | to describe and explain the philosophical underpinnings of science, including how this influences society and nature | | | Ethical practice | | | Communication and social skills | Cultural competence |
| 2 | critically examine the value and limitations of science in addressing global challenges | | | Ethical practice | | | Communication and social skills | Cultural competence |
| 3 | demonstrate the foundational academic skills required to produce and critique science-based communications | | | | | | Communication and social skills | |
| 4 | describe the attributes of different stakeholder groups and how this may influence engagement in science and positive change | | | Ethical practice | | | Communication and social skills | Cultural competence |
| 5 | demonstrated capacity to collaborate in a scholarly and professional setting | | | | | | Communication and social skills | |
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- to describe and explain the philosophical underpinnings of science, including how this influences society and nature
- GA3:
Ethical practice
- GA6:
Communication and social skills
- GA7:
Cultural competence
- critically examine the value and limitations of science in addressing global challenges
- GA3:
Ethical practice
- GA6:
Communication and social skills
- GA7:
Cultural competence
- demonstrate the foundational academic skills required to produce and critique science-based communications
- GA6:
Communication and social skills
- describe the attributes of different stakeholder groups and how this may influence engagement in science and positive change
- GA3:
Ethical practice
- GA6:
Communication and social skills
- GA7:
Cultural competence
- demonstrated capacity to collaborate in a scholarly and professional setting
- GA6:
Communication and social skills
Prescribed texts
- Prescribed text information is not currently available.
Prescribed texts may change in future study periods.