Course

Outline 2017

GenS 4015
Brave New World
SESSION 1, 2017

Course Staff
Dr Maria Cunningham
maria.cunningham@unsw.edu.au
Consultation times: Please email with a list of times you are available on the day or week
you would like to see me, and I will work out a time.
(02) 9385 5662
Room 139 Old Main Building

Susan Hagon
(Higher Year Coordinator)
s.hagon@unsw.edu.au
(02) 9385 6293
Room 62B, Old Main Building
Available most working hours, drop in or make an appointment

School of Physics - Course Information

Assumed Knowledge
Nil prior knowledge assumed, but an enthusiasm to understand everyday science and
technology and the wish to communicate your understanding to others will be a big
advantage in undertaking this course.

Timetable
Lecture times: Wholly online, work through as you wish
Weeks: 2 -13
Location: Wholly online
Laboratory/Tutorial times: Wholly online
Weeks: 2- 9
Location: Wholly online

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Assessment

1. Online Discussions/tutorials (25% of total course mark).

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During week 2 (beginning Monday 6 March) through to week 9 (beginning Monday 1 May)
you will need to contribute weekly to on-line discussions (tutorials).
There are 8 online tutorials in total, and your contribution must be received by 1700 hrs (2
pm) on the Monday AFTER the tutorial opened (unless otherwise stated).
You must submit the two postings that you want marked to your tutor by midnight on the
Monday AFTER the tutorial opened, via a Moodle message
All 8 tutorial discussions will be of equal weight.

2. Online Quizzes (25% of total course mark).

There will be four online quizzes, and each will be of equal weighting.
The quizzes will open on 0900 of the Monday of the week they are due, will be open for 1
week, closing at 1700 hrs on the following Monday.
The quizzes are due:
th th
o Quiz 1, Due Week 4: Opens 0900 Mon 20 March -- Closes 1700 Mon 27 March
th th
o Quiz 2, Due Week 7: Opens 0900 Mon 10 April -- Closes 1700 Mon 17 April
st th
o Quiz 3, Due Week 9: Opens 0900 Mon 1 May Closes 1700 Mon 8 May
nd th
o Quiz 4, Due Week 12: Opens 0900 Mon 22 May - Closes 1700 Mon 29 May

3. Blog Posting 300 to 400-word posting on topic chosen from the set of available
topics (10% of total course mark).
Students will have the chance to suggest topics on which they would like to blog.
To get full marks, students must make a comment on another students blog posting.
Assignment opens Monday Week 3, 13th March.
Blog posting due Monday Week 5, 1700, 27th March.
Comment on another students blog posting due Monday Week 6, 1700, 3rd
April.

4. Letter to the Editor 200 to 300 words critiquing an article about science or
technology that has appeared in the media (15% of total course mark).
To get full marks, students must make a comment on another students Letter to the
Editor posting.
Assignment opens Week 7, Monday 10th April.
Assignment due Week 8, Monday 1700, 17th April.
Comment on another students posting due Week 9, Monday 1700, 1st May.

5. Major Research assignment (25% of total course mark).

Write 800 to 1000 words on a major review article on any piece of science or
technology that interests you.
You can also talk about the implications for society about the implications for society
if you wish.
Another possibility is to submit a short story, a play, or an artwork.
Due Monday 1700 hrs 5th June

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Syllabus/Handbook Entry

This wholly Internet-delivered course aims to give a big picture overview of the
physical sciences at the dawn of the 21st century and beyond. The most common
interface between the general public and science is often through science fiction; hence,
science fiction is used as a teaching aid to stimulate student interest and as a starting
point from which to communicate the science, and its likely future development. This
course also examines the interaction between science and society, encouraging students
to consider how culture influences science and vice versa. This course aims to provide
students with the level of scientific and technological literacy required to take an
informed part in debate on important scientific issues.

No prior scientific or mathematical knowledge is assumed. In fact, we aim to provide
you with this basic knowledge in this course.

The areas covered are: the physics of space and time; astronomy; space travel and
exploration; astrobiology: life in the Universe; computers & robotics, artificial
intelligence & human intelligence; the future of the human race; the future of planet
Earth, including an examination of the physics of climate change; a brief look at the
place of physics in popular culture is included.

