Students will complete an independent field project using the skills gained throughout the course. This will involve planning the research to answer ecological questions, collecting data using appropriate methodology, analysing the data collected, interpreting the results of analysis in a ecologically meaningful way, and communicating these results to a scientific audience using peer reviewed literature.

Students will also present the results from their independent field projects in a 10 minute 'scientific conference style' presentation. This includes the preparation of visual aids such as, but not limited to power point slides.

This assessment tests ability to design a sampling program, to test specific hypothesis or perform a review to suitably high standard, ability to conduct ecological research in the field, ability to prepare scientific report, the ability to communicate the aims, methods and result of a marine science study, in plain English, to a wide audience background, and the ability to critically assess peers

Feedback: Marks and comments for the presentations will be provided by peers and demonstrators one week after the assessment. For the scientific reports, marks and comments will be provided via Moodle through Turnitin from demonstrators.