Marine Science and Management
Unit of study descriptions 2014
CIVL5511 Foundations of Fluid Mechanics
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Lecture 2hrs per week, Tutorial 2hrs per week, Laboratory 2hrs per week. Assumed knowledge: CIVL2201 AND CIVL2611 AND ENGG1802 AND MATH2061. This unit of study follows on from Fluid Mechanics CIVL2611, which provides the essential fundamental fluid mechanics background and theory, and is assumed to be known and fully understood. Assessment: Through semester assessemnt (60%), Final Exam (40%)
This unit of study aims to provide an understanding of the conservation of mass and momentum in differential forms for viscous fluid flows. It provides the foundation for advanced study of turbulence, flow around immersed bodies, open channel flow, and turbo-machinery.
CIVL5670 Reservoir Stream & Coastal Eng
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Lectures 2 hours per week, Tutorials 2 hours per week. Assumed knowledge: CIVL3612 AND MATH2061. Assessment: Through semester assessment (40%), Final Exam (60%)
Note: Students who have previously studied CIVL3613 will only be permitted to enrol in this unit by approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.)
The objectives of this Unit of Study are to develop an understanding of the processes occurring in lakes, reservoirs, streams and coastal seas, and an introduction to transport and mixing in inland waters, and to the design the design of marine structures. The unit will cover the mass and heat budget in stored water bodies, mixing, and the implications for water quality. In streams, simple transport models will be introduced, and simple models for dissolved oxygen transport discussed. The basic equations for linear and non linear wave theories in coastal seas will be introduced, and wave forces on structures and an introduction to design of offshore structures will be discussed.
(Students who have previously studied CIVL3613 will only be permitted to enrol in this unit by approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.)
(Students who have previously studied CIVL3613 will only be permitted to enrol in this unit by approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.)
ENVI5809 Environmental Simulation Modelling
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr David Chapman Session: Semester 2a Classes: Six sessions Assessment: Report (100%)
This unit of study introduces participants to the power of simulation modelling in understanding and predicting behaviour of natural systems. It covers fundamental concepts, logic, and techniques (including sensitivity analysis), and develops skills in application to environmental problems such as catchment management and population dynamics.
ENVI5903 Sustainable Development
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Jeff Neilson and Prof Phil Hirsch Session: Int July Classes: Two pre-departure lectures, 14-day field intensive. Assessment: Essay (100%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit of study constitutes an international field-based experience held in Indonesia during the July semester break. It explores the contested notions of sustainable development and sustainability through exposure to real world development dilemmas in one of Asia's most dynamic countries. We explore fundamental issues such as urbanization, resource scarcity and economic globalization. The unit of study involves lectures, in-situ readings and discussion groups, introduction to field methods, stakeholder meetings and experiential learning. Students interested in this unit should confirm their interest to the Unit Coordinator by the end of March of the year the field school will be held. There will be additional costs associated with this unit to cover food, accommodation, local transport and field assistance of about $1200 Students will also be required to arrange their own international travel to the starting point (either Bangkok or Jakarta).
ENVI5904 Methods in Applied Ecology
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Ross Coleman Session: Semester 2 Classes: One 3-hour lecture per week for 8 weeks. Assessment: Tutorials, oral presentations and written reports (100%)
No assessment of potential environmental impacts is possible without relevant information about the ecological consequences. This unit is for those without a quantitative ecology background, to explain the need to quantify and what are relevant measures. Describing and understanding uncertainty will be explained in the context of precautionary principles. Issues about measuring biodiversity and the spatial and temporal problems of ecological systems will be introduced. Field experience will also be available (up to two of six hour sessions) subject to weather, tides and available staffing; please note that these sessions are voluntary.
GEOG5001 Geographic Information Science A
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr David Chapman Session: Semester 1 Classes: Six lectures plus six workshops. Assessment: Report (100%)
This unit of study gives an overview of basic spatial data models, and enables students to understand the use of data from a variety of sources within a geographical information system (GIS). The analysis of spatial data, and its manipulation to address questions appropriate to planning or locational applications, will be addressed, as will the development of thematic maps from diverse data layers.
GEOG5004 Environmental Mapping and Monitoring
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Peter Cowell Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2 hours of lectures and one three hour practical per week. Assessment: Assignments (100%)
The unit introduces methods associated with acquiring data in the field and examines issues associated with application of spatial data to environmental monitoring, terrain mapping and geocomputing. Students will learn both theoretically and practically how environmental data is collected using different remote sensing techniques, (pre)processing methods of integrating data in a GIS environment and the role of spatial data in understanding landscape processes and quantifying environmental change.
