This course provides an introduction to the research methods relevant to Earth Sciences. Students learn key academic skills, and how to plan, manage, and present scientific research through a series of lectures, seminars and workshops. Students also acquire vital research skills in computational methods, data acquisition and data analysis. It is fundamental preparation for EMSC4005 (Earth and Marine Science Honours) and EMSC4008 (Physics of the Earth Honours).

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Plan, manage and present scientific research.
2. Appreciate research strategy.
3. Explain the broader aspects of research and how it is conducted in the Earth Sciences.
4. Communicate research to both a peer audience and a non-specialist audience.
5. Understand the principal features of a successful research proposal.
6. Design an analytical workflow to acquire data and achieve project research objectives.
7. Assess the quality of data needed to achieve specific research goals.
8. Appreciate concepts of programming and version control, supporting the development of more advanced skills through self-study and further practice.

Research-Led Teaching

In this course, you will learn key skills for conducting, planning, and managing research, how to present results orally and in the form of a scientific paper, and how to write proposals to fund research. It will be taught by lecturers who are active researchers and who will teach from personal experience. Proposals written in this course will be based on the rules/templates of ARC Discovery proposals, thus exposing students to a real-life situation.

Field Trips

There are no field trips for this course.

Recommended Resources

Recommended student system requirements 

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A computer or laptop. Mobile devices may work well but in some situations a computer/laptop may be more appropriate.
• Webcam
• Speakers and a microphone (e.g. headset)
• Reliable, stable internet connection. Broadband recommended. If using a mobile network or wi-fi then check performance is adequate.
• Suitable location with minimal interruptions and adequate privacy for classes and assessments.
• Printing, and photo/scanning equipment

For more information please see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/systems/recommended-student-system-requirements

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction & orientation: Introduction and orientation, Introduction to research skills, Planning and Managing Research 1: First Manage Yourself	No assessment.
2	Planning & managing research: Planning and Managing Research 2: Choosing a project and managing it, Planning and Managing Research 3: Information management, Planning and Managing Research 4: Research Ethics	Research Integrity Quiz 0 (Hurdle assessment)
3	Academic Skills Workshops: Managing the reading and note taking, Planning and Managing Research 5: Communicating research, Planning and Managing Research 6: Hypothesis testing/critical thinking	No assessment
4	Planning & managing research: Academic Writing: writing a thesis and research proposals, Academic writing: focus on scientific writing (papers, reports, lay presentations), Managing academic writing	No assessment
5	Key academic skills: Risk Assessments, Field and Laboratory preparation, Poster and Proposal preparation	No assessment
6	Wrap-up and Poster presentations	Research proposal submission.Lay description/poster presentation.
7	Instruments, data collection and calibrationIntroduction to Mass Spectrometry and ICP-MS with lab visit.Introduction to SHRIMP, including lab visit	No assessment
8	Instruments, data collection and calibrationIRMS and AMS lecture with lab practical, teaching lab skills.Processing laser ICP-MS data and IRMS data	Quiz 1
9	Data science: Class 1: Fundamentals of random variables and error propagation+practical; Class 2: Monte Carlo error propagation+practical.	No assessment
10	Data science: Linear parameter estimation and error propagation I, Linear parameter estimation and error propagation II + practical.	Quiz 2 and 3: Take home quizzes comprising of knowledge questions requiring a textural response and a short computational exercise, in the form of a jupyter notebook.
11	Computational methods: computational problem solving, collaborative code writing and strategies for debugging algorithms	No assessment
12	Computational methods: hands-on exercises to write, validate, test and maintain software and data projects.	Quiz 4 and 5: written quiz assessing technical skills and verbal quiz assessing problem solving.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Research proposal	40 %	1,2,3,4,5,6
Lay description of research proposal via poster presentation	20 %	1,2,3,4,5,6
Quizzes	40 %	6,7,8

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Academic Skills 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.

Examination(s)

There is no examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Research proposal

Note that this assessed component represents Milestone 1 of the Honours program.

In conjunction with their supervisor, students will produce a research proposal to demonstrate understanding of the process of scholarly inquiry, in particular, that 'good' research starts with identification of an important problem or 'knowledge gap' that can be addressed realistically. A persuasive research proposal identifies a knowledge gap that must be filled, proposes a hypothesis, and subsequently suggests a series of aims and objectives to be accomplished, using appropriate methods, to address the hypothesis.

Assessment due and return dates are negotiated in class. Please check the course Wattle site for details.

Assessment Task 2

Lay description of research proposal via poster presentation

Students will (i) produce a poster description of their research proposal targeted to an audience composed of the general public and (ii) deliver a verbal presentation of their project to other students/School. This exercise tests the ability to communicate to a non-specialist audience both in writing and verbally.

Assessment due and return dates are negotiated in class. Please check the course Wattle site for details.

Assessment Task 3

Quizzes

Quizzes will be undertaken regularly (7 times) throughout the course to test student understanding on key concepts including: research integrity, data processing, error analysis, and computational methods. This will be the main form of continuous assessment.

Students must pass the Research Integrity Quiz to pass the course.

Assessment due and return dates are negotiated in class. Please check the course Wattle site for details.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

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. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. 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, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Assignments be available for return after marking via email and in person.

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

Resubmission of assignments is not permitted.

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 Access 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