Introduction to Research

Catalog description

Introduces essential elements of laboratory safety, laboratory techniques, research ethics, and scientific communication skills. Especially for undergraduate research students. SC 100 Introduction to Research (1) The main objective of the course is to prepare students for a fulfilling and successful learning experience in the research laboratory. Students who engage in undergraduate research often continue to project for four to six semesters. This course provides students with the necessary introductory information to the undergraduate research experience so that the entire experience is more satisfying and productive for the students. A corollary goal is to introduce research students to other, like-minded students. Several in-class activities will involve group work combined with an explicit discussion of productive group dynamics. The course will cover four major issues associated with a sustained research project: safety, techniques, ethics, and communication. The course will make students more cognizant of the importance of each of these areas and will provide justification for the importance of each activity in the research enterprise. Students will be evaluated via a series of assignments in which the students reflect on the components of each area and the importance of that area to the continuation of scientific knowledge. Students will be quizzed on safe laboratory practices, usually with a laboratory practical on safety. Students will be assessed on the satisfactory performance common laboratory techniques such as using a pipette, using an analytical balance, using a power source, and proper handling of large equipment like super speed centrifuges. Ethics will be assessed via assignments that require students to contemplate a variety of ethical issues. As part of ethical conduct students will be expected to learn the proper composition of a laboratory notebook. The notebook will provide a segue between ethics and communication skills. Students will examine several recent scientific research articles and discuss the way in which the article is written. They will be assessed on their ability to summarize and critique the article in writing. A book on scientific writing could be assigned for this portion of the course because a student would find use of such a resource as they progress on an independent research project. The laboratory technicians or laboratory managers might assist the faculty member who is teaching the course.