MARS5001 Coastal Processes and Systems
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Ana Vila-Concejo Session: Semester 1 Classes: One 2 hour lecture, one 1 hour tutorial, one 3 hour practical per week for 6 weeks Assessment: Assignment, presentation and quiz (100%)
This unit of study explains the major coastal processes and systems of relevance to coastal zone management. These include rocky coasts and bluffs; beaches, barriers and dunes; and estuaries and inlets. The interactions between these processes and systems that are of most relevance to coastal management are highlighted, including coastal hazards such as beach erosion, dune migration, bluff retreat, coastal flooding and inlet closure/opening. Anthropogenic impacts are also analysed. The unit is presented in lectures and field excursions, the latter enabling each system to be examined first hand.
MARS5004 Coastal Management Field School
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Peter Cowell Session: Int October Classes: Fieldwork 80 hours block mode Assessment: Assignment and report (100%)
The field school will be based around visits to a series of coastal sites along the NSW coast. The unit will include a series of introductory lectures followed by visits to the sites where both unit staff and local coastal managers and stakeholders will address the students on the nature of the site, its historical development and contemporary coastal management issues and solutions. Sites will be selected to the representative of both the range of coastal systems present along the NSW coast, as well as the range of management issues presented by the sites.
MARS5005 Coastal Management Project
Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Meetings arranged with supervisor Prerequisites: 24 credit points in coastal/marine science/management with a credit average or better. Assessment: Written report, presentation and continuous assessment (100%)
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit enables students who have completed earlier coursework to design and undertake a research project related to a coastal management topic under the supervision of an appropriate member of staff. The unit is suitable for students who wish to learn how to undertake and complete an original research project, as well as students from industry and government organizations who wish to undertake a project that relates to their professional environment.
MARS5006 Coral Reefs, Science and Management
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Prof Maria Byrne Session: Semester 1 Classes: University base delivery: prefield trip tutorial (1-hour), four lectures (1-hour each). Field based delivery: seven lectures (1-hour each), four seminars (1-hour each), two tutorials - individual consultations to develop concepts in research (1-hour each), independent research and oral presentation (40-hours). Assessment: Written assignments: essay and project report; oral presentations; seminar and lecture participation (100%).
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit provides an in - depth overview of the key biological and non-biological processes that make up coral reef ecosystems. There is a focus on the biogeographic, oceanographic and physiological processes underlying the integrity of global tropical reef systems. The Great Barrier Reef is used as a case study to explore emerging concepts on the influence of natural and anthropogenic processes on the integrity of global reef and lagoon systems. Learning activities will include a series of background lectures and research seminars and tutorials in the development of a major research project. A major aspect of this unit is an independent research project conducted under the supervision of the course instructors. The unit concludes with a series of oral presentations based on student research. Assessment tasks will consist of one essay, essay topic presentation and a research project report and presentation. The curriculum in this unit is based on current research and a course book will be provided. This is a field intensive course held at One Tree Island Research Station or Heron Island Research Station. The course is ex-Gladstone Queensland and students are expected to make their own way there. This unit will be run over 6-8 days and there will be an additional course fee for transport, food and accommodation, expected to be $700.
MARS5007 Coral Reefs and Climate Change
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Jody Webster Session: Semester 1a Classes: University based delivery: Prefield trip tutorials and lectures. Field based delivery: Lectures, seminars and tutorials. Individual consultations to develop concepts in research, independent research and oral presentation. Assessment: Written assignments: essay and project report; oral presentations; seminar and lecture participation (100%).
This unit provides an in - depth understanding of the key geological, oceanographic, biological and economic factors effecting global climate change and coral reef response, with specific reference to the Great Barrier Reef. Predictions of worst and best case scenarios for the future of coral reef systems are discussed in the context of the latest science, and in light of how this science should underpin future management strategies and policy. Learning activities will include a series of background lectures and research seminars, and tutorials on the development of a major research project. A major aspect of this unit is an independent research project conducted under the supervision of the course instructors. The unit concludes with a series of oral presentations based on student research. Assessment tasks will consist of an essay, a research seminar, and a research project report and presentation. This is a field intensive course held at either One Tree Island or Heron Island or Orpheus Island Research Stations. This unit will be run over 6-8 days and there will be an additional course fee for transport, food and accommodation, expected to be about $700 (ex. travel to and from Gladstone/Townsville).
MARS5009 Topics in Australian Marine Science
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: The unit will start on Thursday 6th March and will finish Thursday 5th June with a one week mid-semester break from 18 - 25 April. Weekly delivery on Thursday mornings 10 - 2pm at Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), Chowder Bay. Tutorial 10 - 10:45am, Practical 10:45 - 1pm, Lecture 1:15 - 2pm. Assessment: Practical exercises (50%), 1000 word report/assignment (20%), exam (30%).
This unit of study will introduce students to current research undertaken in various disciplines of marine science in Australia. It will be a multi-institutional unit taught at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) with contributions from the four University partners of SIMS. Lectures and tutorials will be taught by leading marine science researchers. Topics will cover physical and biological oceanography, climate change, molecular ecology, aquaculture, marine biology and marine geosciences. In practical classes, students will analyse and interpret remote-sensing data from the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), which provides comprehensive information on the biological and physical processes of Australia's coastal and oceanic waters.