Outline

Overview

We are surrounded by plants, and rely on them every day for our wellbeing. Ecologists use botanical knowledge to help manage marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and public health and land management professionals depend on their understanding of plant science to help solve environmental problems and to inform biosecurity. Botany aims to increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, and other plant products, and is critical for anyone interested in contributing to the sustainable future of our planet. In this unit, you will explore the origins, diversity, and global significance of plants. You will gain insights into the micro- and macro-evolutionary processes and patterns behind how plants moved from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial ecosystems. Integrated lectures, practical classes and extensive online resources will allow you to develop and integrate practical skills and conceptual frameworks in plant identification, and plant physiology, morphology and anatomy. The Advanced Botany unit of study requires engagement at a high standard of academic rigour and affords opportunities to engage with core aspect of Botany at depth and to create new knowledge. In partnership with academic staff advanced students will undertake an independent research project, which will develop skills in research and communication.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	Annual average mark of at least 70 in previous year
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	BIOL2023 or BIOL2923 or AGEN2001 or PLNT2001 or PLNT2901 or PLNT2002 or PLNT2902 or PLNT2003 or PLNT2903 or AGEN2005 or BIOL2030
Assumed knowledge ?	Knowledge of concepts and skills in BIOL1XX6.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Rosanne Quinnell, rosanne.quinnell@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Take-home short release)	Theory exam Online take-home short release. Similarity-detection software to be used.	35%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Final exam (Take-home short release)	Practical exam Online take-home short release. Similarity-detection software to be used.	30%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quizzes (best 5 marks used) Completed in Canvas	15%	Multiple weeks	See Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Botany Advanced project Individual project supervised by academic staff.	20%	Week 13	Throughout the semester
Outcomes assessed:
= Type D final exam ? = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

Quizzes: During the semester we will offer you as series of quizzes that we require you to complete within 1 week. The feedback from these quizzes will be useful in directing your learning to improve the understanding of key concepts.
Research project: The project provides an opportunity to gain a deeper knowledge of a particular aspect of Botany. Some details of the research project format change from year to year, and students will be given more information at the beginning of the semester.

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	At HD level, a student demonstrates a flair for the subject as well as a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.
Distinction	75 - 84	At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.
Credit	65 - 74	At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the unit material and can solve routine problems and/or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.
Pass	50 - 64	At PA level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the unit material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory achievement and is awarded to a student who has threshold knowledge.
Fail	0 - 49	FA grade is awarded to a student who has not been able to demonstrate that they have meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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	1. Intro to Botany: the consequences of sex; 2. Diversity of algae	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Algae diversity	Practical (3 hr)
Week 02	1. Diversity in algae; 2. Key evolutionary events in land plants	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Bryophyte and lycophyte diversity	Practical (3 hr)
Week 03	1. First moves onto land: bryophytes; 2. Evolution of vasculature and heterospory: ferns	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Monilophyte and gymnosperm diversity	Practical (3 hr)
Week 04	1. Evolution of the seed: gymnosperms; 2. Evolution of flowers	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Flowering plant (angiosperm) diversity	Practical (3 hr)
Week 05	1. How have nucleotide sequences changed our view of flowering plant relationships?; 2. The earliest radiations of angiosperms	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Eucalypt systematics and phylogenetics	Practical (3 hr)
Week 06	1. The rise and diversification of monocots; 2. Eudicots diversity and phylogeny	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Flowering plants of the Sydney region 1	Practical (3 hr)
Week 07	1. Radiations within eudicots; 2. Evolution of the Australian flora	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Flowering plants of the Sydney region 2	Practical (3 hr)
Week 08	1. Endosymbiosis; 2. Energetics: Resp/photo	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Angiosperm plant body: the tissue systems	Practical (3 hr)
Week 09	1. Photosynthesis, CAM, C4; 2. Building plant tissues	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Shoot structure - primary stems & light harvesting structures	Practical (3 hr)
Week 10	1. Short distance transport -membrane transport, transfer cells, plasmodesmata; 2. Translocation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Primary roots	Practical (3 hr)
Week 11	1. Water transport: xylem; 2. Water relations, SPAC	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Secondary growth in stems and roots	Practical (3 hr)
Week 12	1. Plant nutrition; 2. Soil and plant-soil interactions	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Anatomy project (not compulsory for BIOL2930 students)	Practical (3 hr)
Week 13	1. Responses to stress 1; 2. Responses to stress 2	Lecture (2 hr)
	Plant anatomy project presentations (not compulsory for BIOL2930 students)	Lecture (3 hr)
	Advanced student research project presentation	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance requirements for this unit of study have been amended. Where online tutorials/workshops/virtual laboratories have been scheduled, students should make every effort to attend and participate at the scheduled time. Penalties will not be applied if technical issues, etc. prevent attendance at a specific online class. In that case, students should discuss the problem with the coordinator, and attend another session, if available.

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.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Required textbook: Evert RF and Eichhorn SE. 2013. Raven: Biology of Plants. 8th Ed. Freeman & Co Publishers. New York. NY.

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. explain the evolution of land plants and how plants are able to respond to their environment
LO2. identify the major plant families of the Sydney region and the tissue systems of plants
LO3. use cladistics to solve simple phylogenies and draw from these inferences about relatedness of taxa
LO4. carry out a research project and communicate the findings in a talk to members of the School
LO5. adopt a mindful disposition and a scholarly approach towards your studies in Botany.

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 unit of study has tracked very well with respect to the end of semester unit of study evaluations; i.e. ~ 4.3/5 for overall satisfaction. The teaching staff will be asking for your feedback as the unit is in progress and this allows us to address issues when they arise. Please note that we make modifications to the unit each year in response to the feedback you offer to us either as the unit is in train or when we analyse the US evaluation data.

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.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

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

Required readings

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

BIOL2930: Botany (Advanced)

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

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

Required readings

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