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 Detailed Syllabus

Week Lectures Topics Module

Week 1 No lectures read through course

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Mon 27 Feb outline
Week 2 * Introduction to Brave New World M1: Understanding the Universe: Astronomy
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Mon 6 March * Introduction to Module 1 and the physics of space and time.
Week 3 *M1: Lecture 1 M1: Understanding the Universe: Astronomy
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Mon 13 March *M1: Movie - The Dish and the physics of space and time.
Week 4 *M1: Lecture 2 M1: Understanding the Universe: Astronomy
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Mon 20 March *Movie: 2001 A Space Odyssey and the physics of space and time.
*M1: Lecture 3
Week 5 *M2: Lecture 1 M2: Exploring the Universe: Space travel,
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Mon 27 March *M2: Lecture 2 space exploration and astrobiology.
Week 6 *M2: Lecture 3 M2: Exploring the Universe: Space travel,
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Mon 3 April *M2: movie - Contact space exploration and astrobiology.
Week 7 *M2: Lecture 3 M2: Exploring the Universe: Space travel,
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Monday 10 April space exploration and astrobiology.
Break!
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17 24 April.
Week 8 *M3 Lecture 1 M3: The Human Web: Computers,
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Monday 24 April *M3 Lecture 2 communication and the basic connectedness
*Movie: The Social Network of the human race.
Week 9 *M3 Lecture 3 M3: The Human Web: Computers,
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Monday 1 May communication and the basic connectedness
of the human race.
Week 10 *M4 Lecture 1 M4: The future of planet Earth: the
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Monday 8 May *Movie: Avatar, Soylent green environment, food supply; the future of the
Human race.
Week 11 *M4 Lecture 2 M4: The future of planet Earth: the
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Monday 15 May *Movies: Dr Strangelove, The environment, food supply, the future of the
China Syndrome Human race.
Week 12 *TV Series: The Big Bang Theory M5: Physics is fun? A look at physics in
nd
Monday 22 May *M5 Lecture 1 popular culture
Week 13 *TV Series: MacGyver M5: Physics is fun? A look at physics in
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Monday 29 May *TV Series: Futurama popular culture
*M5 Lecture 2

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Textbooks

Lecture Notes Supplied with Course

Assessment Procedures
Assignment Submissions

As GenS4015 is a wholly online course, you should follow the instructions on the
Moodle Website for submitting your assignments online with Moodle.

Special Consideration
On some occasions, sickness, misadventure, or other circumstances beyond your control
may prevent you from completing a course requirement or attending or submitting
assessable work for a course. You should then apply for Special Consideration.
You must make formal application for Special Consideration for the course/s affected
as soon as practicable after the problem occurs and within three working days of
the assessment to which it refers.
The application must be made via Online Services in myUNSW. Log into myUNSW
and go to My Student Profile tab > My Student Services channel > Online Services >
Special Consideration.
Submit originals or certified copies of your supporting documentation to UNSW
Student Central for verification.

If you are applying for an extension to an assignment, you should also contact your lecturer
or Sue Hagon directly to arrange a new submission date.

Further information about Special Consideration is available from

my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/SpecialConsideration.html
and the Schools policy regarding special consideration for final exams is available from here
phys.unsw.edu.au/phys_current/pdf/Special%20Consideration%20Policy.pdf

All requests for special consideration must be accompanied by verified supporting

documentation. You should note that submitting a request for consideration does not
automatically mean that you will be granted additional assessment, nor that you will be
awarded an amended result. You will be notified of the outcome of your application.

Equity and Diversity

Those students who have a disability that requires some adjustment in their teaching or
learning environment are encouraged to discuss their study needs, with an Equity Officer
(Disability) in the Student Equity and Diversity Unit (9385 4734 or
studentequity.unsw.edu.au/ ).

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Issues to be discussed may include access to materials, signers or note-takers, the
provision of services and additional exam and assessment arrangements. Students should
meet with SEADU before the start of semester in order to enable any necessary adjustments
to be made.

UNSW Academic Honesty and Plagiarism

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as ones own.

*Examples include:
direct duplication of the thoughts or work of another, including by copying material, ideas or concepts
from a book, article, report or other written document (whether published or unpublished), composition,
artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, web site, Internet, other electronic
resource, or another persons assignment without appropriate acknowledgement;
paraphrasing another persons work with very minor changes keeping the meaning, form and/or
progression of ideas of the original;
piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole;
presenting an assessment item as independent work when it has been produced in whole or part in
collusion with other people, for example, another student or a tutor; and
claiming credit for a proportion a work contributed to a group assessment item that is greater than that
actually contributed.

For the purposes of this policy, submitting an assessment item that has already been submitted for
academic credit elsewhere may be considered plagiarism.

Knowingly permitting your work to be copied by another student may also be considered to be plagiarism.

Note that an assessment item produced in oral, not written, form, or involving live presentation, may
similarly contain plagiarised material.

The inclusion of the thoughts or work of another with attribution appropriate to the academic discipline does
not amount to plagiarism.

The Learning Centre website is main repository for resources for staff and students on plagiarism and
academic honesty. These resources can be located via:

lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism

The Learning Centre also provides substantial educational written materials, workshops, and tutorials to aid
students, for example, in:
correct referencing practices;
paraphrasing, summarising, essay writing, and time management;
appropriate use of, and attribution for, a range of materials including text, images, formulae and
concepts.

Individual assistance is available on request from The Learning Centre.

Students are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of the
identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for
research, drafting, and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment items.

* Based on that proposed to the University of Newcastle by the St James Ethics Centre. Used with kind permission from
the University of Newcastle
Adapted with kind permission from the University of Melbourne

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Administration Matters
Communications
Students should check their UNSW email account regularly as all official university
communication will be sent to that address. Students should use their university email
account when writing to UNSW staff and should always include their name and student
number.

