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Unit of study_
LIFE4000: Data and Technology for the Life Sciences
2025 unit information
Advances in digital technology are creating new ways to quantify biological processes and properties, from the scale of molecules to ecosystems. The life scientist of the 21st century needs to understand how to collect, manage, synthesise, and communicate this information within a reproducible workflow in order to make robust inferences about the natural world. This intensive unit of study will introduce you to key concepts and tools across three modules: digital project and data management, evidence synthesis and meta-analysis, and scientific coding using R. The focus is on active learning, discussion, and problem-solving across intensive workshop-based practicals, rather than the traditional lecture format. By completing this unit you will further understand the practical realities of scientific inquiry. To that end, you will develop a flexible skillet for conducting reproducible and open research to ensure the results of your work are maximally beneficial to both your future self and the broader community. Knowledge of how to work with data through the entire pipeline -from sampling to synthesis-will be useful wherever it is encountered in your education, career, and life.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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144 credit points of units of study including a minimum of 24 credit points at the 3000- or 4000-level and 18 credit points of 3000- or 4000-level units from Science Table A or 1 |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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Completion of units in quantitative research methods, mathematics or statistical analysis at least at 1000-level |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Explain and apply the core principles of reproducibility and transparency in scientific research.
- LO2. Manipulate, analyse, and visualise data, and integrate this knowledge in the production of reproducible 'living' documents.
- LO3. Communicate critical, data-driven insights into biological processes orally and in writing.
- LO4. Demonstrate an understanding of how to handle, store, and preserve primary biological data.
- LO5. Assess the quality of existing evidence, and how to synthesise it using contemporary qualitative and quantitative methods
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1a 2025
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Block mode | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Semester 2a 2025
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Block mode | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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