Earth Sciences

 Knowledge:

• Advanced knowledge of the range of research methods employed in Earth Sciences, including how to evaluate and interpret the results of such methods;
• Advanced knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in core discipline areas in Earth Sciences;
• Understanding of the ethical basis of research, including knowledge of scientific citation practice and plagiarism issues;
• An understanding of the relationship between progress in scientific research and its potential impact on the wider community, with a focus on understanding how research might be employed to solve problems facing the community.

Skills:

• Advanced scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and research skills to critically analyse existing knowledge of a research topic, design and execute a clearly articulated and theoretically motivated individual research project, analyse data utilising appropriate research methods, and interpret results coherently to determine their implications;
• Critical review skills: based on knowledge of the discipline, an ability to evaluate and critically review recent research findings, and place them in the context of previous research;
• Effective scientific communication skills to articulate cogent scientific explanations of concepts in Earth Sciences, theories and research findings, and communicate these ideas effectively to various audiences in both written and oral formats;

Application of Knowledge and Skills:

• Laboratory and/or computing skills that are at a level sufficient to enable the creation of new research results;
• Research skills: Design and execute an individual research project to address a research question relevant to the discipline of Earth Sciences;
• The ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, with particular emphasis on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.