Health and Safety

The School of Physics is actively committed to the health, safety and welfare of its staff and
students. Information on relevant UNSW Occupational Health and Safety policies and
expectations is available at: www.ohs.unsw.edu.au and phys.unsw.edu.au/safety/index.html

Recommended Internet Sites

The School of Physics website is phys.unsw.edu.au . Under the Current Students link
students will find information about degrees, courses, and assessment.

The University website my.unsw.edu.au provides links to the UNSW Handbook, Timetables,
Calendars and other student information.

Societies
All Physics students are members of Physoc (the Physics Student Society) The Physoc
room is Room 35 Lower Ground Floor, Old Main Building and all students are welcome to
drop in anytime. A number of social events are organised each session. Further information
is available at ugrad.phys.unsw.edu.au/physoc/2013/ or email unsw.physoc@gmail.com

The Australian Institute of Physics aip.org.au is the professional association of physicists in

Australia.

Student Complaint Procedures

UNSW has procedures for dealing with complaints. These aim to solve grievances as
quickly and as close to the source as possible. Information is available here:
student.unsw.edu.au/complaints
Staff who can assist include:
School Contacts:
A/Prof Adam Micolich Sue Hagon
Undergraduate Director Higher Year Coordinator
School of Physics School of Physics
Room 62B, OMB
s.hagon@unsw.edu.au
Tel: 9385 6293
Faculty Contacts
A/Prof Julian Cox Dr Gavin Edwards
Associate Dean (Education) Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs)
julian.cox@unsw.edu.au g.edwards@unsw.edu.au
Tel: 9385 8574 Tel: 9385 6125
University Contacts

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 Student Conduct and Appeals Officer (SCAO) within the Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Students) and Registrar.
Telephone 02 9385 8515, email studentcomplaints@unsw.edu.au
University Counselling and Psychological Services
Tel: 9385 5418

Additional Course Information

Expectations of Students
We believe that effective learning is best supported by a climate of enquiry, in which students are
actively engaged in the learning process. To ensure effective learning, students should
participate in class. Effective learning is achieved when students attend all classes, have
prepared effectively for classes by reading through previous lecture notes, in the case of
lectures, and, in the case of tutorials or laboratories, have made a serious attempt at doing the
problems or pre-work themselves prior to the class. Furthermore, lectures should be viewed by
the student as an opportunity to learn, rather than just copy down lecture notes. Effective
learning is achieved when students have a genuine interest in the subject and make a serious
effort to master the basic material.

Course Aims and Learning Outcomes

The aims of this course are to:

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Course Aims give a big picture overview of the physical sciences in the first decades of the
21st century and beyond;
use science fiction movies and literature as a starting point for communicating
science and its likely future development;
provide students with the level of scientific and technological literacy required
to take an informed part in debate on important scientific issues;
examine the interaction between science and society, encouraging students to
consider how culture influences science and vice versa
allow students to develop skills in communicating science to the general public.

The areas covered are: the physics of space and time; astronomy; space travel and
exploration; astrobiology: life in the Universe; computers & robotics, artificial
intelligence & human intelligence; the future of the human race; the future of planet
Earth, including an examination of the physics of climate change; a brief look at the
place of physics in popular culture is included.

Student Learning By the end of this course, students should be able to

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Outcomes
read popular science news and articles such as those in daily newspapers and
in magazines such as New Scientist, and critically evaluate the scientific
content;

have the scientific and technological literacy to inform themselves of the

science involved in topical issues, such as climate change and stem cell
research;

be able to communicate their own understanding of science to others in clear

language.

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Learning and Teaching Unit: Course Outlines
2
Learning and Teaching Unit: Learning Outcomes

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 Graduate Attributes Developed in this Course

Science Graduate Select the Activities / Assessment

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Attributes level of
FOCUS
0 = NO FOCUS
1 = MINIMAL
2 = MINOR
3 = MAJOR

Research, inquiry and Lectures and Quizzes

analytical thinking 3 Tutorial discussions
abilities

Capability and 3 Tutorial discussions

motivation for Major Assignment
intellectual
development

Ethical, social and 3 Tutorial discussions

professional
understanding

Communication 3 Tutorial discussions

Major Assignment

Teamwork, 2 Tutorial discussions

collaborative and
management skills

Information literacy 3 Quizzes

Major Assignment

Course Evaluation and Development

Student feedback is gathered periodically by various means. Such feedback is considered
carefully with a view to acting on it constructively wherever possible. Every semester
students will be asked to provide evaluative feedback through UNSW's Course and
Teaching Evaluation and Improvement (CATEI) process at the end of the course.

The Physics degrees offered by UNSW are reviewed and accredited by the Australian
Institute of Physics every five years. The most recent review was in 2013.

We welcome feedback at all times on presentation of course materials and any other
course-related matters, and will be happy to discuss any issues raised in the lectures.
Feedback can be discussed with the lecturer or with Sue Hagon or A/Prof Adam Micolich.

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