Professional Skills - Science Connect

1.5 EC

Semester 1 & 2, period 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

5224PSSC2Y

Owner Master Biological Sciences
Coordinator dr. Eleni Spyropoulou
Part of Master Earth Sciences, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Oncology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cognitive Neurobiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Psychopharmacology and Pathophysiology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Infection and Immunity, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cell Biology and Advanced Microscopy, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Experimental Internal Medicine, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Molecular Neurosciences, Master Physics and Astronomy, Master Chemistry (joint degree), Master Biomedical Sciences, track Physiology of Synapses and Networks, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Developmental and Therapeutic Biology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cardiovascular Sciences, year 1Master Biological Sciences,

Course manual 2023/2024

Course content

In this course you will write a project proposal in which you as a student contribute to a societal problem or activity using your academic knowledge and skills. You can propose to start a new activity within the Science Faculty or on the interface between the Science Faculty and society. For instance, you might want to improve your master or former bachelor programme, by working out ideas to reduce drop-out of first-generation students or newly enrolled master students, start new social activities etc. You will learn by doing. Use your creativity and skills to have impact on specific situations, by investigating, interviewing, intervening, analyzing, reporting, advising etc.

You start by formulating a rudimentary project plan and we will provide coaching sessions in which you shape your project proposal and discuss the progress. You will write a (personal) project plan within the time you have available (42 hours in total) and present it. If after this course you feel like implementing your proposal and the coaches consider it executable, funding can be requested and the Student Impact Center will guide you into the implementation of the project.

Objectives

  • The student is able to integrate their academic knowledge and skills to a project dealing with a problem or activity in the interface between academia and society
  • The student is able to formulate a project proposal in line with the scope of the course
  • The student is able to reflect on the project proposal as well as their own learning process
  • The student is able to collaborate and communicate with (multidisciplinary) team members and coach

Teaching methods

  • Self-study
  • Presentation/symposium
  • Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
  • Supervision/feedback meeting

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

  

Meetings

4-6

  

Self study

31-34

  

Presentations

2

  

Feedback meetings

2-3

  

Total

42

(1.5 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

  1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

You are assessed on your project proposal plan and reflection report. For this we use a rubric which results in a pass/fail for the course (min. 5,5).

 

Assignments

Final assignment:

Project proposal and personal reflection report

Presentation

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

You can perform your project in any time between 2 and the full 6 months of the semester.

Set up course:

2 introductory meetings (all students)

2 or 3 coaching sessions (each group)

1 groups meeting half-way (optional)

presentation (all groups)

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Honours information

The Professional Skills - Science connect credits do not count towards a cum laude degree.

Contact information

Coordinator

  • dr. Eleni Spyropoulou