Outline

Overview

Insects effect almost every facet of our lives from vectoring major diseases like the plague, malaria and Zika virus to the billions of dollars of free ecosystems services they provide by consuming pest insects, pollinating agricultural crops and removing waste. This unit takes an applied approach to entomology by covering topics such as medical entomology, sustainable pest management, pollination ecology, insects as human/livestock foods and insect conservation. You will learn how to identify a variety of economically and medically important arthropods and how to sample insects in a variety of settings. You will also learn how insects are managed in agricultural, urban and natural environments as well as how we can use insects to solve some of humanities most pressing problems. You will learn about the many important ecosystems services that insects provide, as well as how practitioners can help encourage and support populations of beneficial insects. You will build your skills in research and inquiry through group research projects that you design and run. This unit will give you the basic skills needed to pursue careers in a variety of entomology-related fields.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	BIOL3033
Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	ENTO4003
Prerequisites ?	6cp of BIOL2XXX or ENTO2001 or MEDS200X or ANAT2XXX or PHSI2XXX or BMED240X or MIMI2X02 or IMMU2101
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Timothy Lee, t.lee@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Thomas White, thomas.white@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Online task	Online discussion Online posts	15%	Ongoing	Various, each a task of ~200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Fact check video Video	15%	Week 04 Due date: 28 Aug 2022 at 23:59	5-8 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Consultant report Written report	20%	Week 07 Due date: 18 Sep 2022 at 23:59	8-15 pages (aprox. 2500-5000 words)
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Guidebook+ online collection Written + online photo submission	25%	Week 09 Due date: 09 Oct 2022 at 23:59	8-15 pages (aprox. 2500-5000 words)
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final project Written task	25%	Week 13 Due date: 06 Nov 2022 at 23:59	3000-4000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Discussion: This is an ongoing participation mark for the class. Participation requirements vary week to week, including taking canvas quizzes, submitting insect sighting to iNaturalist or participating in discussions. Please see Canvas for details of participation requirements for each week.
Fact Check Video: Insect-human interactions often include controversial topics- should pesticide use be more restricted? Can honey be used to treat illness? In this 3-minute video assignment you’ll present the facts about the topic and come to your own conclusion, in a style engaging for a general audience.
Consultant Report: Management of insect pests is a highly economically significant human-insect interaction. Increasingly Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions are used, where a range of control techniques are used to reduce plant damage and minimise harm to the environment. This task involves writing am IPM report on a real-world site (2500-500 words), assessing the situation and proposing IPM solutions.
Guidebook: Identification of insects is crucial in many insect-human interactions, from pest management to forensic entomology, and even just as a means of appreciating the diversity in the world around us. This assignment involves preparing a 2500-500 word field guide around a theme (eg, aquatic insects), which will help other people to identify and learn about insects in their environment.
Final project: One of the most important skills for entomologists is grant writing. In these, a project is proposed, which must be practically achievable, with justified costs and a proposed benefit. This assignment comprises a 3000-4000 word grant proposal around a topic of choice related to insect-human interactions.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Course introduction; insect identification refresher	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 02	Discovering and Describing insects: intro to taxonomy and insect ethics	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 03	Ecosystem Services	Block teaching (5 hr)
Week 04	Introduction to Integrated Pest Management: pesticides, regulation and impacts	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 05	Alternatives to pesticides	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 06	Forensic Entomology	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 07	IPM for medically significant insects	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 08	Biosecurity	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 09	Animal ethics	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 10	Conservation Entomology	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 11	Bio inspired technology	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 12	Further study in Entomology	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 13	Insects as food for humans and livestock	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance is expected for all in-person practical activities, which contribute to the in-class assessment. Alternatives are offered for students who cannot attend face-to-face.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate a thorough understanding of key applications of entomology, including being able to discuss contemporary pest-control strategies
LO2. demonstrate the ability to convey complex information to a variety of audiences (clients, the general public, fellow scientists) in multiple formats
LO3. demonstrate an in-depth knowledge about integrated pest management in at least one Australian crop
LO4. critically assess scientific literature and apply this to entomological applications
LO5. demonstrate practical skills in identifying insects and their ecological effects.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

More laboratory activities are provided for students, in line with current COVID regulations.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BIOL3033: Insect and Human Interactions

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect