BI489-01 Biology Seminar

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Chaco Koa WaYa Shunkmanitu Tanka

Tel Office 651 – 2366
Home 651-4182
Office Hours
Tuesday & Thursday 10:00 a.m. -noon
Wednesday 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

From the official approved BI489 course syllabus…..

Purpose or Objectives of the Course:

A. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the processes of science, conjecture and refutation, and experimental design.

B. Students will demonstrate skills in literature search and analysis, and information management.

C. Students will develop skills in the analysis of biologically related issues of social import. Topics will vary

D. Students will apply the fundamental principles of biology to real world problems.

E. Students will explore and construct views on the responsibility of scientists to the larger community.

F. Students will explore and construct views on the role of biologists in the ethical conduct of science.

IV. Expectations of Students:

A. To participate actively in all problem sessions, group experiences, assignments, and presentations.

B. To examine case studies on contemporary and ethical issues in science and participate in their resolution.

C. To prepare and orally present information on one component of the contemporary issue.

D. To participate in the preparation of a group paper, to be shared with the class, that identifies key elements of the component, ethical issues, examines elements of public perception, and provides a critical summary of the relevant research on an assigned component of the issue.

E. To prepare a short paper addressing the individual's position on the assigned component.

F. To prepare a position brief on the whole issue that incorporates data provided by all groups and that contains the following elements: research findings, critical analysis, integration of basic biological principles and information, formulation of a dependable (defendable?) position, and discussion of ethical issues and the role of scientists in society.

G. To effectively participate in all assessment activities.

This course was developed as the ‘capstone experience’ in the new curriculum that features BI151-154. Since its first offering, however, it has been combined with CL004, so the BI489 objectives have been modified to incorporate CL004 objectives.

CL004 Objectives

Polishing up your 'GreatHires' file (GreatHires.org has been modified and is now missouricareersource.com, but your username and passwords have supposedly been retained so you can still access your files).
            Find a Job Description that represents a job you want – or might want if you were available now.
            Write (polish up- we hope) your resume.
            Write a job application cover letter.
            As a bonus activity - undertake a mock job interview.
            For pre-professional students (i.e. pre-med/pre-dent etc) or those interested in Graduate School, we will develop an alternative set of requirements more appropriate to those career goals.

In A Nutshell: Main Purposes

BI489

1) Promote in students the ability to explore and understand issues/cases with a biological component and then develop policy proposals that flow from that understanding and an appreciation for relevant ethical issues.

2) Promote in students and ability to think scientifically and conduct and understand literature relevant to the critical cases discussed.

CL004

1) Make further progress towards starting a successful career featuring your biological area of interest.

The activities of the course, then, will be geared towards promoting these objectives. This is my intent….but as always, I am open to student input (not whining but constructive suggestions) on how well we are progressing towards these goals and what we might do better to achieve them.

Tentative Schedule with Links where Available

1	August 24^th	Course Introduction. Process of Science Discussion and Exercise. Types of Literature, Citation & Documentation. Assignments: 1) Find two research papers in your area –one clearly displaying conjecture and refutation, the other not: - in the conjecture-refutation example identify objectives and how the steps in the process are demonstrated, - in the non conjecture/refutation example identify objectives and how these were addressed, and what was found out relating to them. 1) From ‘Great Hires’ or some other source, find a job advertisement that you think might interest you. Bring a copy of it. Due Sept 15^th; start developing an updated Resume and Cover letter
2	August 29^th	Present your science examples briefly (5 minutes max) to the class and submit typed analyses. Discussion of resumes and cover letters.
3	September 7^th	LABOR DAY – No Class
4	September 14^th	First Draft of Resume update and cover letter due
5	September 21^st	Alan Journet’s presentation “Climate Change: Some Biological Consequences.”
6	September 28^th	Identification of critical biological issues pertaining to climate change and selection of topics. PROJECT LIST
7	October 5^th	Screening of “An Inconvenient Truth” with updates.
Optional	October 7th	"Climate Change: The Current Consensus" Kent Library Athenaeum Presentation noon, Sadie's Place (refreshments available).
8	October 12^th	Tentative: Kent Library Session on literature searching. 2:50 -4:20 p.m. Kent Library Little Theater Computer Lab
	FALL BREAK
9	October 19^th	Short Presentation of the critical issues pertaining to climate change topics; typed submission and short ppt. class presentation.
10	October 26^th	Work on Projects
11	November 2^nd	Work on Projects
12	November 9^th	Work on Projects
13	November 16^th	Work on Projects
14	November 23^rd	Weather: Chelsea, Cathleen, Blake,
15	November 30^th	Ocean: Chris, Carrie, Josh
16	December 7^th	Wildlife: Beth, Mike, Jake, Lisa
17	December 14^th	Miscellaneous: Caitlen, Darla, Bruce, Heather Final Draft of Resume Due Final Draft of Cover Letter Due

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