Outline

Overview

Evidence-based decision making is at the heart of wildlife conservation. The application of evidence helps to support and inform management and helps answer questions such as 'what are our conservation goals', 'what action will be effective', 'can we create greater impacts for conservation' and 'where should our valuable resources be allocated'. The ability to undertake evidence-based decision making is a crucial skill not only in wildlife conservation but in many careers. This unit presents the opportunity to undertake a project bringing together concepts and skills you have learnt in your discipline and apply them to a real-world problem. For example, you may participate in a wildlife conservation project that will address threats to a species or habitat through the analysis of a range of information (such as peer-reviewed publications, expert assessments, Indigenous knowledge) before assessing the effectiveness of any current management plans. You may address questions such as 'how do species adapt in an urban environment', or 'how have biosecurity systems contributed to maintaining Australia's biodiversity'. In this unit you will continue to understand and explore disciplinary knowledge. You will collaborate with other students from the Taronga Wildlife Conservation degree stream gaining skills in identifying and solving problems, collecting and analysing data and communicating findings to diverse audiences. This unit will also foster your ability to be an independent learner and work effectively in group contexts. All of these skills are highly valued by employers.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points from (BIOL2X22 or BIOL2X24 or BIOL2032 or ENVX2001 or GEGE2X01)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Emma Thompson, e.thompson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Emma Thompson, e.thompson@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Take-home short release)	Final exam Written exam applying theory and practical knowledge to scenarios	40%	Formal exam period	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project Proposal Initial project proposal	5%	Week 03	400 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Written assignment Written assignment associated with wildlife conservation projects in genera	10%	Week 06	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Group Project Schedule Team progress reports	10%	Week 08	~700 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project report Full project report based on experiment, results, conclusions	25%	Week 12	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Oral presentation + PowerPoint presenting the findings of your project	10%	Week 13	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

Assessments in the Taronga Project Unit are designed to take you through the fundamentals of a wildlife conservation project from inception to conclusions. You will be given a scenario, develop an individual proposal, work in a group to design, conduct and analyse an experiment, undertake stakeholder management, write a report and finally present your group findings.

Final exam: This assessment is compulsory and failure to attend, attempt, or submit will result in the award of an AF grade.

If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voce (oral exam). The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator.”

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	Exceptional understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the Unit all written, presentation, and exam assessments.
Distinction	75 - 84	Thorough understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the Unit all written, presentation, and exam assessments.
Credit	65 - 74	Sound understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the Unit all written, presentation, and exam assessments.
Pass	50 - 64	Basic understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the Unit all written, presentation, and exam assessments.
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:

Please note there are no 2-day simple extensions for this unit.

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 and expectations of the Unit, revision of relevant concepts, introduction to project	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Transect lines tutorial and prac. Which to use and how to use them.	Practical (3 hr)
Week 02	Habitat assessment and vegetation mapping	Lecture and tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	Habitat assessment: putting theory into practice	Practical (3 hr)
Week 03	Passerine bird: create ID chart, review, comment	Practical (3 hr)
Week 03	Passerine birds	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Conservation reports	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Project pilot study in-grounds at Taronga Risk assessments	Practical (3 hr)
Week 05	Project management and science communication	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Science communication scenarios, discussions and presentations	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Project time	Independent study (4 hr)
Week 07	Project time	Independent study (4 hr)
Week 09	Conservation Actions	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Conservation Actions at species, ecoregion and global scales	Practical (3 hr)
Week 10	Environmental Impact Assessments	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Qualitative social impact assessments	Practical (3 hr)
Week 11	Applied environmental impact assessment prac. Marine surveys and monitoring	Practical (4 hr)
Week 12	Ethograms	Lecture and tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Designing, using, evaluation ethograms	Practical (3 hr)
Week 13	Presentations	Presentation (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

All lectures and pracs will be held at Taronga Sydney and will take place face-to-face except for weeks when students are undertaken independent study. Attendance at lectures and pracs is required.

Covid restrictions are in place and all students will be required to provide evidence of double vaccination (or medical exemption) before attending Taronga. Full details will be provided separately. These restrictions are to ensure the safety of students, staff and guests.

For anyone not in Australia, online content will be provided.

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

There is no set text book for this Unit. Access to reading material and resources will be provided throughout semester with full details on Canvas.

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. apply disciplinary knowledge to solve problems.
LO2. find, define and delimit authentic problems in order to address them.
LO3. create an investigation strategy, explore solutions, discuss approaches and predict outcomes.
LO4. analyse data using modern information technology and digital skills.
LO5. demonstrate integrity, confidence, personal resilience and the capacity to manage challenges, both individually and in teams.
LO6. collaborate with peers to develop solution(s) to the project problem.
LO7. communicate project outcomes effectively to a broad audience.

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.

Lecture and prac content have been changed slightly based on feedback for students, with more time added for students to gain experience in essential fieldwork skills that will be invaluable for their careers in wildlife conservation.

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

All except 2 weeks will be held at Taronga. See Canvas for full details on how to get to the zoo, gain access and any safety requirements.

Work, health and safety

General: Check weather forecast before travelling to Taronga and wear appropriate clothing. Classess will still occur even if its raining. Taronga is located on a hill so wear appropriate walking footwear.

Covid restrictions: this Unit will be taught taking into consideration contact tracing requirements and social distancing for both lectures and pracs. It is essential you follow guidelines given to you by staff to ensure the safety of yourself, fellow students, staff and visitors to Taronga.

All students will be required to provide evidence of double vaccination (or medical exemption) before attending Taronga.

You will be required to scan a QR code each time you enter Taronga. This is in the case contact tracing is required.

You will required to bring and wear a facemask whenever you are in-grounds at the zoo.

Lectures – you will be asked to sit in specific seats in the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning lecture theatre to ensure >1.5m spacing.

Pracs – you will be split into groups for pracs and asked to ensure you keep >1.5m apart. You will also be required to wear a face mask whenever you’re in-grounds at the zoo.

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

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

WILD3001: Taronga Project

Semester 1, 2022 [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

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect