FOUN 091-08

ISP 117 &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = = The Process of Discovery &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = Fall 2005

First-Year Seminar &= nbsp; Interdisciplinary Science Program

Professor: Alison J. Draper, Ph.D. &= nbsp; &= nbsp; &= nbsp; Phone: x 5189

Office: Clement 107 = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; E-mail: alison.draper@trincoll.edu

Mentors<= /span>: Lindsay Ruslander ‘07 &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &= nbsp; Phone: x 3064

Room: Jarvis F229 &nb= sp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; E-mail: lindsay.ruslander@trincol= l.edu

A.J. Pattison ‘0= 7 &= nbsp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Phone: x 2653

Room: Funston 216 &nb= sp; = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; E-mail: adam.pattison@trincoll.edu

&nbs= p;

Class time: Mon. and Fri. 1:15-3:55 pm (or time as noted)

Classroom: Clement 210

Office hours: Anytime by appointment<= /span>

I. = Required Materials

Books: Hidden Histories of Science, Robert Silvers, ed. (ISBN 0-940322-05-6)

Human Trials: Scientis= ts, Investors and Patients in the Quest for a Cure, by Susan Quinn <= /span>

(ISBN 0-7382-0677-6)

Other Materials will be provided.

II. = Goals for Course

By the end of the semester, each student should gain:

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>1. = An appreciation for th= e breadth and depth of scientific discovery.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>2. = An appreciation of the= ir own methods of discovery.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>3. = Knowledge of how scien= tific discoveries are made and verified.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>4. = An appreciation for th= e role of a peer-review process.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>5. = A working knowledge of scientific writing styles.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>6. = An appreciation for the various modes of scientific communication.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>7. = An appreciation for et= hical dilemmas in science.

III. = Evaluation

Grades in the course w= ill be based on the following:

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Research seminar attendance &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 50 points

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Writing assignments - midterm &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 200 points

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Writing assignments - end of semester &n= bsp; = ; <= /span>300 points

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Class Project = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = 50 points

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Instructor’s points* = &nb= sp; = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 50 points

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; TOTAL &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 650 points

*Instructor’s points are based on effort in class, and include such attributes as attendance, engagement, punctuality a= nd participation.

In order to receive a = high grade in this course, you will need to attend class regularly, complete all assignments in a timely manner, and demonstrate a serious engagement with the course material through your writing and through participation in = the class project and class discussion.

IV. = Academic dishonesty

I will deal with any suspected academic dishonesty in this course by reporting to the dean.

V.&n= bsp; = ; Attendance

Attendance at every cl= ass is expected; it is your professional responsibility. Please let me know before= hand if you need to miss a class. You are responsible for making up the work and getting notes from your classmates. Reminder: attendance and participation count toward your grade.

VI. = Assignment policies

Late assignments will be penalized by 10% per day unless prior permission has been granted for an extension. All reaction pap= ers should represent your own individual work, although conversation about assi= gnments and about assigned reading is encouraged.

VII. = Electronic communications

I will be communicatin= g with the class throughout the semester by e-mail. It is important for this course and others that you get into the habit of checking your Trinity e-mail acco= unt regularly. There is also a BlackBoard site for the course which you will ne= ed to access regularly to download readings and assignments. All course docume= nts and handouts will be posted there should you require additional copies.

VIII. = Attendance at Research Seminars

An important part of= your experience as a science student at Trinity will be attendance at weekly research seminars. Most departments host regular seminars, where members of= the department, senior thesis students, or outside guests present their latest research findings. Seminar schedules will be shared in class, and fifty poi= nts towards your grade in this course will be from attendance at these seminars. You will be required to attend 5 seminars over the course of the semester a= nd submit short summaries of each. To count, the summary must be submitted within one week of the seminar. (You are encouraged to sub= mit these electronically by sending reports as Word documents attached to e-mail messages.) PLAN AHEAD! Most departments host seminars during the semester, = but you are unlikely to find many offered after Thanksgiving. It will be best if you pace yourself and attempt to attend one every two weeks or so.

