ABIO 490 SENIOR SEMINAR
Syllabus
Spring 2008
Instructor:
Office:
Telephone:
Dr. William H. Jackson
SBDG 201A
641-3601
Office Hours:
Email:
By appointment
Billj@usca.edu
Meeting
times:
Text:
Th, 6:00-7:15PM in SBDG 107
F, 1:00-2:15 PM in SBDG 327
None, outside readings required
Credit:
One Semester Hour
Course Description: Discussion and presentation of current topics in biology and geology by students, faculty, and
visiting scientists. Emphasis is placed on effective oral communication and critical examination of scientific
information and ideas. Students will discuss current papers in the fields of biology and geology as a prelude to
weekly seminars given by faculty, visiting scientists, and USCA biology majors.
Course Objectives: Students will be introduced to current research in the fields of biology and geology through
research seminars in the context of the Department of Biology and Geology Seminar Series. BS students will be
expected to present their own current research projects and BA students will be expected to present the state of
current research on a topic assigned by the instructor. BA and BS students will be expected to prepare and submit
proposal forms for their research; BS proposals will include a request for departmental funding.
Students will be expected to
1.
2.
3.
4.
complete the Department of Biology and Geology research grant;
develop strategies for proper oral presentation of scientific data;
critically analyze student presentations; and
attend and participate in the Department of Biology and Geology seminar series
BS students will prepare and give three 5-7 minute PowerPoint presentations throughout the semester. The initial
presentation will cover the student’s research topic and goal. The final presentation is expected to be more complete
and contain data and analysis. The primary goal is to help the student prepare and become comfortable with their
research presentation. As a result, each presentation will be evaluated critically by the audience (faculty and peers).
The final outcome will be a formal presentation of the ABIO499 project at the end of the semester.
BA students will prepare two 5-7 minute PowerPoint presentations during the semester that covers the student’s
research goals and topic. BA students will then prepare a formal poster presentation for the faculty. This will
coincide with BS oral presentations at the end of the semester.
Attendance Policy: Students should refer to the USCA Student Handbook regarding the number of absences
permitted. In this regard, the instructor may impose a penalty for absences in excess of 25% of regularly scheduled
class meetings by assigning an “F” for the course. Absences, neither excused nor unexcused, absolve the student
from meeting class assignments. Because the seminar series is a vital part of the course, students are expected to
attend all scheduled Friday seminars. Missing one seminar will result in the loss of a letter grade. Missing two will
result in the loss of two letter grades. Missing three will result in loss of three letter grades. Missing more than three
seminars will result in an “F” for the course.
Disability Statement: If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability, which might affect your
performance in class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E (803) 641-3609, as soon as
possible. The Disability Services Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical
documentation.
Methods of Presentation and Evaluation: Performance in this course will be evaluated as outlined below.
5%
MFAT Performance
20%
Research proposal preparation
10%
Peer review participation
12%
First in-class presentation
12%
Second in-class presentation
41%
Attendance (Friday seminars) – Each absence will result in a 11% deduction in final grade
Grading scale: A(90-100%), B(80-89%), C(70-79%), D(60-69%), F(0-59%)
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ABIO 101 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE I
Date
Jan 17, 18
Jan 24, 25
Jan 31, Feb 1
Feb 7, 8
Feb 14, 15
Feb 21, 22
Feb 28, 29
Mar 6, 7
Mar 13, 14
Mar 20, 21
Mar 27, 28
Apr 3, 4
Apr 10, 11
Apr 17, 18
Apr 24,25
Date
Feb 8
Feb 15
Feb 22
Feb 29
Mar 7
Mar 14
Mar 21
Mar 28
Apr 4
Apr 11
Apr 18
Apr 25
Spring 2008
CLASS SCHEDULE
Thursday Class Topic
Proposal work, Literature search,
Proposal work, Proposal due to peer reviewer
Final proposal due
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
No class – Spring Break
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations; Posters due (BA only)
Presentations
Practice with research advisors
Practice with research advisors
Friday Class Topic
Proposal work; MFAT discussion
Peer review due
MFAT; Proposals submitted for review
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
No Seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
ABIO 499 Independent Research Talks
ABIO 499 Independent Research Talks
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Speaker
Title
Eran Kilpatrick, PhD. Assistant Professor
TBA
Dept. of Biology; USC Salkahatchie
Bob Friedman, PhD.
Computational approaches for studying genome
Dept. of Biological Sciences; USC Columbia
evolution
Christopher J. Hintz, Ph.D.
TBA
Deep-Sea Benthic Foraminiferal Culture Facility
Environmental Health Sciences Department Arnold
School of Public Health USC Columbia
Mark Jenson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
College of Public Health and Dept. of Genetics
Franklin College of Arts & Sciences; UGA
Spring Break
Brenda Lilly, Ph.D.
Vascular Biology Center; MCG
Mark Farmer, PhD.
Dept. of Cellular Biology; UGA
Richard W. Blob, PhD
Dept. of Biological Sciences; Clemson University
Michael J. Wargovich, Ph.D.
Director, Cancer Chemoprevention Program
Hollings Cancer Center; MUSC
USCA Biology majors
USCA Biology majors
Catching the greased pig: HIV genetic diversity
and vaccine antigen design
No Seminar
TBA
Rerooting the Tree of Life
TBA
Prevention of Colon Cancer With Botanical
Medicines
ABIO 499 Independent Research Talks
ABIO 499 Independent Research Talks
2