Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not particularly new. The dictionary I have close at hand claims: consciousness |ˈkɒnʃəsnɪs| noun 1 [ mass noun ] the state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings: she failed to regain consciousness and died two days later. 2 a person's awareness or perception of something: her acute consciousness of Luke's presence.
OP's definition doesn't include "awareness" at all, which I think is an essential part of both of those definitions. Although now I've said too much.
I've been meaning to back to this, apologies for the delay.
If a bacteria senses a change, say in salinity, and moves away, can we say the bacteria is / was aware of the change.
What does awareness mean. It sounds at least as slippery as conscious.