BIOL1003Professional Skills for Biological Sciences 1

Course handbook

Description

Students are introduced to the principles of scientific investigation and initiate the development of analytical and practical skills necessary for an active career in the diverse fields of modern biology. This equips the student for further studies in both lab-based biotechnology and field based environmental biology subjects. Students will be taught practical laboratory and field skills together with experimental design, data evaluation and technical report writing within the context of a number of exciting hands on biological investigations.

Availability

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of biological terminology and concepts;

2. Implement the scientific method and experimental design;

3. Use basic experimental apparatus to collect, process and interpret biological information;

4. Write reports and present data in the appropriate scientific format;

5. Recognise hazards and minimise risks to conduct safe biological investigations;

6. Effectively work in a team while maintaining ethical conduct in learning and research.

Content

Through undertaking scientific experiments in; biological chemistry, microbiology, fungi, plant & animal systems and ecology, students will be exposed to the theory and practice of:

The scientific method & philosophy of science

Experimental design, hypothesis testing & problem solving

Health & safety for laboratory work

Basic laboratory skills in biology, including microscopy, aseptic technique and informatics

Use of selected analytical measurement instruments, such as spectrometry

Use of Lab books to organise and document experimental details and results

Data analysis, interpretation and presentation

Report Writing a) Effective use of Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion format b) Referencing c) Computer publishing skills

Working in teams

Ethics, Academic and personal/professional integrity.

Requisite

This course has similarities to BIOL1070 and BIOL1050. If you have successfully completed either of these courses you cannot enrol in this course.

Assumed knowledge

HSC Mathematics and Chemistry advisable.

Assessment items

In Term Test: Examination: Class

Tutorial / Laboratory Exercises: Laboratory Exercises

Report: Reports - Laboratory reports

Compulsory Requirements

In order to pass this course, each student must complete ALL of the following compulsory requirements:

General Course Requirements:

• Laboratory: Induction Requirement - Students must attend and pass the induction requirements before attending these sessions. - In order to participate in this course, students must complete a compulsory safety induction.

Contact hours

Callaghan