Course Coordinator:Nicholas Paul (npaul@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
Aquaculture is a global, interconnected and rapidly expanding industry transforming regional economies, removing pressure on fisheries and solving environmental issues. In this course, you will apply theoretical and practical knowledge of aquaculture to interpret trends and future scenarios relating to the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the industry in Australia and overseas. Developing and pitching a research proposal for your discipline that investigates a sustainability problem or opportunity builds useful skills for your future career.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Asynchronous Learning Material | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Laboratory 1 – On campus Laboratory (Week 2 - computer, Week 4 - wet, Week 6 – wet) | 3hrs | Week 2 | 3 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On Campus Tutorial (Week 1, Week 3, Week 5, Week 7-11) | 2hrs | Week 1 | 8 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – On Campus Workshop | 3hrs | Week 13 | Once Only |
Global trends in aquaculture; Key aquaculture species in Australia and Queensland; Production constraints and opportunities; Water Quality; Environmental and economic impacts; Integrated aquaculture and restoration; Seafood marketing and certification; Social and livelihood impacts; Entrepreneurship and commercialisation; Crowd funding and community engagement; Pitching to fund research for a sustainable future
300 Level (Graduate)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Education for Sustainable Development Goals | |
1 | Demonstrate and apply theoretical and practical knowledge to interpret local through to global sustainability trends in aquaculture |
Knowledgeable Ethical Sustainability-focussed |
14, 14.1.2, 14.1.5, 14.2.4, 14.2.5, 14.3.1, 14.3.3 |
2 | Develop a research pitch for an aquaculture opportunity by: • reviewing literature and scanning current trends • justifying your pitch in terms of potential benefit |
Creative and critical thinker Engaged |
8.1.5, 9.1.5, 9.2.1, 9.2.3, 9.3.3, 9.3.4, 14.2.3 |
3 | Effectively communicate in writing (pitch outline, research proposal, laboratory reports) and orally (research pitch) |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
8, 9, 12, 14, 14.1.2, 14.1.5, 14.2.1, 14.2.3, 14.3.1 |
CODE | COMPETENCY |
Education for Sustainable Development Goals | |
8.1.5 | The learner understands how innovation, entrepreneurship and new job creation can contribute to decent work and a sustainability-driven economy and to the decoupling of economic growth from the impacts of natural hazards and environmental degradation. |
8 | Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all |
9.1.5 | The learner is aware of new opportunities and markets for sustainability innovation, resilient infrastructure and industrial development. |
9.2.1 | The learner is able to argue for sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure in their local area. |
9.2.3 | The learner is able to find collaborators to develop sustainable and contextual industries that respond to our shifting challenges and also to reach new markets. |
9.3.3 | The learner is able to innovate and develop sustainable enterprises to respond to their countries’ industrial needs. |
9.3.4 | The learner is able to access financial services such as loans or microfinance to support their own enterprises. |
9 | Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation |
12 | Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns |
14 | Life below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development |
14.1.2 | The learner understands the connection of many people to the sea and the life it holds, including the sea’s role as a provider of food, jobs and exciting opportunities. |
14.1.5 | The learner knows about opportunities for the sustainable use of living marine resources. |
14.2.4 | The learner is able to reflect on their own dietary needs and question whether their dietary habits make sustainable use of limited resources of seafood. |
14.2.5 | The learner is able to empathize with people whose livelihoods are affected by changing fishing practices. |
14.3.1 | The learner is able to research their country’s dependence on the sea. |
14.3.3 | The learner is able to identify, access and buy sustainably harvested marine life, e.g. ecolabel certified products. |
14.2.3 | The learner is able to influence groups that engage in unsustainable production and consumption of ocean products. |
14.2.1 | The learner is able to argue for sustainable fishing practices. |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Not applicable
Not applicable
ESS371
This course applies skills and knowledge you have acquired during your first and second years to the multidisciplinary context of aquaculture, covering production, business, social and environmental aspects. While it does not assume prior knowledge of aquaculture, or seafood more generally, the course contains graduate level assessment and is normally taken in the third year of study. You will be expected to have the ability to work independently, communicate effectively, work collaboratively in laboratories and tutorials, generate and interpret data, and manage your time effectively
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Verbal feedback to individuals and class will be provided about academic progress throughout the course. Class feedback will be provided on laboratory reports, including those early in the semester. Written feedback to individuals will be provided on the pitch outline (Assessment 1a) which should then be incorporated into the research proposal (Assessment 1b) and oral pitch (Assessment 2).
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1a | Written Piece | Individual | 5% | Two pages (about 500-750 words excluding references) |
Week 4 | Online Submission |
All | 1b | Written Piece | Individual | 25% | 2500 words (excluding references) |
Week 12 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 2 | Oral | Individual | 25% | 10 minutes [3 minutes oral presentation approx. 7 minutes of Q&A] |
Week 13 | In Class |
All | 3 | Report | Individual | 45% | 3 pages per laboratory report; 2 pages per discussion report |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | Online Submission |
All - Assessment Task 1a:Research pitch proposal | |
Goal: | This task will develop your creativity and communication of sustainable aquaculture |
Product: | Written Piece |
Format: | Following the steps in Canvas, you will create a written proposal for your pitch in two stages. Each stage will be assessed. For your outline (stage 1) you will generate a two-page written piece covering the: • Brief background to your topic of interest • Statement of current problem or opportunity • Research question with the overarching approach you will use • Anticipated outputs and potential impact of the research • Budget and timeframe with key items that you would spend your budget on (up to $50,000) |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 1b:Research pitch proposal | |
Goal: | This task will develop your creativity and communication of sustainable aquaculture |
Product: | Written Piece |
Format: | Following the steps in Canvas, you will create a written proposal for your pitch in two stages. Each stage will be assessed. For your full proposal, you will use the feedback from the outline to provide a written piece of up to 2500 words. This written piece serves as a foundation for your oral presentation (Assessment 2). The full proposal will cover the same headings as the outline but expand on the following items: • literature review in the background information and data on the size of the opportunity (economic, social or environmental) • identify competitors or alternatives for the topic • expand on the methods of research that you are proposing including a flow diagram • identify a “best case scenario” for the impact of your work • justify your budget items and timeline for activities in the table format provided |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 2:Oral Presentation of research pitch proposal | |
Goal: | To “pitch” your research proposal to peers |
Product: | Oral |
Format: | Submit: Last two weeks of semester. Your oral presentation is to be 10 minutes duration: 3 minutes of speaking about your research grant proposal and approximately 7 minutes for questions from the audience. Follow the format of the sections of the written piece when preparing a sequence of PowerPoint slides (the “pitch deck”). |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 3:Short Reports | |
Goal: | To demonstrate and apply theoretical and practical knowledge of aquaculture to interpret laboratory activities and sustainability discussion |
Product: | Report |
Format: | Submit: After each laboratory and after each discussion topic (6 in total). Each report is to follow the template of question and answers provided. Each laboratory report is approximately three pages and will be 3 in total for wet laboratories and computer laboratories (10% each). Include results or graphs where appropriate. Each discussion report is approximately two pages and will be 3 in total (5% each). |
Criteria: |
|
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Nil
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.