Phone: 724-946-7209 724-946-7208e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]: Monday, 11:30-12:30 Tuesday/Thursday, 2:00-3:30Course objectivesTo demonstrate the excitement and possibilities inherent in the study of the natural world and to show how curiosity should be focused in a methodical manner in order to make novel contributions to the field of biology;To prepare students to participate and initiate individual research during their senior year. This includes:Selecting a faculty research advisor and initiating discussion with them in order to identify a research project within that faculty member’s field of expertise;Using appropriate literature and other resources to identify an interesting question that contributes to a greater, or new, understanding within the field, and identifying the significance of the topic;Formulating hypotheses, selecting appropriate experimental methodology, and identifying a suitable model system with which to study their question;Completing a pilot project to assess the feasibility of the research;Writing a comprehensive research proposal in an appropriate scientific style; andPresenting a proposal to faculty and peers for constructive criticism.To provide an opportunity for students to enhance their scientific literacy, including, but not limited to locating, reading, reviewing, evaluating, and interpreting literature related to current concepts, theories, and ideas in their selected field o...To continue to develop qualitative and quantitative reasoning skills required for scientific inquiry, data analysis, and interpretation;To strengthen communication and problem-solving skills.Course ContentAbove 93%: ABiology Capstone (BIO 601) Spring, 2010 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is the first in a two-course sequence emphasizing biological discovery and the synthesis of knowledge and skill from previous courses. The capstone experience focuses on the application of the scientific method through the design, execution, analysis, and presentation of an in-depth scientific study. This course will center on the production of a formal research proposal for an original, in-depth scientific study to be completed during the second semester in collaboration with a faculty research advisor. INSTRUCTORS Dr. Ann Throckmorton Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett Office: 311 Hoyt Science Center 313 Hoyt Science Center Phone: 724-946-7209 724-946-7208 e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Office hours: Monday, 11:30-12:30 Tuesday/Thursday, 2:00-3:30 Wednesday 12:50-1:50 Wednesday, 10-11:30 Friday, 10:30-11:30 or by appointment or by appointment LECTURE 8:10 – 9:10 Tuesday, Thursday 150 Hoyt Science Center Attendance in lecture is expected. Because a large part of your grade in the course will be based on participation, your success is strongly dependent on your presence in class. Therefore, you should make an effort to be present at all class sessions. Absence may be excused for personal emergencies or health-related problems. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to contact us and to obtain information and assignments that were given during your absence. Any missed group work must be made up on an individual basis and will be graded on an individual basis.COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. To demonstrate the excitement and possibilities inherent in the study of the natural world and to show how curiosity should be focused in a methodical manner in order to make novel contributions to the field of biology; 2. To prepare students to participate and initiate individual research during their senior year. This includes: a) Selecting a faculty research advisor and initiating discussion with them in order to identify a research project within that faculty member’s field of expertise; b) Using appropriate literature and other resources to identify an interesting question that contributes to a greater, or new, understanding within the field, and identifying the significance of the topic; c) Formulating hypotheses, selecting appropriate experimental methodology, and identifying a suitable model system with which to study their question; d) Completing a pilot project to assess the feasibility of the research; e) Writing a comprehensive research proposal in an appropriate scientific style; and f) Presenting a proposal to faculty and peers for constructive criticism. 3. To provide an opportunity for students to enhance their scientific literacy, including, but not limited to locating, reading, reviewing, evaluating, and interpreting literature related to current concepts, theories, and ideas in their selected field of biology; 4. To continue to develop qualitative and quantitative reasoning skills required for scientific inquiry, data analysis, and interpretation; 5. To strengthen communication and problem-solving skills. COURSE CONTENT Participation: You will be expected to participate in all class discussions, particularly student presentations. Participation includes, but is not limited to asking questions and offering insights and suggestions to your peers. Attendance alone is not enough to gain participation points. Paper presentation: Students will work in pairs, with each student presenting information from one secondary and one primary research article pertaining to their capstone topic to the rest of the class, in a clear, informative, and critical style, focusing on one or two key figures. Students should also identify questions and hypotheses proposed in the paper and discuss the importance of the results. Presentations will be 20 minutes long (the contributions of each student should be fairly equal). Prior to the presentation, the students will provide the instructors with their Powerpoint and a one page outline of what they presented and a list of sources used. Team paper/presentation review: Students who are not presenting a paper will be asked to work in teams of two to review the papers being presented by other students. For each presentation, each team will write down a list of specific questions that pertain to the presentation but were left unanswered.Question summary: Each student will identify two questions that they wish to investigate during the