centre for interdisciplinary science contributors lunch 2013
DESCRIPTION
Annual update for contributors to undergraduate programmes in The Centre for Interdiciplinary ScienceTRANSCRIPT
•The Iscience Team •Key features•The IScience review•Updates
• Student numbers• Programme• Outreach • Projects• McMaster Exchange
Programme• Careers
Interdisciplinary Science becomes
Natural Sciences
The I-Science Team
Professor Derek Raine – DirectorResearch background: relativity, quantum gravity, complex systemsTeaching awards: MBE, NTF, IOP Bragg Medal,
Dr Cheryl Hurkett (Physics TF) Research background – gamma ray bursts; Teaching awards - PGCHE (distinction)
Dr Sarah Gretton (Biology TF) Research background – cellular biology of hepatitis C virus Teaching awards- PGCHE (distinction)
Dr Dylan Williams (Chemistry TF) Research background – metal nanoparticles Teaching – University of Leicester award
Dr Catarina Fernandes (Geology TF) Research background– spectroscopy of asteroids
Emma Tebbs (GTA, EOS) Research – Remote Sensing in East African River Basins Teaching award – University partnership
Paul Abel (Mathematics TA) Research – Black Holes Teaching award - University partnership
The Core Teaching Team
Awards and Distinctions
Awards and distinctionsCheryl & Sarah: PGCHE distinctionsPaul and Emma: University partnership awards
Green Gown award nomination (Victoria Robinson)
Project support (~£50K)
BioSciences Centre: Sustainable Futures (Sarah)HESTEM: Conceptual Understanding in Physics How to build a solar system (Caterina)HEA: Teaching Fellows Forum & Workshop (Cheryl) LeAP PBL Summer workshop RSC: PBL development (Dylan)
Sarah: The Innovative Re-use of a Virtual Genetics Laboratory - 100 European micro innovation practices: sharing evidence of successful integration of ICT in learning processes.
The I-Science ProgrammeKey Features
Key Features
• Research based learning
A scaffolded PBL approach with teaching shared systematically between teaching fellows, academic staff, & TAs Proble
mReading, Expert
sessions
Facilitated Discussion
Exercises
Tutorials
Group discussio
n
• Electronic delivery of materials and marking
Teaching Fellows
Academic staff
• Keller plan (competency based) Mathematics support
• Sequential core modules
Year 1
Prophets and Powers
The Origins ofScience
Science of the Invisible
Atoms, Molecules and Cells
Braining IT
Neurons and Computation
Biosphere
Ecology
Near Space
Earth and Sun
Year 2
Time and Energy
Dynamics andThermo-dynamics
Molecules by Design
Organic Chemistry
CSI Leicester
Forensic Science
Man and Machines
Biophysics & Physiology
Habitable Worlds
The Universe and Life
Year 3
Nanoscience
Materials and Organelles
Communication Science
Electromagnetic & chemical signalling
Evolution
Earth through Time
Climate
The IScience modules: structure and progression
In each year the module topics range over scales from microscopic to macrocosmic. Each year takes these topics to a deeper level.
SCALE
DEPTH
Yr 1
Water in biologyMain group chemistryMineralsAstronomyForcesRadioactivity
Cell structureBiological moleculesChemical bondingSolid state &Organic chemistryThermal Physics
Neuro-physiology
Computability
Ecology Atmospheric chemistrySpectroscopyQuantisation – Vibrational energy levelsEarth’s interiorRadiation Magnetic fields
Yr 2
Chemical kinetics thermodynamicsNewtonian dynamics
EnzymesOrganic SynthesisChemical characterisation
GeneticsAnalytical chemistryElectrostaticsOptics
PhysiologyMetabolism
Rigid body dynamicsFluid flowDiffusion
Molecular biol.BiochemistryPlanetary evolution
GravityStellar evolution
Yr 3
Cell molecular biology NanochemistryQuantum physicsSolid stateMagnetic materials
Cell signallingSensory physiologyBiochemistryElectromagnetic waves, Optics
Population geneticsHuman evolutionDevelopmental biologyPalaeontology
StratigraphyPaleoclimateEarth systemsChemical markers
The IScience modules – discipline topics
The topics in each discipline fit together to form a coherent programme in scope and level.
