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BIOL20060

Academic Year 2024/2025

Scientific Communication (BIOL20060)

Subject:
Biology
College:
Science
School:
Biology & Environment Science
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Nicholas Brereton
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The success of life on earth can largely be attributed to the high degree of organisation that can be seen in biological systems. Such systems occur at different levels, including molecular networks operating at the cellular level, networks and groups of cells coordinated at the organism level, and ultimately networks of organisms interacting with the environment. This module will explore some of these systems in greater detail by building on the basic concepts of biology gained in Stage 1. Working in small group tutorials led by a member of academic staff, students will choose a topic of interest to explore and research. The tutorials will be supported by a series of workshops to develop skills in data interpretation and analysis, scientific writing, writing a scientific summary (abstract), producing a graphical abstract, referencing and creating a bibliography. The module will place particular emphasis on the development of communication skills, in particular the skills involved in collating, reading, interpreting and summarising a topic to produce a concise scientific literature review on a topic.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On satisfactory completion of this module, students should have improved their ability to:
1. Prepare and communicate appropriate scientific concepts and findings in oral and written forms.
2. Explore and evaluate experimental data and discuss their importance and reliability.
3. Appreciate the complexity of biological systems.

Indicative Module Content:

The module consists of 7 workshops interspersed with 5 small group tutorials. Workshops are focused around:
1. Introduction to the module
2. Data interpretation
3. Graphical abstracts
4. Writing a scientific summary
5. Using a bibliography tool - endnote
6. Scientific writing - key tips
7. Career planning and internships

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

53
Small Group

12
Tutorial

10
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Workshops consist of a mixture of task based learning, peer and group work, group discussions.
Tutorials consist of small group discussions and peer review of work.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Biological Systems (BIOL20030)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: Engagement and participation within all tutorials is required. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Individual Project: A complete first draft of a scientific poster. Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
30
 No
Individual Project: Short oral presentation of your scientific poster at the end of the course. Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Ongoing individual feedback will be given to students in tutorials written feedback will be provided on their draft posters.

Name Role
Dr Nicholas Brereton Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Paul Brooks Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Edel Caraway Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Jens Carlsson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tancredi Caruso Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Grace Cott Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Fiona Doohan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Evelyn Doyle Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Elke Eichelmann Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr John Finarelli Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Michael Hackett Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Graham Hughes Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Darrin Hulsey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Rory Johnson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Julia Jones Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Joanna Kacprzyk Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Adam Kane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Olga Lastovetsky Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ruth Leeney Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Guerrino Macori Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Simone Marcone Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Paul McCabe Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Rachel McEvoy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Rainer Melzer Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Paul Murphy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Margaritha Mysior Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Carla Naltchayan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Sonia Negrao Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Carl Ng Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Marcin Penk Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Susanne Schilling Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Karina Septore Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Jeremy Simpson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Gavin Stewart Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Paola Valentini Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Craig Wilding Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Katharina Wollenberg Valero Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Jonathan Yearsley Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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