"Liberal learning flourishes in an atmosphere of sustained inquiry.  To learn deeply requires that we unleash ourselves to the protocols and discipline of systematic investigation.  A substantial research project heightens and hones all of the faculties through which we apprehend the world.  The open-ended questing fostered by research addresses some of our deepest intellectual needs; our need to explore, assess, understand, and explain."
    Dr. David Shi, President Emeritus of Furman University, quoted in the Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, September, 2001.

Instructor:

Wade Powell
FSH 202; PBX 5396
email: powellw@kenyon.edu
Office Hours: M 11-noon and 1:30 -3; W 11-noon; R noon-2; F 11-noon.

The hallmark of this course is the original research students conduct in collaboration with members of the Biology Department faculty.  Students learn how to do science in two ways:  (1) Through conducting experiments themselves, and (2) Through exposure to and critical analysis of the research of other scientists.  The course seeks to address both aspects of scientific training through the following goals:

• To reward students for their research activities and accomplishments with academic credit.
• To form the nucleus of a research community through class meetings where students discuss progress, problems, or journal articles.
• To promote interactions between student researchers from different lab groups, broadening the background of students in diverse experimental fields and strengthening the overall quality of research in the department through the resulting scrutiny of our work.
• To expose students to the work of professional biologists through a series of high quality Biology Department seminars.

Initiating your research project:

To embark on a research project for the course, you should discuss areas of potential interest with Biology Department faculty members. This is ordinarily done during the semester before one takes the course.  Students are responsible for initiating their projects and maintaining research progress during the semester. Of course, your faculty mentor will be available to help plan your project and assess your progress, but the initiative must be yours. To enroll in the class, you must submit a completed MENTOR APPROVAL FORM to the course instructor to receive permission.

Student responsibilities:

Do Research Constantly ("sustained inquiry").  This is a research class, and it differs in many ways from a traditional class.  Ongoing participation in active research is the primary requirement.

Doing Research constantly includes (but is not necessarily limited to):

• A minimum of ~8 hours per week devoted to research efforts.
• Up-to-date maintenance of a laboratory notebook that meets the standards of your faculty mentor.  This notebook becomes the property of the mentor when you leave the lab.
• Participation in regular lab group meetings or meetings with your faculty mentor.
• Regular reading of the primary literature related to your research topic.
• On-line submission of a weekly progress report detailing your research-related activities.  To access the form, click here.  The report form automatically forwards to the course instructor and the individual's research mentor.  Reports should be filed each week by 4:00 PM on the Sunday following each week of work. The first report is due on Sunday, September 16 to reflect work during the first two weeks of the semester.

Attend Biology Seminars.  Students must attend 4 biology department research seminars.  Be sure to sign the attendance sheet at each seminar. If you have an excused absence that conflicts with your ability to attend the requisite number of seminars, please see the instructor.

Attend class meetings.  The schedule of class meetings will be determined during the initial meeting of the semester.  All students should attend and participate actively in all class meetings.  Meetings will typically involve brief presentations of recent results by selected students.

Submit a final written report.  The final report should be a detailed description of your research project results or accomplishments for the semester or for the academic year. This paper should be written in the standard format of a scientific manuscript.  It is strongly recommended that you have your faculty mentor read a draft of the final paper before submission. Additional guidelines.
 

Evaluation and Grades:

Grades will be determined collaboratively by the course instructor and research mentor in consultation with the Biology Department faculty.  The best way to succeed in the course is to actively pursue your project, week in and week out.  While data and productivity are the ultimate measures of success in research, success in this course depends more upon the process than the outcome.  Students who work diligently but unsuccessfully to troubleshoot a difficult experiment will be judged more favorably that those who get good data despite a haphazard or lackadaisical approach.

40%    Research performance and progress, as indicated by weekly electronic reports and the judgment of the mentor.
20%    Final report.
20%    Attendance and active vocal participation in class meetings.
20%    Attendance at department seminars.  Asking questions of the speaker is noted very favorably.

Thursday September 6, :  Organization meeting of the course to be held at 11:10 (COMMON HOUR) in FSH 205.  Additional course meetings will be scheduled at this time.

Sunday, September 16:  First on-line progress report is due at 4:00 PM.  Weekly progress reports are due each subsequent Sunday throughout the semester.

Thursday, Oct. 25, 11:10 AM - 12:30 PM. Student Research Presentations: Claire, Patrick, Hildy, Kiersten, Kate C.

Thursday, Nov. 15, 11:10 AM - 12:30 PM. Student Research Presentations: Rachel, Kate L., Emily, Eric, Molly

Thursday, Dec. 6 11:10 AM - 12:30 PM. Student Research Presentations: Jenny, Ellen, Ian, Marissa, Sam.

Tuesday, December 18.  Research reports are due at 12:00 AM (i.e. midnight Monday) on TURNITIN.com. Course enrollment code is 5844391.

Academic honesty:

This class will follow the official Kenyon College policy on academic honesty found in the Course of Study on line.

Need help?:

Students with disabilities who will be taking this course and may need disability related academic accommodations are encouraged to Erin Salva of the Office of Disability Services in the Olin Library. Please contact her at 5453 or e-mail salvae@kenyon.edu.

Weekly progress form

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