Academic Unit
SYLLABUS: PHYS 491
Fall, 2015
Lecture Mo, Tu, Th 9:30-10:20 RCH 109
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
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Instructor Prof. Melanie Campbell
Office Phone X36273
Office Address Phy 353
E-mail mcampbel@uwaterloo.ca
Homepage https://learn.uwaterloo.ca/
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Office Hours: MONDAYS, THURSDAYS 1:30-2:30 Phy 353
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Contact preferences
Feel free to contact Prof. Campbell by email, including PHYS 491 in the subject line. Emails will
normally be responded to within 24 hours. Visit me in office hours or if needed make an
appointment to see me.
Please make sure that your WatIAM ID is up to date with the email address that you use so that
you receive notifications from me via Learn.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Calendar course description: PHYS 491 LEC 0.50
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Special Topics in Life, Medical and Biophysics
A lecture and project course offered in areas of life, medical and biophysics, which will add to
the learning experience of the students in these plans at a fourth year level. Lecture topics may
include advanced topics in: molecular and cellular biophysics, imaging, biophotonics,
interaction of radiation with biomaterials, radiation dosimetry and other physics based
diagnostics and therapeutics. Projects may include studies of recent advances in any areas of
medical and biophysics. [Offered: F] Because of low enrolment, the class will be offered as a
reading course with workshops.
Course Prerequisite Requirements:
Prereq: Level at least 4A; one of PHYS 380, 383, 395, 396.
If you do not a prerequisite, you must inform Dr. Campbell
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Course topics We will discuss these in more detail in the first lecture. Please consider where
your interests lie: offered medical physics, imaging or biophysics. Topic areas may include:
molecular and cellular biophysics, imaging, biophotonics, interaction of radiation with
biomaterials, radiation dosimetry and other physics based diagnostics and therapeutics
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Course delivery: In class workshops and student presentations as well as self study to
prepare assignments and presentation. I will also maintain a page on Learn for references, etc
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The ‘Notification’ feature of LEARN can be helpful for both instructors and students so that they
can receive course alerts regarding new and changed Dropbox, ePortfolio, and quiz deadlines,
grade updates and releases and news updates. Instructors may want to encourage students to
use this feature. Information on subscribing to ‘Notifications’ can be found at the following
URLs for: Students: https://uwaterloo.ca/learn-help/students/news Click on your name in the
upper right and then on Notifications
o Deadline impacts of online learning environment service disruptions can be seen here:
Service Interruptions in the Online Learning Environment: Guidelines for Instructors
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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work with a solid, broad foundation to integrate and apply key concepts in Biology and Physics
appreciate biological mechanisms at the molecular, cellular and organismal level
appreciate the use of the laws of physics in solving problems in the Life Sciences and Medicine
and physical methods used in clinical procedures
understand the fundamental mathematical concepts used to solve problems in the Life Sciences
and Medicine
understand basic statistics and analytic approaches to problems in the Life Sciences and
Medicine
understand important questions at the forefront of biophysics, medical physics and biomedical
imaging research
communicate ideas effectively at the interface between the disciplines of Biology and Physics
express ideas and arguments by communicating effectively both orally and in writing in a way
that can be understood by the layman
demonstrate understanding and assess the outcome of the scientific method by using it to ask
critical and logical questions
learn to ask creative questions
RESOURCES:
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Learn materials
o See suggested topics and individual papers on the Learn site. These will be updated with
student input on their interests
TOPICS: Planned Workshops and study schedule for the term:
September 15th,2015 Discussion of course outline, preferred topics and plagiarism definitions in
class
September 17th, 2015 Hand in evidence of understanding of plagiarism, academic integrity
September 24th, 2015 Send email to Prof. Campbell with a discussion of your tentative topics for the
major course assignments and whether you need assistance with references
September 28th,2015 Prof. Campbell to assign preceptors for both assignments
September 28th,2015 Scientific Writing Workshop I, Amanda McGovern, The Writing Centre
September 29th, 2015 Scientific Writing Workshop II, Amanda McGovern, The Writing Centre
October 1st, 2015
Introductory Biostatistics Workshop, Joslin Goh, Statistics
Monday October 5th Research in the Library Workshop- Databases, Database Searching and
RefWorks I with quiz
Monday, October 5th Hand in first written assignment Quiz on Biostatistics
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Tuesday October 6th OR Thursday Oct 8th
Research in the Library Workshop- Databases,
Database Searching and RefWorks I with quiz
Tuesday October 6th OR Thursday Oct 8th
Quiz on Biostatistics
October 19th or October 26th Scientific Writing Workshop III, Amanda McGovern, The Writing
Centre followed by a quiz on content
Monday November 16th
Hand in second written assignment
November 23rd, 24th, 26th, 30th, Dec 1st and Dec 3rd
In class presentations with quizzes
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December 4
End of classes
PRIVACY EXPECTATIONS:
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Papers will be handed back to students in designated classes.
