Unit Outline

KGA319

Science and Policy for Energy Futures

Semester 2, 2025

Heather Lovell

School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences

College of Sciences and Engineering

CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

What is the Unit About?

Unit Description

This unit will equip students with an interdisciplinary understanding of energy systems. Its focus is on how science and policy are interacting to shape Australia’s energy futures. The Australian energy sector is experiencing a period of change, prompted by the availability of new energy technologies as well as new societal expectations, desires and behaviours. Learning will focus on how these changes are being initiated and governed through a range of organisations and institutions, including the state, corporations, community groups, and individual households. The interplay between expert knowledge and decision making will be analysed, with close attention to the politics of technical decision-making processes. This unit is taught collaboratively with input from the Tasmanian energy industry and government. Science and Policy for Energy Futures will be of interest to undergraduate students from Geography, Social Sciences, Engineering and Law.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	describe the energy system in Australia in terms of its production, distribution and consumption, across both space and time.
2	synthesise information from a range of energy sector sources, including government, scientists, industry, and other stakeholders in order to articulate key issues at the science-policy interface.
3	evaluate a range of ethical, regulatory, economic and socio-political contexts as individuals and in teams in order to make recommendations about complex energy sector problems.
4	explain past, present and future processes that shape the Tasmanian energy sector in order to make integrated recommendations sensitive to the Tasmanian context.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Lecture (On Campus)	recorded lecture in MyLO	0.50	Weekly
	Workshop	2 hour interactive in-person workshop	2	Weekly
	Independent Learning	Weekly reading (academic paper and MyLO material)	3	Weekly
	Independent Learning	Independent work on assessments	3	Weekly
Online	Lecture (Online)	recorded lecture in MyLO	0.50	Weekly
	Workshop (Online)	2 hour workshop - attended either live or watched later	2	Weekly
	Independent Learning	Weekly reading (academic paper and MyLO material)	3	Weekly
	Independent Learning	Independent work on assessments	3	Weekly

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	AT2: Project Marinus	Week 8	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	AT3: Research Brief	Week 14	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	AT1: Weekly Quiz	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: AT2: Project Marinus

Task Description:

The topic of this task is the second undersea electricity cable that is planned from Tasmania to mainland Australia, called Project Marinus. This assessment task comprises two parts. The main task - Part B - is working in a small group to present on an energy policy position during the Week 8 workshop. There is also an individual component to this task - Part A - which is a Stakeholder Analysis. This is a lead-in task due in Week 4.

For this assessment task you may appropriately use genAI software in an ethical and responsible way. If using genAI software you must acknowledge if/when/how a genAI tool was used.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrates stakeholder understanding, evidenced by research.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Communicates persuasively, in a range of different formats (written, visual, oral).	LO2, LO3
3	Contributes constructively to group work (for Part B only)	LO3

Assessment Task 2: AT3: Research Brief

Task Description:

This involves writing a short Research Brief on one of the energy policy 'disruptors' covered in Module 3 of the Unit. The intended audience for your Research Brief is Australian federal parliamentarians.

For this assessment task you may appropriately use genAI software in an ethical and responsible way. If using genAI software you must acknowledge if/when/how a genAI tool was used.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyses and explains a key energy policy disruptor and its significance for Australian energy policy	LO1, LO2
2	Presents multiple research perspectives and evidence in a balanced, neutral manner appropriate for a parliamentary briefing	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Identifies key policy considerations and practical implications for Australian parliamentarians	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Communicates clearly and professionally using language and format appropriate for a parliamentary audience	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 3: AT1: Weekly Quiz

Task Description:

Weekly Quiz from Week 2 to Week 13.

The assessment is via the quiz function in MyLO.

Requirements: you must meet all requirements of academic integrity and are not permitted to use generative AI (GenAI), such as ChatGPT, in this assessment task.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describes the energy system in Australia	LO1
2	Interprets and synthesises information about the energy system in Australia	LO2
3	Demonstrates weekly learning about the science-policy interface, using the Australian energy sector as an example	LO1, LO2

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials