Fire is pivotal to the functioning of Australian ecosystems. This course explores a range of important themes concerning bushfires in Australian and international environments. The inter-dependent relationship between fire regimes and biota is explored using evidence from experiments and simulation modelling. An exploration of the sensitivity of fire regimes to natural and human factors then provides a context for exploring the likely effects of climate change and other aspects of global change on future bushfire dynamics. Similarly, it provides context for understanding the role of bushfire management, including cultural and prescribed burning, in modifying fire regimes. These themes are brought together in an analysis of managing likelihood of adverse outcomes from bushfires, including legal and other societal implications. Key components of the course are insights into ongoing research being undertaken in the Fenner School, the ANU College of Law, the University of Canberra, land management agencies, the Murumbung Rangers, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, CSIRO, and an international network of landscape fire modellers.

Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Explain the pivotal importance of fire regimes for the present and future management of natural landscapes
2. Explain methods for exploring fire regime effects including through long-term experiments and landscape simulation
3. Explain how the sensitivity of fire regimes to natural and human factors provides a context for exploring effects of land management, and the likely effects of climate change and other aspects of global change, on bushfire occurrence
4. Explain principles for managing likelihood of adverse outcomes from bushfires, and for understanding subsequent legal and other societal implications of adverse outcomes
5. Acquire, demonstrate and generate knowledge on bushfire dynamics, effects, measurement and management
6. Select and research a relevant topic in depth (e.g. literature analysis, computer modelling)

Research-Led Teaching

Students in ‘Fire in the Environment’ learn about, and engage in, cutting-edge research on fire behaviour, ecology, management and law with leading researchers from ANU, CSIRO and beyond. Students construct simulation models, conduct fire behaviour experiments, analyse long-term fire ecology data sets, and have an opportunity to discuss recent research articles directly with the researchers who conducted the research and wrote the papers.

Field Trips

There are a number of field trips scheduled during the course, usually including on the first day of the course. For all field trips students will require a hat, sunscreen, sturdy/enclosed footwear, appropriate clothing for protection - including against snakebite - and plenty of water, as well as notebooks, etc. A half-day field trip will involve visiting local bushland areas to explore bushfire management and effects. One of the full-day field trips involves travelling to the Brindabella Range and similar locations to investigate fire and ecological dynamics. There is a half day field trip to look at cultural burning sites around Canberra and another full-day trip is to the CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences Bushfire Group. Students will need to bring lunch and other requirements on the longer field trips. Students should understand that field trips will not arrive back at university before the scheduled time so students need to make appropriate arrangements in advance.

Students with a pre-existing medical condition (or similar), that the course convenor should be made aware of given remote field trip locations, must provide the course convenor with a health management plan so that organisers can: (i) deal with unexpected circumstances; and (ii) make alternative arrangements, if required. If the student’s medical condition is of a confidential nature, please advise the course convenor of this circumstance so that alternative arrangements can be organised.

Additional Course Costs

It is anticipated that there will be no required additional course costs associated with this course, although students may benefit from purchasing books and other reference material to support their learning.

Examination Material or equipment

Permitted materials for quiz: Non-programmable Calculators, Dictionaries for students with written departmental approval only.

Required Resources

Permitted materials for quiz: Non-programmable Calculators, Dictionaries for students with written departmental approval only.

The course electronic reading list will be provided before commencement of the course.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

1. Verbal feedback on queries and comments in lectures, practicals, reading groups and field trips, including breaks between these activities.

