A wide range of exciting projects in the field of materials science are offered for students to conduct a small, multidisciplinary research project in materials chemistry, physics and engineering. The students will undertake their individual project within a research group at the ANU under the supervision of a group leader. Students will experience how to conduct real research in this field by working, training and studying alongside PhD students, together forming a cohort of research students in Materials Science.

World-leading research will take place on characterisation of materials, processing and manufacturing of materials, and properties of materials.

Each of the research groups works within one or more of the following broad themes, and research projects available to applicants for the Masters of Science in Materials Science are listed under the following themes:

• Energy materials
• Environmental materials
• Functional materials and application as smart devices
• Optoelectronic materials and device, including Lasers/LEDs, photodetectors and solar cells
• Polymers
• Nanomaterials, for photocatalysis and electrolysis as catalysts as well as smart devices, bio-sensors, thermoelectric materials
• Processing and manufacturing, including thin films, 3D printing, alloys, ceramics, polymers
• Characterisation of materials, with a potential specialised on diffraction, microscopy and ESR

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Undertake advanced planning for a critical investigation of a chosen area of specialisation in materials science.
2. Critically analyse and synthesise complex theory and concepts, identifying and utilising appropriate evidence and methodologies, to draw expert conclusions.
3. Engage in specialist research discovery and critical review of appropriate information sources.
4. Expertly communicate, verbally and in writing, advanced research concepts and contexts.
5. Develop high level skills in advanced experimental techniques and specialist knowledge in materials science.

Research-Led Teaching

This course teaches research skills by conducting original research for potential publication (or a patent). Students will learn core knowledge about conducting research and will implement that learning.

Required Resources

You must wear the appropriate protective clothing to work in the laboratory: laboratory coat, safety glasses and covered, non-absorbant shoes. Students who do not comply will not be permitted to work in the laboratory.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments

Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their supervisor and research mentor.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Summary of penalties for exceeding word limits. Some assessed items in this class may have a maximum word limit. If submissions exceed these maximum lengths then the following penalties will apply: (a) 5% penalty if word limit exceeded by up to 5%; (b) 10% penalty if word limit exceeded by between 5% and 10%; (c) 10% penalty if word limit exceeded by >10%, and material beyond the 10% word limit will not be marked. 

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	A total estimated workload of 260 hours (a 12 unit course within one semester) of independent research under supervision of a Research School of Chemistry academic supervisor. 260 hours includes background reading and study, preparation, conducting research, writing reports and presenting talks.	Assessment and attendance requirements will be published on Wattle and agreed upon by the end of the first week of the semester.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Written Project Report	70 %	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Seminar (Oral Presentation)	30 %	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students should meet regularly with their supervisor (research group leader) and, in laboratory-based projects, be under the constant watch of research mentor(s) (senior research group members).

Assessment Task 1

Written Project Report

Research project report, submitted via electronic submission on Wattle, marked by two independent group leaders at RSC not involved in the project.

The research report should detail the student's results during their research project.

Detailed format requirements provided on Wattle.

Assessment Task 2

Seminar (Oral Presentation)

The research seminar will be open to attendance by all RSC staff and students, and should inform a non-specialist audience of the student's results obtained during their research project. It will be marked by the RSC group leaders present.

Each seminar is a fixed total time of 15 minutes, including about 12 minutes for the presentation and about 3 minutes of questions. Every CHEM8033 student will attend all of the student talks in the session.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin. The final report will be submitted to the College through the Wattle website electronically and are time stamped as received.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. Late submission of reports without an extension are penalized at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date. Late submission will incur delays in marking, and feedback cannot be guaranteed for late submissions.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

If the quality of a research report is deemed unsatisfactory by the course convenor (on advice from the supervisor or grader) you may be asked to resubmit the report.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students