50% of the course involves 26 hours of scheduled laboratory-based scientific computing, which will be devoted to a major project. You should actually plan to devote a total of about 50 hours -- including the scheduled 26 hours -- to this aspect of the course.
The project will involve the application of the techniques you learn in the course (and elsewhere) to the investigation of a scientific problem. Proposal for projects will be available early in the course, and you are free to devise a project in any way you wish. For example, you can consult your other lecturers, read books, or think up something appropriate based on our experience.
The project work is to be the subject of a report, which will be the basis for the assessment of your project. The report may be provided on paper, or in a screen-based form, or both. Screen-based reports will be published (with your permission) on the Vislab website (see http://www.vislab.usyd.edu.au/courses/sc3/1998/projects.html for some examples).
The project report should be presented as a well-written, properly structured document, with an introduction, body and conclusion. It should state clearly the nature of the problem you have investigated, and the outcome of your investigations. Mathematical and computer methods should be described. Program listings should not be included, unless there is a particularly important point to be made. The report should include mathematical language and graphical displays where appropriate.
The 40 points available for the report will be assigned for accuracy and clarity in the following areas: (a) statement of scientific goals and conclusions (20 points), (b) conversion of the scientific problem to a computing problem (10 points) and (c) computing details (10 points).
You are required to submit a 1 page precis (paper or email) of your proposed project by Noon on the 4th Friday of the semester. Failure to do so will lead to the deduction of 5 points from your grade.
You may work with colleagues on your selected project, but your report must be your own work. If you work collaboratively, it is particularly important to provide detailed acknowledgement of your sources (including your colleagues) in the report. The University's policies on Groupwork and Plagiarism will help you decide how to do this.