Science and Engineering skills development programs
To excel in today’s competitive employment market, university graduates and researchers need to have strong communication skills. Being able to produce reports, papers, and presentations that are clear, logical, and coherent will serve you long after you finish your Curtin education.
STEM AWE (Academic Writing Essentials)
The STEM AWE program can assist you in the development of your academic language and literacy, as well as research writing skills. It is run by members of the Science and Engineering Academic Development (SEAD) Team.
The process begins with a first assessment (a written diagnostic task) at the commencement of your course, followed by the STEM AWE. This runs alongside embedded unit instruction. If you would like to know more about the communication skills initiatives offered in Science and Engineering, or would like to enrol in the program, contact stem.awe@curtin.edu.au.
The 1st assessment is a simple tool that allows us to gauge your current abilities and direct you toward STEM AWE if required. It is conducted at the start of your enrolment to highlight areas that need improvement before they can impact your academic studies. The task is specific to the unit it is embedded in.
If you are exempt from such units, you may be required to complete a stand-alone STEM Academic Writing Task. You do not need to study for or make any preparations before undertaking the 1st assessment or the STEM Academic Writing Task; it is meant to capture a short sample of your current ability to organise ideas and write.
Once you have completed the assessment, we can determine if you would benefit from a program to improve your academic language capabilities.
The program consists of 8 self-paced online modules:
Module 1: STEM Writing Style
Module 2: Constructing Scientific Arguments
Module 3: Integrating Evidence and Referencing in STEM
Module 4: Choosing Relevant Sources
Module 5: Paraphrasing Techniques
Module 6: Using Generative AI for STEM Academic Writing at Curtin
Module 7: Purpose and Persuasion
Module 8: Beyond Description
The content of the program thus focuses on scientific argument, using sources, Gen-AI, and critical thinking.
The SEAD team is here to provide the Curtin community with guided programs and support to improve their writing and literacy skills within the science and engineering disciplines. These include:
Discipline-specific workshops
Online resources for self-learning through Blackboard
Embedded unit instruction, so that language and literacy development is offered within units
For HDR students at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, HDR Writing Hub is the support initiative focused on developing research writing skills.
All newly enrolled HDR students are given access to the HDR Writing Hub Blackboard (in Organisations), where they can access information about the initiative. The Blackboard site is also where HDR students complete the Research Problem Statement, which fulfils the PELA (Post-Entry Language Assessment) requirement for Milestone 1.
There are 2 strands of activities within the HDR Writing Hub: workshops, and an online forum. The workshops are offered once a month, and they are designed to provide the participants with specific and detailed feedback on their current research writing.
The Faculty also has dedicated Faculty Librarians who specialise in science and engineering. They offer support in search strategy, research support, EndNote workshops, individual consultations, and more.
You can view all workshops and register through the Library website.
STEM Study Buddies are volunteer students who can help you with your first-year science and engineering units. This program is a peer support program set up to provide you with help on some of your first-year units. All Study Buddy facilitators have excelled in the unit previously.
You can find the STEM Study Buddies timetable and session locations on the Science Students Blackboard or the Engineering Foundation Year (EFY) Blackboard Organisation. The Study Room is located in Building 204 Level 2 in the foyer (see map).
STEM Study Buddies will help you reach your full potential by:
Providing additional support in a small group
Developing your problem-solving skills
Clarifying key concepts or applications
Extending your feedback on problems or questions
Establishing good study habits and support networks
This program is not a replacement for your lectures, workshops, or tutorials. Come to your study sessions prepared with questions and / or attempted problems for help in an open, accessible environment.
Studiosity is an online writing and study skills service that is offered for first year units.
Studiosity can provide you with 24/7 access to free online personalised feedback for short writing submissions, or chat live to real advisors who are experts in their fields and have your questions answered quickly.
You can access Studiosity through your Blackboard unit.
UniPASS is a free program of study sessions designed to help you maximise your grades for demanding units, strengthen your study skills and make connections with like-minded students. UniPASS is available for selected units on campus.
Peer Academic Mentors (PAMs) are current Curtin students from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. They are acing their studies, and can provide you with tips and advice to excel in yours too.
The library has many resources to support your studies while you are here at Curtin. There are a range of workshops, guides and activities that support your writing, referencing, researching, and communication skills.
