Outline

Overview

This unit of study provides students with both theoretical knowledge and first-hand experience (through laboratory practicals) of how the human body responds to extreme environmental stressors (i.e. high altitude, hyperbaria, extreme heat, extreme cold), and how these conditions alter the capacity of humans to perform physical and mental tasks. Special attention will also be given to the theoretical basis of how these stressors can lead to decrements to human health in the form of injury (e.g. frostibite, heat exhaustion) and illness (e.g. pulmonary/cerebral oedema, actue mountain sickness, 'the bends'). This unit will also focus on how this information can be used to develop therapeutic, pharmacological, and/or technological interventions to improve human functioning in extreme environments and reduce the risk of illness and injury. Teaching and learning strategies include lectures, case studies and short practical assignments.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Health Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	EXSS1032 or EXSS2027 or BIOS1170
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Troy Cross, troy.cross@sydney.edu.au
Demonstrator(s)	Lily Hospers, lily.hospers@sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s)	Georgia Chaseling, georgia.chaseling@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Kate Edwards, kate.edwards@sydney.edu.au
	Troy Cross, troy.cross@sydney.edu.au
	Ollie Jay, ollie.jay@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Small continuous assessment	Lecture quizzes 1 MCQ per lecture	6%	Multiple weeks	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Prac report 1: altitude Report	15%	Week 03 Due date: 12 Mar 2023 at 23:59	4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Prac report 2: thermoregulation Report	15%	Week 05 Due date: 26 Mar 2023 at 23:59	4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Prac report 3: acute stress Report	15%	Week 07 Due date: 09 Apr 2023 at 23:59	4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	In-class assessment Open-book quiz	20%	Week 09	45 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Submitted work Video submission + written work.	29%	Week 09 Due date: 30 Apr 2023 at 23:59	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Lecture quizzes: Students will be given 1 multiple choice question (MCQ) at the beginning of lectures in Weeks 2 to 7 (6 quizzes total). Students must attempt this question in order to receive 1% for the given lecture. Quizzes will only be offered in-person during the lecture timeslot.
Practical reports: Each laboratory report will be completed in groups of 3-4 (one report per group) and will be semi-structured.
In-class assessment: Open-book quiz comprising multiple choice questions covering the lecture/tutorial material of the entire unit. Must be completed to pass.
Submitted work: A short video presentation (pre-recorded) alongside written work that covers an allocated theme of this unit’s content (e.g., altitude/diving/thermoregulation/stress) for a specific population. Must be completed to pass.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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:

As per outlined under Section 7A of The University of Sydney Assessment Procedures Policy (2011): https://www.sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2012/267&RendNum=0

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	Introduction / Altitude	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	Altitude	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	Prac 1: Altitude	Practical (2 hr)
Week 03	Diving / Hyperbaria	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 04	Heat Stress	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 04	Prac 2: Thermoregulation	Practical (2 hr)
Week 05	Cold stress / Behavioural Thermoregulation	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 06	Acute stress	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 06	Prac 3: Acute Stress	Practical (2 hr)
Week 07	Chronic stress	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 08	Revision lecture	Lecture (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for a Unit of Study, unless granted exemption by the Dean, head of school or professor most concerned. The Dean, head of school or professor most concerned may determine that a student fails a Unit of Study because of inadequate attendance. Lectures are compulsory.

Attendence will not strictly be recorded for lectures; however, Lecture quizzes will only be offered in-person at the beginning of each lecture in Weeks 2-7. Thus, you must be present in-class to attempt these quizzes and earn 1% per quiz (6% total).

Attendance at laboratory periods is mandatory. All group members must be present from the beginning until the end of data collection and clean-up for each session. An attendance register will be taken at each practical session. You will automatically fail the course if you’re absent for more than one practical without prior approval from the Unit of Study Coordinator.

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. understand how humans respond both behaviourally and physiologically to cope with acute and chronic exposures to hot and cold environments, as well as high altitude and high pressure environments
LO2. understand how responses to different environmental extremes are proxies for human responses to certain diseases and health disorders (e.g. altitude/COPD and cardiovascular disorders)
LO3. describe how the capacity to perform different occupational activities can be compromised by different extreme environmental characteristics
LO4. explain how different therapeutic, pharmacological and/or technological interventions can be employed to improve work capacity in the face of a single and combined environmental stressor
LO5. understand the aetiology of injury and illnesses that occur secondary to environmental stressors (i.e. heat exhaustion/stroke; frostbite; hypothermia; barotrauma; nitrogen narcosis; cerebral oedema; pulmonary oedema)
LO6. estimate environmental limits at which different populations can safely perform various work activities
LO7. estimate maximum safe exposure times for work activities that take place under environmental conditions that exceed these limits.

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.

1. We will provide a clear rubric and an examplar of specifically how practical reports are marked. 2. For students unfamiliar with some of the fundamental techniques used in the practicals, we will incorporate some skill-building exercises at the beginning of the first practical session (Week 2).

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

HSBH3021: Environmental Stress and Physiological Strain

Intensive February - March, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect