GRAPPA Student Seminar

6 EC

Semester 2, period 6

5354GRSS6Y

Owner Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree)
Coordinator prof. dr. G. Bertone
Part of Master Physics and Astronomy, track Astronomy and Astrophysics, Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree), track General Physics and Astronomy, Master Physics and Astronomy, track GRAPPA,

Course manual 2020/2021

Course content

Structure:

  • The course will be given via Zoom.
  • You will work in groups. Each group will
    • focus on a scientific theme, read papers about the theme, and present it in the final week
    • solve a scientific problem relevant for their theme with a python script. 
  • In the first two weeks:
    • Gianfranco Bertone will introduce the dark matter problem (Monday sessions, 9-11am)
    • Gimmy Tomaselli will introduce a selection of scientific papers (Wednesday sessions, 13-15am)
    • Sydney Otten will guide groups to the solution of scientific problems with Python scripts (Thursday sessions, 13-15am)
  • In the third week, you will have the opportunity to ask questions on the scientific papers (Wednesday, with Gimmy), and on the scripts (Thursday, with Sydney)
  • In the 4th week
    • On Monday at 11am, Jeroen van Dongen will discuss with you (and answer your questions) on Ethics in Physics, then at 12pm Sydney will provide feedback on the scripts
    • On Wednesday and Friday, students will present their work.

Final scripts and presentations

  • The deadline for handing in the scripts is Friday, June 18
  • On Wed 23 June, the four groups working on candidates will give oral presentation. They will try to convince us that "their" candidate is the most promising. Students in groups B1-B4 will vote for the most compelling candidate.
  • On Fri 25 June, the four groups working on searches will give an oral presentation. They will try to convince us that "their" class of searches is the most promising. Students in groups A1-A4 will vote for the most compelling candidate.

Time commitment and evaluation

  • As this is a 4-week 6EC course, you are expected to devote to it most of your time in June.
  • As this is a student seminar, the focus is on self-study of scientific literature. We will provide a detailed introduction to the subject, and guide you through the study of the scientific literature.
  • The final evaluation is based on the final presentations (60%) and python scripts (40%).

Study materials

Literature

  • Lecture slides (posted on Canvas)

  • Scientific literature 

Objectives

  • Learn to read and extract key information from scientific literature
  • Understand the key ideas about the evidence and detection strategies of dark matter
  • Develop key academic skills: writing a short review article; develop your ability to communicate advanced scientific concepts in written and spoken English; answer questions after an oral presentation
  • Get a first exposure to the methods and research subjectsat GRAPPA
  • Understand key ethical aspects in the modern scientific process

Teaching methods

  • Seminar

Will be announced.

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Zelfstudie

168

Attendance

Requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

  • In addition to, or instead of, classes in the form of lectures, the elements of the master’s examination programme often include a practical component as defined in article A-1.2 of part A. The course catalogue contains information on the types of classes in each part of the programme. Attendance during practical components is mandatory.

    • Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    The evaluation is based on presentations and reports.

     

    Presentations are graded individually (not by group), based on:

    - organization of the material (20%),

    - subject knowledge (40%),

    - slides effectiveness (20%),

    - ability to answer questions (20%).

    Reports are evaluated based on:

    - organization of the material (40%),

    - subject knowledge (40%),

    - effective bibliography (20%)

    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

    Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof
    1 Introduction to dark matter Lecture slides and scientific literature (on Canvas)
    2 Dark matter candidates Lecture slides and scientific literature (on Canvas)
    3 Dark matter searches  Lecture slides and scientific literature (on Canvas)
    4    

    Timetable

    The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • prof. dr. G. Bertone