IX. = Writing portfolios

The purpose of the wri= ting portfolio is to track your learning in this course. In addition to learning specifically about the process by which discovery is made, you will also le= arn to improve your writing. The writing portfolio is designed to help you track your progress in both.

The portfolio will be = turned in twice - once at midterm and then again at the end of the semester. I will respond to your writing periodically, but not to every assignment. Writing will be graded holistically each time you hand in your portfolio. In order to get a high grade, you need to complete all assignments, demonstrat= e a serious engagement with the course material in your writing, and show a strong work ethic in responding to others' writing and in revising your own work. To st= art, get a three-ring binder. Every time you write something for class, put it in the binder. It will also be useful to start a table of contents that you can fill in as you add papers. Include all submitted drafts and organize the portfolio in a manner that makes sense to you.

At the end of the semester, you will be required to write an introduction to your writing portfolio that will describe the progress made in learning about discovery = and also about writing. More details on that assignment will be given later in = the semester.

X. = Course Schedule

The following course s= chedule is subject to change as the semester progresses. These changes may result f= rom progress, instructor interest, student interest or newsworthy events relate= d to course material.

XI. = Course Schedule

1 Sept. (Thursday) Orientation meeting

Class introduction

Distribute syllabus

Discuss course expectations

Discuss class project

Discuss summer reading/writing assignment

Distribute Greene reading/writing assignment

10:15 am – 1 pm

2 Sept. (Friday) First Day of Class

Discovery

In class: Discovery act= ivities (puzzles)

Focus: Problem solving<= /p>

Before class: Read Gree= ne essay “Science Nourishes the Mind and Soul” and write short reaction paper as instructed. &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 02

1:15 – 2:30

MON: 1:15-3:55 (or as noted)

FRI: 1:15-3:55 (or as noted)

5 Sept.=

No class – Labor Day

9 Sept.

Discovery

In class: Discovery act= ivities (canisters), Intro to Design Contest

Focus: Observation

Before class, read Mill= er essay (p. 1-35 of Hidden Histories book) and prepare short essay answers to discussion questions according to instructions.

At 3:00 pm, attend Summer Research Sympo= sium in Washington Room, Mather Hall.

Note: 1:15 – ~3:55<= o:p>

Sunday Sept. 11, 12:30-5 pm

Out-of-Cl= ass activity (required):

Canoeing = on the Farmington River

Meet bus on Summit Street= behind Mather Hall at 12:= 30 pm.

12 Sept.

Discovery

In class: Discovery act= ivities (termites)

Focus: Hypothesis build= ing

Before class, read Kevl= es essay (p. 70-112 of Hidden Histories book) and write reaction paper according to instructions.

Note: 1:15 –= ; 3:00

16 Sept.<= /i>

Discovery

Field trip: Science museum

Focus: Teaching science= to children

Meet bus on Summit Street behind Mather Hall at 1:1= 5.

Before class, read Sack= s essay (p. 141-187 of Hidden Histories book) and write reaction paper according = to instructions. &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 05

Note: 1:15-3:30

19 Sept.

Discovery

In class: Discovery act= ivities (As data interpretation)

Focus: Explanation

Before class, read advice provided by the ISP Class of ’08,= read p. 1-63 of Human Trials and prepare Scie= nce Museum pap= er as instructed.=

1:15 – 2:30

23 Sept.<= /i>

Discovery

In class: Discovery act= ivities (engineering): Design contest

Focus: Engineering/desi= gn

Before cl= ass, read Petroski chapter and prepare directed essay as instructed.

&nbs= p;

07

1:15 – 2:30

26 Sept.

Discovery

Class discussion of = Human Trials

Library tour

Before class, read p. 6= 5-182 of Human Trials and prepare Design Report as instructed.

Note: 1:15 –= ; 3:00

30 Sept. (Family weekend)

Discovery

Class discussion of = Human Trials

In class: Discovery act= ivities (culmination activities)

Before class, read p. 1= 83-end of Human Trials and prepare reaction paper and questions for class with Susan Quinn as instructed.

