SCI2502 Impact through science 2B
Faculty of Science
SCI2502 Impact through science 2B is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 2 units, leading on to 6 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 5 tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review SCI2502.
Requisites
Before SCI2502
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After SCI2502
2 units list SCI2502 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Overview
This unit introduces you to the world of advocacy and its role in addressing the key challenges facing the global community. You are introduced to the key frameworks, considerations and stakeholders to help students critically evaluate the opportunities and limitations of advocacy. This unit enables you to continue practicing core communication skills acquired and honed throughout the degree; through tasks which require students to tailor information to specific audiences to ensure maximum impact. The unit will enable you to identify, define and describe the key ways which corporate and private organisations influence government and social decision making; the role of business and government in enabling both positive and negative change relating to key global issues; and deliver information tailored to diverse audiences.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Advocacy appeal (group)Written35%
- Reflection on advocacy (individual)Written10%
- Communicating in different contexts (group)Written35%
- Feedback fruits (individual)Written10%
- Reflection on feedback fruits (individual)Written10%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Develop a comprehensive advocacy strategy on how an advocacy group will operate. This includes a brief to a government official, a digital and written appeal to a relevant stakeholder and an organisational memo outlining how you operate as an advocacy group;
- 2
Consider the ways in which groups of people strategically undertake advocacy campaigns to affect change;
- 3
Work with others to critically evaluate advocacy opportunities and develop targeted strategies which enable impactful change;
- 4
Integrate feedback from peers and mentors to make improvements in how you collaborate as a team and organise yourself within an advocacy group pushing for change;
- 5
Develop a deeper understanding of the importance of tailoring information and content to specific audiences to maximise the accessibility and impact of information;
- 6
Demonstrate teamwork capacity and knowledge of leadership by using a collaborative approach to examine the advocacy and communication strategies needed to maximise impact and change;
- 7
Develop a plan for their first internship.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops36 hours
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachSimulation or virtual practice
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachRole play
- One 3-hour workshop per week
- During the semester we will host networking events which may be during or outside of normal teaching hours which are optional, but strongly advised to attend.
- You should note that you are required to undertake one internship before the start of your level 3 units.
9 hours of external class time per week including study time, pre-class and post-class tasks
You will frequently be posed questions and engage in class discussions which have unclear or multiple responses to highlight the diversity in both the advocacy and science communication spaces.
Mock scenarios and simulations allow students to practise critical business skills best learned through doing. role play, peer-based learning, enquiry-based learning, research activities, and problem-based learning.
In class activities and workshops are central to this unit and enable students to apply and critique content within class with the education team.
We will be analysing real-world examples of how governments and private organisations influence and advocate for change.
By emulating an advocacy group, students will gain first hand insights into the challenges and focus areas of these groups. Students will then pivot this content to particular audiences to develop audience specific communications themselves.
Learning resources
Required resources
SCI2502 Moodle pages
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Djuke Veldhuis
- Unit Coordinators
- Mr Jake Port
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for SCI2502?
SCI2502 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after SCI2502?
SCI2502 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 2 units, including SCI3501 and SCI3502. Those lead on to 6 units in all.
When is SCI2502 offered?
In 2025, SCI2502 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
Does SCI2502 have an exam?
No. SCI2502 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.