School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Environmental Investigation and Monitoring
  • Unit Code

    SCI3206
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Robyn Lee Barclay PAICE

Description

This unit examines the theory and practice of conducting investigations into the presence and spatial extent of biological, chemical and physical agents in the environment. It explores the rationale and design considerations in undertaking investigations. The range of monitoring methods and techniques available to sample biological and chemical agents as well as noise and radiation in the environment will be examined and a relevant sub-set will be implemented. The unit also involves analysing and presenting data in ways relevant to environmental investigations.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed SCI1193.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse and interpret environmental data.
  2. Apply the theory of environmental investigation and monitoring to real world environmental problems in a team setting.
  3. Communicate outcomes of investigations in a professional context.
  4. Design an investigation or monitoring program.
  5. Identify and use appropriate monitoring methods and techniques to investigate the environment.

Unit Content

  1. Development of an investigation and monitoring program.
  2. Evaluating and reporting outcomes of investigations and monitoring for different stakeholders.
  3. Legal framework for investigating, monitoring and reporting on biological, chemical and physical agents in the environment (including human exposure to such agents).
  4. Methods for investigating ecosystem change and potential human exposure to pollutants.
  5. Methods for obtaining, storing and preparing soil, water and air pollutant samples for analysis.
  6. Sample analysis: Principles and methods for common analytical instruments; reporting of laboratory data.
  7. The application of standards and guidelines to investigation and monitoring of biological, chemical and physical agents.
  8. Theory and practice of environmental investigation and monitoring including: problem definition; need for investigation; the role of monitoring in investigations; and the steps involved in developing and implementing an investigation or monitoring programme.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 15 x 3 hour labNot Offered5 x 3 hour lab
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot Offered13 x 2 hour lecture
Semester 16 x 3 hour tutorialNot Offered6 x 3 hour tutorial

For more information see the Semester Timetable

WIL - Field Experience

Students will undertake, and be assessed on, authentic activities through engagement with industry and community partners.

Students experience an environment where they observe and/or participate in the application of theoretical knowledge and skills in a professional setting, under the supervision of an expert or professional in the field. Examples include study tours, observation, shadowing, fieldwork, industry tours.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit uses technology enhanced learning with a mix of lectures and tutorials. Workshops, tutorials and laboratory classes are interactive and involve work in partners or groups where enquiry and research–led learning are used to demonstrate key concepts introduced in the lecture. There is also a WIL component which forms the main part of the assessment, where students design, carry out and report on a real-life environmental investigation, often in collaboration with a government agency. Information is provided via LMS and includes links to reading and relevant on-line videos and other sources of information.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentDesign of an Investigation20%
ExerciseTutorial and laboratory exercises20%
ReviewCritique of monitoring plan20%
PresentationGroup presentation on investigation40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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