1:15-2:30

3 Oct.

Science and Society Speaker

Susan Quinn, author of = Marie Curie and Human Trials

Before class, read p. 145-160 of Marie Curie = and prepare revised Scie= nce Museum pap= er as instructed.

1:15 – 2:30

7 Oct.

What is science? What is research?

How does research progress?

Class discussion

Before class, read essay by Richard Feynman: The Val= ue of Science and prepare Midterm Writing Portfolio as instructed.

1:15 – 2:30

10 Oct

No class – Trinity Days

14 Oct.

Class Project

Introduction

Library Database session

Before class, prepare <= u>Discovery Paper as instructed.

Note: 1:15 –= ; 3:00

17 Oct.

Class Project

Sampling.

Before class, do the on-line plagiarism tutorial as instructed.

Note: 1:15 –= ; 3:55

21 Oct.

Class Project

Extraction.

Before class, prepare A= nnotated Bibliography for Class Project as instructed.

Note: 1:15 –= ; 3:55

24 Oct.

Class Project

Analysis.

Before class, prepare revised Discovery Paper= as instructed.

Note: 1:15 –= ; 3:55

28 Oct.

Class Project

Report work.

Before class, prepare <= u>Class Project Research Paper as instructed and bring drafts to class. Also = due: Questions for faculty panel.

1:15 – 2:30

31 Oct.

The research process: Disciplinary perspectives

Faculty panel discussio= n on research:

(various faculty from B= IOL, CHEM, ENGR, MATH, CPSC, NESC, PHYS)

Before class, read ISP Class of ’08 laboratory choice advice and complete newspaper-style Profile of Undergraduate Resea= rch Student as instructed.

1:15 – 2:30

4 Nov.

ISP Laboratory Tours=

To be arranged with pro= spective ISP faculty mentors

In planning for selecti= on of research faculty mentors for Spring 2006.

Before class, prepare Class Project report section d= rafts as instructed.

Note: 1:15-3:55

7 Nov.

ISP Laboratory Tours=

To be arranged with pro= spective ISP faculty mentors

In planning for selecti= on of research faculty mentors for Spring 2006.

Before class, prepare PowerPoint slide for class pro= ject presentation as instructed.

Note: 1:15-3:55

11 Nov.

Class proje= ct

Present cla= ss project results to SINA

Before class, prepare revised Class Project Resea= rch Paper as instructed.

Note: 1:15-3:00

14 Nov.

Mathematics= in science

Class discussion.

Before class, read book chapters by Livio from The Golden Ratio and prepare Class Project debriefing paper as instructed= .

1:15 – 2:30

18 Nov.

Ethics in science

Before class, read essays by Gawande, Koerner and Ca= ssuto and prepare assignment as instructed.

1:15-2:30

21 Nov.

Research funding

Discuss importance of f= unding for research, sources of funding, grant writing, the proposal submission process, peer-review of proposals and the resubmission process.

Before class, read essay by Mukherjee and prepare di= rected essay as instructed.

1:15 – 2:30

25 Nov.

No class – Thanksgiving Break

28 Nov.

Science in Society

Class discussion.

Before class, read essa= y by Stephen Jay Gould (p. 37-67 in Hidden Histories) and prepare reaction pap= er as instructed. &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

1:15-2:30

2 Dec.

Science in Society

Speaker:

Dr. Wayne Carver, Chief= Medical Examiner, State of CT

Before class, prepare g= rant writing assignment as instructed.

Note: 1:15-3:00

5 Dec.

Science in Society

Speaker: TBA

Before class, complete = research meetings with faculty, and prepare paper describing choice of research apprenticeship.

1:15-2:30

9 Dec.

Conclusions/Introductions

Wrap-up and debriefing<= /p>

Before class, prepare introduction to writing portfo= lio and prepare portfolio for submission as instructed.

1:15-2:30