Poster Australian Marine Sciences Association 2022

The value of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) in marine science (#535)

Dana D Burfeind 1 2 , Christine A Devine 1 , Emma-Lee Steindl 1 , Ian R Tibbetts 2
  1. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia

Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) are hands-on original research projects conducted as a component of an undergraduate unit. The research experiences in CUREs help to develop transferable skills (eg. problem solving and team work) which are valuable regardless of the future study direction. In this study, we developed a CURE for marine science students at The University of Queensland (UQ). The students were third to fifth year undergraduate students from The University of California undertaking a semester at UQ. Students conducted a 10d research field trip at Moreton Bay Research Station. Due to the length and residential nature of this program, the intensity and scope of the research projects was greater than in a typical CURE experience. We evaluated the learning outcomes from this program from 2013 to 2019. Students reported learning that ‘research is hard’ as well as an in depth understanding of how to conduct a research project and problem solve research ‘failures’. Students from this program have produced high quality original research that has been presented at conferences and resulted in two peer reviewed papers. This program has prepared students for postgraduate study as well as helped with the decision making process on future career directions.