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Unit outline_

CHNG1108: Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit introduces students to the profession of chemical engineering. It gives students an appreciation of the variety of tasks for chemical engineers. Students will be able to design, build and test their own laboratory-scale prototype. In addition, students will gain skills in project presentations, scientific literature searches and essay writing. The unit will also feature student led interviews of real-life engineers.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ENGG1800 OR CIVL1900 OR MECH1560 OR AERO1560 OR AMME1960 OR BMET1960 OR MTRX1701 OR ENGG1960
Assumed knowledge
? 

HSC Mathematics and Chemistry

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Gustavo Fimbres Weihs, gustavo.fimbresweihs@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Anne Mai-Prochnow, anne.mai-prochnow@sydney.edu.au
Gustavo Fimbres Weihs, gustavo.fimbresweihs@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final Canvas Quiz
Canvas Quiz to show understanding of the Principles of Chemical Engineering
15% Formal exam period 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4
Assignment Final Essay
Reflection on how your views on Chemical Engineering have changed
15% Formal exam period 3 pages of written text
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Project
- Proposal video - Proposal report - Performance test video - Final report
40% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Essay - What are chemical engineers
15% Week 04 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3
Presentation group assignment Interview an Engineer
Presentation video, to be submitted online
15% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

There is also a bonus mark for participation, worth 5% of the final mark. As this is a bonus, the maximum attainable mark is still 100%.

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 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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalty for any online assessment is 25% per day. It is a cap based penalty: 1 day late, maximum attainable mark is 75%. 2 days late, maximum attainable mark is 50%. 3 days late, maximum attainable mark is 25%. Failure to submit any assessment will award zero marks, unless special consideration is granted.

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Lecture: Course introduction and small team project intro - How to do teamwork (teams of 5-6) Online class (1 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 02 Lecture: Essay writing/referencing software/presentation skills Tutorial: Essay writing - What are chemical engineers Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Lecture: Lecture by Dianne Wiley (Safety) Tutorial: Individual team meetings - project planning Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 04 Lecture: Lecture by Anne Mai-Prochnow (Cold plasma) Tutorial: Individual team meetings - project planning Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 05 Lecture: Lecture by Gustavo Fimbres Tutorial: Interview an Engineering planning Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 06 Lecture: Lecture by John Kavanagh (What do expect to learn, Y1-Y4) Tutorial: Interview an Engineer Online class (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 07 Lecture: Student project plan presentations (design, cost, resources) Tutorial: Project work - build a prototype Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 08 Lecture: Student project plan presentations (design, cost, resources) Tutorial: Project work - build a prototype Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 09 Lecture: Lecture by industry professional Tutorial: Project work - build a prototype Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Lecture: Student presentations about project prototype results Tutorial: Project work - test a prototype performance Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Lecture: Student presentations about project prototype results Tutorial: Project work - test a prototype performance Online class (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Lecture: Waste Water Treatment Plants Tutorial: Prepare video of interview for class presentation Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Lecture: Student presentations about interviews Tutorial: Student presentations about interviews Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

There is a bonus mark for participation in the online discussion forums and live-streamed Zoom lectures and tutorials, worth 5% of the final mark. As this is a bonus, the maximum attainable mark is still 100%.

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 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.

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

  • LO1. write and critique short engineering reports
  • LO2. work in small groups
  • LO3. recognise the roles and potential career paths of chemical engineers
  • LO4. recognise the size and scope of the process industries.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

This unit has been redesigned to be more interactive and include a project-based assessment.

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.