ASSESSMENT:
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Grading Policy: Final Mark is: composed of
o 1) 4 quizzes associated with workshops (10%)
o 2) Quizzes associated with in class presentations (15%)
o 3) In class contribution through questions (10%)
o 4) First paper (15%)
o 5) Second paper (25%)
o 5) Class presentation and powerpoint notes distributed (25%)
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PLAGIARISM DETECTION SOFTWARE (TURNITIN) WILL BE USED TO SCREEN ASSIGNMENTS. THIS
IS BEING DONE TO VERIFY THAT USE OF ALL MATERIAL AND SOURCES IN THIS ASSIGNMENT ARE
DOCUMENTED. Turnitin can also be used by students to encourage proper citation and
referencing. Students will be given the option of a complete an annotated bibliography if they do
not want to have their assignment screened by Turnitin. Please email me if you wish to discuss
further alternatives.
Understanding of Plagarism: See under Academic Integrity below, complete form on Learn
and hand to Dr. Campbell by Thursday, September 17th, beginning of class
Quizzes: There will be mandatory quizzes associated with the Workshops and student
presentations. This is to ensure that you attend and pay attention.
Missed Assignments and quizzes: A student who misses a final exam, assignment, etc. and who
provides a Verification of Illness (VIF) or other similar form (please see the information that will
be needed) with a valid reason may be accommodated, at Prof. Campbell’s discretion,
dependent on the severity of the situation and the student's standing in the course. PROVIDE
THE VIF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. For legitimate reasons with adequate documentation, an
alternative exam may be written during the Faculty of Science make up exam dates. BUT, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF A STUDENT IS FAILING THE COURSE PRIOR TO MISSING THE FINAL EXAM OR
PRESENTS WEAK DOCUMENTATION, THE STUDENT WILL BE ADVISED TO RETAKE THE EXAM THE
NEXT TIME THAT THE COURSE IS OFFERED TO ALLOW NEEDED REMEDIAL WORK.
o If the midterm or an assignment is missed for a valid reason, the grading system will
normally be modified, placing more weight on the final exam.
o Please feel free to discuss such situations or any other extraordinary circumstances with
me, preferably in advance of the assignment due date or quiz, but definitely within 48
hours; by email if necessary.
Reminder: Only VIFs, issued from Waterloo’s Health Services (https://uwaterloo.ca/healthservices/), are acceptable documentation when the service is available
(https://uwaterloo.ca/health-services/student-medical-clinic/services). Students who are sick on
a weekend, during off-hours, while out of town or receiving ongoing care from a family
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physician or specialist may have to provide valid and suitably informative VIFs from other health
service providers. Information should include
1) the date of the physician assessment
2) the dates of illness
3) the level of incapacitation, and
4) whether the diagnosis was made based on the physician’s assessment or strictly on
the student’s description.
o Students should bring their VIFs to the Science (or their faculty) Undergraduate Office for
verification and filing and then to Dr. Campbell.
DROP AND ADD DATES
PLEASE check appropriate UWaterloo websites (Important Dates on Learn for example) for details
concerning various dates (e.g., final examination, drop deadlines)
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
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Office of Academic Integrity provides relevant information for students, faculty and staff,
including a fact sheet and an academic integrity tutorial. The Faculty of Arts has an excellent
website on “Avoiding Academic Offences" or see Academic Integrity for Students
Please complete the form on Learn to show that you have read and understood the workshop,
fact sheet on Academic integrity, the section on Plagarism on the Arts website and have
completed successfully the Check your understanding section
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Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the
University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness,
respect and responsibility.
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The following are not acceptable:
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Using LEARN email lists to sell or distribute unauthorized academic material.
Plagarism in any of your assignments
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Discipline: Students are expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid
committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for their actions. Completion of
the Orientation to Academic Integrity Tutorial is encouraged and familiarity with Policy
#71, (Student Discipline) is expected. Students who are unsure whether an action
constitutes an offense, or who need help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g.,
plagiarism, cheating) or about ‘rules’ for group work/collaboration should seek guidance
from the course instructor, academic advisor, or the Associate Dean of Science for
Undergraduate Studies. For information on typical Policy 71penalties, students should
check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties.
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Grievance: Students, who believe that a decision affecting some aspect of their
university life has been unfair or unreasonable, may have grounds for initiating a
grievance. Students should read Policy #70, Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4.
When in doubt, students must contact the department’s/school’s administrative
assistant who will provide further assistance.
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Appeals: A decision or penalty imposed under Policy 33 (Ethical Behavior), grievances
under Policy #70 (Student Petitions and Grievances) or Policy #71 (Student Discipline)
may be appealed, if there is a ground. Petitions may not be appealed. Students who
believe they have a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy #72 (Student Appeals).
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COURSE RULES/CONSIDERATIONS:
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Students with Disabilities:
o AccessAbility Services, located in Needles Hall extension in room 1401, collaborates with
all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with
disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If students
require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of their disability, they should
register with AccessAbility Services at the beginning of each academic term.
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Changes to Course Outlines
o Revised course outlines will be posted/provided, if course details change (e.g., topics
covered, emphasis on certain topics, etc.)
o Course elements that will not change are the:
 Broad Grading scheme
Copyright: All materials posted by Prof. Campbell on Learn are copyrighted and are not to be
reproduced without permission.
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