9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00
MonComputing Workshop
Skills Workshop
TueMaths Tutorial
Core Lecture
Core Workshop
WedLaboratory Session extracurricular activities
ThuCore Lecture
Maths Workshop
Core Workshop
FriElective Workshop
Core Tutorial
A (not quite)Typical Week
Academic ReviewThe Outcomes
The Academic Review
In Dec 2011 IScience was subject to academic review as a separate entity.
The main recommendations of the review were:
• The Centre for Interdisciplinary Science to be separated from Physics as a Centre within the College
• Expansion of the programme as an elite programme to compete with Natural Sciences programmes in comparable institutions
• Change of name of the degree (but not the Centre) to Natural Sciences
• The Centre to aim to achieve a research capacity
Updates• Student numbers• Programme• Outreach • Projects• McMaster Exchange Programme• Careers
Student Numbers
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
5
13
17
27
31
42
4446 46
58
4
1312
1717 16
19Yearly intakeCumulative student numbers
Year
stud
ent n
umbe
rs
• Advanced study: additional options for discipline -based study
• Science in Context: the student internet research journal
• Computing: R and Python
• Iscience Research seminars
IScience Society Research Seminars
Programme enhancements
Outreach 1
Developed by Caterina Fernandez & Rebecca Wilson with an HESTEM grantIn year 1: 1880 students, 303 teachers, 550 public (ex National Big Bang event)
1. How to build a solar system- physics, chemistry, geology, biology
Natural Sciences & Physics60 -70 students a year
4 days of workshops, projects, labs and lectures
… provides a unique opportunity to meet distinguished University of Leicester scientists answering questions about their research. The sessions will take the form of an illustrated interview with most of the questions coming from the audience. The topics range from space science to nanotechnology. Questions can range from historical and technical issues to applications and career opportunities. Primarily designed for teachers to find out more about current science, the sessions will also be of interest to sixth form students thinking of a career in science.
An evening with….
A novel approach to public outreach talks
Outreach 2
Conferences, Invited Talks
Iscience at the AAASHEA STEM (London)HE STEM, BirminghamIOP LondonPHEC + Variety in Chemistry, EdinburghSociety for Experimental Biology learning / teaching / research symposium 2012
Simon Fraser University, VancouverNational University of Ireland, GalwayUniversity of New South Wales
Teaching the Key Points of Integration Interdisciplinary Science represented at an invited panel discussion during the AAAS annual meeting Feb 2012 Vancouver
Consultancy
Interdisciplinary Science Hosts an International Conference on Open Questions on the Origin of Life, John Foster Hall, May 2012
Projects
Publications from undergraduate projects:
Sea ice extent and seasonality for the Early Pliocene northern Weddell SeaMark Williams, Jan Zalasiewicz, Daniel R. Jarram, et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 292 (1–2), 2010, 306–318
2011The Effect of Lifestyle, Gender and Ethnicity on the Fingerprint Sweat Corrosion of Brass 2012A Database Of Apoptosis Gene Mutations: The Development of a Locus Specific Database Comprising Variants of Four Trail Receptors The Effect of Temperature on the Visibility of Fingerprint Deposits on Metal Using Digital Colour Mapping
Exchange and Kenya project
Sustainable Livelihoods field project
McMaster Exchange
Vacation project work in Kenya
Students spend a semester or a year in the ISci program at one of North America’s leading Universities as part of their degree
McMaster students in Leicester:
2011-12: 1 full year; 2 x one semester
2012-13: 3 x one semester
Leicester students in McMaster
2012-13: 1 x semester; 3 x full year
Thank you