Undergraduate Research in Cellular Dynamics II: Communicating Scientific Findings

Catalog description

BMB 491 is designed to be a continuation of BMB 490 . Through BMB 490 /491, students will complete a fast-tracked start-to-finish research project and in doing so will learn to perform, explain, apply, and interpret good science. In BMB 491 , students focus on effectively communicating scientific findings and preparing their data for publication. Students will use a variety of media to communicate science across different audiences. They will prepare written, oral, and visual presentations while learning to adapt content and style for different contexts. Students will complete major projects in stages, guided by weekly exercises and lectures on content, structure, and formatting for different types of scientific writing. Students will also learn how to assemble figures and visual aids to communicate their approaches and findings. Readings and figures from the scientific literature will provide opportunities to evaluate methods of visual and written communication, while continuing to promote a deeper understanding of cell structure and function. Building expertise across BMB490/491 in an area of cell and molecular biology allows students to critically evaluate the content and style of published articles, and to build conclusions about their own research results. Students will also engage in extensive peer review and will be expected to incorporate feedback into improving their writing and presentation skills. Throughout this course, students will gain an appreciation for the importance of effective communication in science, and will build the skills necessary to logically, accurately, ethically, and persuasively communicate. These skills will be extremely valuable in research-related careers, but also apply to any position where students act as consumers, producers, advocates, or interpreters of science.