Earth Sciences Research Project Pt5 Cnt. (ERTH90064)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2025
About this subject
Overview
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This subject is part of a sequence of four parts (or five parts for part-time) taken in successive semesters that together constitute the 125-point research project offered through the MSc Earth Sciences.
The School of Earth Sciences is home to a large and diverse range of research programs. Our interests include the solid Earth, the fluid Earth (including our atmosphere and oceans) and processes that operate at the interface between these upon which all life on our planet depends. Current research activities include: Climate Variability and Change, Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics, Synoptic and Mesoscale Meteorology, Hydrogeology and Aqueous Biogeochemistry, Sedimentary Geology and Palaeontology, Palaeoclimate and Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction, Thermochronology, Neotectonics and Landscape Evolution, Ore Deposit Geology, Geochemistry and Geochronology, Structural Geology, Tectonics and Geodynamics, Thermodynamics of Metamorphic Systems (THERMOCALC), Geochemistry and Geochronology of Magmatic Systems, Noble Gas Geochronology and Geochemistry, Computer Simulation of Geological and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth's Deep Interior, and Energy: Resources and Futures.
This subject comprises a major piece of original supervised research on a topic as agreed by the student and their supervisor. A literature review is conducted in the first six months of candidature and includes a research proposal describing the aims, significance and approach of the project.
It is anticipated that students will generate an original piece of research comparable to that produced for a paper submitted to a scientific journal, and will be encouraged to do so.
Intended learning outcomes
The objectives of the research project is to provide students with the opportunity to:
- synthesise existing literature on a topic of interest and devise an appropriate research project that addresses key outstanding questions in the field;
- plan an appropriate program of data acquisition and manipulation (eg., modelling) in order to constrain the questions being addressed;
- interpret the results of their work, perhaps suggesting further avenues for research beyond the cope of their project;
- prepare a written report of their results.
Generic skills
On completion of their research project students will have had the opportunity to gain new skills in:
- planning and conducting a program of research;
- exercising critical judgement;
- undertaking rigorous and independent thinking;
- adopting a problem-solving approach to new and unfamiliar tasks;
- developing high-level written report and oral presentation skills;
- interrogating, synthesising and interpreting the published literature;
- field-work (where applicable); and
- research appropriate to the level of a professional scientist.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
Additional details
Refer to Earth Sciences Research Project Pt1 ERTH90035 for Assessment details.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
Not available in 2025
Time commitment details
This subject is an individual research project and weekly contact hours will vary depending on the nature of the project. Students should discuss this with their supervisor but as a guide, a student enrolled in a 12.5 point research project subject would be expected to be engaged in their research for an average of 10 hours per week.
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
Last updated: 4 March 2025