Course Title: Research Project

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Research Project

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
PROC2092	City Campus	Undergraduate	120H Civil, Environmental & Chemical Engineering	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014

Course Coordinator: Dr Liam Ward

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1713

Course Coordinator Email: liam.ward@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 10.12.28

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You are expected to have completed the penultimate year of your program as this course draws upon information gained in the courses undertaken in the previous years of studies, the specific courses being dependent on the nature of the project.

Course Description

This course integrates your knowledge gained throughout the earlier years of your program. You will enhance your knowledge and skills in a particular field of process engineering, and practice the skills of project planning, implementation and management.

You will apply chemical engineering principles to an industrial or applied research problem. You will gain experience in research / investigation by working independently on an assigned open-ended project. You will also gain experience in preparing a comprehensive project report including all relevant aspects of the study and present the results at a poster/seminar session.

You will work on an assigned project which may involve an experimental investigation, plant study, computer modelling, construction of experimental rig, theoretical research, literature survey or a feasibility study. The project will include activities such as the conduct of a critical review of the literature, planning of experiments, use of experimental design methodology, collection of data, experimental runs, analysis and interpretation of data, discussion of results and the writing of a report.

You will undertake your project as an individual. However, some projects may involve similar aims and procedures, but use different materials and/or conditions. In such cases, you must acknowledge the contribution of your colleagues.

You will be responsible for the definition of project goals, development of an experimental program and critical path, and conduct of the program in consultation with the project supervisor. This is an opportunity to develop and display your personal qualities. You will be responsible for the application of initiative, creativity, innovative thinking, motivation and organisational skills. Your supervisor will have a mentorial rather than a directorial role.

Project topics may be in the areas such as rheology, slurry transport, separation processes, process measurement and control, biochemical engineering, water and wastewater treatment, hydrocarbon processes, polymer processing, mineral processing, corrosion studies, wear studies, surface engineering, resource utilisation, or environmental impact studies.

 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course specifically addresses the following Program Learning Outcomes:

1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
3.3. Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.
3.4. Professional use and management of information.

 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will also be able to:
- Conceptualise, plan and design experimental procedures
- Write a literature review 
- Communicate ideas, concepts, design issues and/or experimental methodology, and results 
- Undertake a research or investigative project independently
- Apply chemical engineering principles to the solution of fundamental or applied research problems 
- Prepare a comprehensive project report covering all aspects of the study
- Make a short technical presentation using Powerpoint or other appropriate means.

 

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities include a lecture, project meetings with your project supervisor, self-directed research and laboratory work in some projects.

Overview of Learning Resources

There are no prescribed references for this course. Any recommended references, which will be project specific, will be recommended by your particular supervisor. Information will be obtained from text books,  journals and other reference sources available through the RMIT library.

Overview of Assessment

An interim and final report and a presentation.