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AMME5962: Introduction to Mechanobiology (2018 - Semester 2)

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Unit: AMME5962: Introduction to Mechanobiology (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr RAMASWAMY, Yogambha
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: Mechanobiology has emerged as a new field of science that integrates biology and engineering and is now considered to have significant influence on the development of technologies for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. It is well known that tissues and cells are sensitive to their mechanical environment and changes to this environment can affect the physiological and pathophysiological processes. Understanding the mechanisms by which biological cells sense and respond to mechanical signals can lead to the development of novel treatments and therapies for a variety of diseases.

The objectives are:

a) To understand the basic principles of cell biology.

b) Learn to apply and integrate engineering principles to biological processes.

c) To understand the basic principles of mechanobiology and its importance in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

d) Understand the challenges and difficulties involved in the field of mechanobiology

e) Develop basic research skills in mechanobiology.
Assumed Knowledge: 6 credit points of junior biology,6 credit points of junior chemistry and 6 credit points of intermediate physiology or equivalent
Lecturer/s: Dr RAMASWAMY, Yogambha
Timetable: AMME5962 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 1 13
2 Tutorial 2.00 1 12
3 Independent Study 5.00 13

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
The students will undertake analysis and discussion about the recent advances and the applications of various types of materials in
mechanobiology.
Design (Level 3)
he students will be introduced to the emerging and interdisciplinary field of mechanobiology. The students will learn and understand the importance of mechanics in biological sciences and the influence of mechanobiology in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
Students will get an exposure to various aspects of mechanobiology and give them an insight into how engineering principles can be integrated with the biological sciences and discuss these concepts through their presentations and tutorial discussion material. Information Seeking (Level 3)
The students will learn to communicate, organise, question and analyse through the group presentation activity. Communication (Level 3)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Communication (Level 3)
1. Group presentations and tutorial discussion will enable the students to achieve effective oral and written communications skills
Information Seeking (Level 3)
2. To obtain information using appropriate search strategies to gain in-depth knowledge and current advances in mechanobiology through lectures, tutorial discussion materials and utilizing peer reviewed research articles.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
3. Learn to apply and integrate engineering principles to biological processes.
4. To understand the basic principles of mechanobiology and its importance in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Design (Level 3)
5. To understand the importance of materials properties and design in the field of mechanobiology.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Quiz 1 No 15.00 Week 6 3, 4, 5,
2 Quiz 2 No 15.00 Week 12 3, 4, 5,
3 Presentation/Seminar Yes 20.00 Week 10 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
4 Final Exam No 40.00 Exam Period 3, 4, 5,
5 Tutorial activity and participation No 10.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Assessment Description: Presentation/Seminar: A class presentation, on a topic of choice chosen at start of semester.

Quizzes will be held in the tutorials

Final Exam: 2 hour exam
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.

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Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Biomedical Engineering (mid-year) 2016, 2017, 2018
Biomedical / Arts (2022 and earlier) 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Biomedical / Commerce 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Biomedical /Science 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Biomedical / Science (Health) 2018
Biomedical / Law 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Biomedical / Science (Medical Science Stream) 2018
Master of Engineering (2024 and earlier) 2017, 2018
Master of Professional Engineering (Biomedical) 2017, 2018

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Communication (Level 3) Yes 6%
Information Seeking (Level 3) Yes 6%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) Yes 62.4%
Design (Level 3) Yes 25.6%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.