Masterclasses Green Life Sciences

Course manual 2019/2020

Course content

In this course, students are trained to discuss important topics within the Green Life Sciences, in the form of a masterclass, consisting of a tutorial meeting and a seminar. Students will attend lectures from internationally renowned scientists in the Amsterdam Green Life Science Seminars series organized by ~10 Plant Science groups within the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) and the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED). This seminar series is organized on a monthly basis throughout the year (except the summer period). The topics for the seminars cover the whole spectrum of plant molecular biology and signal transduction. An overview of upcoming and previous seminars can be found at: sils.uva.nl/news-events. Students must attend six masterclasses during the 2-yearprogramme. Students may attend more theme lectures on a facultative basis.

Study materials

Literature

• Recent primary literature by the guest speakers, to be announced at least one week before each masterclass.

Objectives

• The student is able to read and understand scientific literature
• The student is able to formulate relevant, open research questions
• The student is able to acquire information that can be used to put new findings into perspective
• The student is able to transmit information in a logic, understandable and activating manner
• The student is able compile and integrate information and convey his/her theory, speculation and/or questions
• The student is able to participate in scientific discussion in a respectful and constructive manner, through perceiving and defending viewpoints and argumentations.

Teaching methods

• Seminar
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study

In preparation for each seminar, several recent papers by the guest speaker will be studied, questions asked and answered, which are then extensively discussed in the tutorial meeting

1. As preparation for the master class, students will be given an assignment, which involves formulating questions based on the provided literature, and answering questions formulated by other students in a powerpoint presentation during the tutorial meeting.

2. Students are required to participate actively in the discussion during the tutorials and after the seminar.

The total number of contacthours (including lectures and discussions) is 30, the remaining time is spent on preparation.

Learning activities

Attendance

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).

Assessment

A student has passed the course when 6 seminars are graded with a 5.0 or higher and when the weighted final grade is 5.5 of higher.

The seminar grade will be based on:

• Critical evaluation: The assignment - ppt presentation and written questions submitted (assessed by coordinator or other staff member)
• Theoretical insight, assignment and theoretical insight shown during the masterclass (assessed by staff member)
• Active participation and argumentation during the masterclass (assessed by staff member)

Resits of tutorials/seminars are not possible. If a seminar is graded lower than a 5.0, the student must attend another seminar.

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

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. P.M. Bleeker

p.m.bleeker@uva.nl