QBIO3888: Semester 2, 2020

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Units QBIO3888 Semester 2 2020 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

QBIO3888: Quantitative Biology Interdisciplinary Unit

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Working effectively across disciplines has become an intrinsic part of most professional and research environments. In this unit, you will develop solutions to complex real world problems. The unit is designed to foster your abilities in your chosen discipline, and for you to work towards a project goal in a supported, collaborative team environment with students from other disciplines. This unit offers you the opportunity to work on a project in one of three key areas: (1) 'omics-based modelling; (2) synthetic biology; or (3) ecosystem modelling. The projects will focus on the development of: novel clinical biomarkers; the development of innovative biological machines; or the discovery of mechanisms underlying ecosystem function. You will identify a problem, develop novel solutions and communicate your findings to a diverse audience. Combined with your disciplinary skills, the ability to work with others to develop solutions to complex problems is highly valued by employers.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	QBIO3888
Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	12cp from (ENVX2001 or BIOL2X22 or GEGE2X01 or AVBS2005 or BCMB2X01 or MEDS2003 or QBIO2001 or DATA2X02 or BCHM2X72 or GENE2002 or SOIL2005 or AGRI2001 or ENSC2001 or BIOL2X24 or BIOL2032)
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Brian Jones, brian.jones@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Project pitch Online presentation/video	15%	Week 07	10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Synthetic biology: applications and implications for food and consumers Written assignment	50%	Week 08	3000 words + figures, tables and refs
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Teamwork process Written Assignment	10%	Week 11	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Industry style consultancy report Written assignment	15%	Week 12	4000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Project final presentation Online presentation/video	10%	Week 12	5 minutes + 2 minutes Q&A
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Discipline content assignment – Literature review and discussion including technical details and discussion of implications of the technology.
Project Presentations – Oral proposal and final presentation including: product pitch, product performance, and recommendations.
Project Report – Project report including: executive summary, concept development justification, concept board, market review, product design brief, product development analysis, prototype assessment report, conclusions and further work.
Reflective task– Learning reflective document outlining process, difficulties and learning from the project and teamwork.
Team work process – survey of the team work process

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.

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	From molecular to synthetic biology	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 02	CRISPR/Cas	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 03	Biological circuits and circuit design Assembly methods	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	Synthetic biology in the food sector	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 05	Synthetic biology in agriculture	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	Engineering aroma compounds and nutraceuticals	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 07	Proposal presentation	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 08	Engineering biosensors	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 09	CRISPR/Cas 2 Gene drives	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 10	Cell-free systems	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 11	Biosafety, Biohacking and Bioethics	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 12	Final oral Presentation	Workshop (4 hr)

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. Apply disciplinary knowledge to solve problems in an interdisciplinary context.
LO2. Find, define and delimit authentic problems in order to address them.
LO3. Create an investigation strategy, explore solutions, discuss approaches and predict outcomes.
LO4. Analyse data using modern information technology and digital skills.
LO5. Demonstrate integrity, confidence, personal resilience and the capacity to manage challenges, both individually and in teams.
LO6. Collaborate with diverse groups and across cultural and disciplinary boundaries to develop solution(s) to the project problems.
LO7. Communicate project outcomes effectively to a broad audience.

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.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Additional information

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

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

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