2. Verbal feedback on the mid-block quiz.

3. Written feedback on written reports.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Reports should include Harvard style, in-text, referencing. See: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/learning-development/academic-integrity/style-guides

 

You may wish to adopt a specific variation of this style, as required by the International Journal of Wildland Fire. See ‘References’ section of the journal’s instructions to authors:

http://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/forauthors/AuthorInstructions#17

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lectures: Introduction; Attributes of species; Plant community dynamics; Vital Attributes; Animals and fire; Bushfire law; Managed fire in California and Australia; Prescribed burning effectiveness. Practical exercises: Banksia simulation modelling practical (I); Long-term fire ecology experiment practical. Reading discussions: Fire in the earth system; Bushfire ecology; Bushfire law; Prescribed burning effectiveness. Field trips: Local area; Brindabella Range; Aboriginal knowledge field activity.	These activities relate to assessment items 1, 2 and 3
2	Assessment item: Mid-block quiz; Written report. Lectures: Factors associated with house loss in wildfires; Minimising likelihood of adverse outcomes; Fire regimes climate change and carbon; Bushfires & genetic diversity; Remotes sensing of bushfire fuel; Advanced bushfire behaviour prediction; Bushfire arson; Bushfire recovery. Practical exercises: Banksia simulation modelling practical (II); Bushfire fuel dynamics analysis. Reading discussions: Fire regimes and global change; Bushfires and carbon dynamics; The worldwide “wildfire problem. Field trips: CSIRO Bushfire research group, Canberra, including research update presentations and practical activities.	These activities relate to assessment items 2 and 3
3	Examination period – N/A
4	Indicative schedule only. May be rearranged due to weather considerations or availability of contributors, particularly those responsible for bushfire operations.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Mid-block Quiz	20 %	10/02/2020	17/02/2020	1, 2, 3, 4
Written Report	35 %	19/02/2020	20/03/2020	1, 2, 5
Graduate Research Paper	45 %	07/03/2020	09/04/2020	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students must attend and participate in 80% of reading discussions, as confirmed by a record of attendance. Students must also submit via wattle a concise ‘results’ sheet (Banksia simulation modelling or Long-term fire ecology experiment) for the alternative practical to that written up and submitted for assessment Task 2.

Examination(s)

Not applicable.

Assessment Task 1

Mid-block Quiz

Word limit (where applicable): Not applicable

Value: 20%

Presentation requirements: Students must write quiz answers in legible handwriting

Estimated return date: Approximately one week after quiz.

Hurdle Assessment requirements (where applicable): Not applicable

Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): Not applicable

Assessment Task 2

Written Report

Students are required to choose either the ‘Long-term fire ecology experiment’ or the ‘Banksia simulation modelling’ practical and submit a 2000 word report, worth 35% of the course assessment, by the date indicated in the course assessment outline. In either case, reports should be written in a traditional scientific format with an introduction stating an objective, a methods section, a results section, a discussion and a conclusion.

Reports should contain key figures that demonstrate important aspects of the methods and results. Data should be reported in tables or graphs. Reports should also contain considerable referencing to key literature, not only to equations and data provided in the practicals, but also to demonstrate that you have explored aspects of the practical beyond the activities undertaken in class.

Estimated return date: Approximately four weeks after submission date

Hurdle Assessment requirements (where applicable): Students must submit via wattle a concise ‘results’ sheet (Banksia simulation modelling or Long-term fire ecology experiment) for the alternative practical to that written up and submitted for this assessment item.

Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): Not applicable

Assessment Task 3

Graduate Research Paper

Word limit (where applicable): 3,000 words

Value: 45%

Presentation requirements:

The Graduate research paper takes the form of an analysis of literature (3,000 words) on a topic agreed with the course convenor. The paper can take a form suitable for an academic-style analysis of literature, or a conference paper, or a well-referenced government report. Being a literature analysis, reports should contain considerable referencing to key literature, including literature beyond that presented in course materials.

Estimated return date: Approximately four weeks after submission date

Hurdle Assessment requirements (where applicable): Not applicable.

Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): Not applicable

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

Written reports are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records.

Hardcopy Submission

Not applicable.

Late Submission

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure.

In the event of extenuating circumstances only, the Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request it in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Comments on written reports will be returned electronically, unless advised otherwise.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Not applicable.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students