Reference no: EM131235810 , Length:
Topic: Reporting Science
Introduction:
The way in which science is communicated depends on the topic, its context and the engagement with the audience. What is important is that science is communicated accurately and that readers/listeners can make sense of scientific information.
As part of this unit you will be conducting fieldwork in the local environment. The field work aims to consolidate and extend your growing knowledge of local plants and animals as well as assist you to identify and respond to environmental issues on campus. Your field observations may be incorporated into on-going environmental monitoring programs being conducted at the University.
This assignment provides an opportunity for you to formalise your field work experience in the form of two reports that will communicate your identification of an issue that needs to be addressed as part of on-campus sustainable management practice at the university in particular and in the general community
The purpose of this assignment is two-fold: First, to produce a field report assessing human impact on the natural environment at Macquarie University (Part A) and second, the use the findings from Part A along with recent related media reports to write a media article about the environment at Macquarie University of relevance to the local community (Part B).
Field Report: Part A. 1500 words
Participate in the on-campus fieldwork scheduled for tutorial days. Using data collected from your fieldwork prepare a report, which contains the following.
1. A description of the original and current landscape where Macquarie University now stands. This will include an illustrated discussion (using images collected from the field trip) of vegetation, geology and hydrology (maximum 700 words).
2. Identification of an issue relating to human impact on this local environment. Provide evidence (including data collected from the field work) to support your case (maximum 550 words).
3. Propose an action plan that can be implemented to reduce or eliminate this human impact. (250 words).
Media article: Part B. (500 words)
1. Source two contrasting articles that have been reported in the media in the last 12 months dealing with biodiversity on the local (Ryde/Lane Cove), state or national level (If it is too difficult to find two contrasting articles, you may use one article that argues a position but also addresses the opposing view).
Attach copies of these media articles to your assignment (or provide the web-address).
2. Identify the science content reported in each article and sources of evidence provided. Comment on the validity and reliability of the science reported in each (250 words).
(Internet sites such as Wikipedia and the like are unacceptable).
3. Integrate this information with your experience of the fieldwork to prepare a media article that targets the local community. Your media article should integrate your results from Part A and the two relevant science reports from above. Your media article should aim at persuading your reader to agree with you on the environmental issue you identified in Part A or your action plan. You are encouraged to use a variety of text types along with photos and other visual representations (250 words).
Background Reading:
AAAS. (2009). Benchmarks on line. Communication. Retrieved on February 25, 2014, from https://www.project2061.org/publications/bsl/online/index.php?chapter=12
Benson, D., & Howell, J. (1990). Taken for granted: The bushland of Sydney and its suburbs. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press.
Friends of Lane Cove National Park. (2007). A brief history of Lane Cove National Park. Retrieved on February 25, 2014 from
https://www.friendsoflanecovenationalpark.org.au/AboutThePark/History.htm
Friends of Lane Cove National Park. (2007).What's flowering. Retrieved on February 25, 2014 from https://www.friendsoflanecovenationalpark.org.au/Flowering/WhatsFlowering.htm
Rennie, L. (2007). Values of science portrayed in out-of-school contexts. In Corrigan, D., Dillon, J. and Gunstone, R (Eds.) The
Re-Emergence of Values in Science Education. Rotterdam: Sense Publications.
Further resources will be posted on the Unit iLearn site.
What is social history and how is it used in case management
: What is a social history and how is it used in case management? How do case managers apply an ecological perspective to help create a strengths-based needs and goals assessment with the client?
|
Determined that price elasticity of demand for lift tickets
: As a manager of a ski resort, you want to increase the number of lift tickets sold by 8%. Your staff economist has determined that the price elasticity of demand for lift tickets is 2. To increase sales by the desired amounts, what should you decreas..
|
What is this text presentation of jesus
: Here are some guiding questions for your argument: What is this text's presentation of Jesus? Who is this text trying to make Jesus out to be? Where does each text place theological emphasis; what does each text seem 6 of 8 to regard as theologica..
|
What is the value of an fra that promises to pay
: What is the equivalent rate with annual compounding, monthly compounding, and continuous compounding. - What is the forward rate for the 6-month period beginning in 18 months?
|
Issue relating to human impact on this local environment
: Propose an action plan that can be implemented to reduce or eliminate this human impact - Identification of an issue relating to human impact on this local environment.
|
Tested bottles is contaminated
: A pharmacist receives a shipment of 22 bottles of a drug and has 4 of the bottles tested. If 6 of the 22 bottles are contaminated, what is the probability that more than 1 of the tested bottles is contaminated?
|
Estimate of the annual cost of rabies
: a. What is the WHO's point estimate of the annual cost of rabies in Asia and Africa? b. What is the margin of error? c. What is the width of the interval?
|
Identify and summarize the stages of group development
: Identify and summarize the stages of group development. Reflecting on the case and textbook material, what stage is the group at now? How could an understanding of the stages of group development have assisted the Woodson Foundation in building a ..
|
What happens to the graphs of these functions
: In this chapter, we introduced two functions: the distribution function, F(t), and the reliability function, R(t). If the reliability of a system improves as we test and fix it, what happens to the graphs of these functions?
|