CSBB part 1: Understanding Questions

There is a kick off week for the first week, 8 weeks of work, and a final week when all assignments have to be handed in. This includes the final symposium of Q1.

Weekly workshops are provided by a variety of experts on four different threads: communication, collaboration, research and reflection (professional skill development). There will be substantial groupwork and self-study, it is a full time workload.

For clarification, the different ECs stated below do not represent independent courses.

In Q1

Monday mornings will consist of reflecting on previous week and planning group tasks for the coming week. A short Science Spotlight by experts in the field your project is about. Workshops on topics around skills development and research. Afternoon group study.

Tuesday: a self/group study day. Students should plan to spend this with their group working on their project.

Wednesday: a half day workshop on a professional skills topic, more group work.

Thursday: integration of what students have learned so far, writing assignments, discussions with supervisors.

Friday: symposium with all teams to share what students have learned so far, reflect on week.

Communication (~3 ECs)

There will be workshops about technical and advanced literature review, interviewing stakeholders, critical editing/feedback, data visualization, presentations, and students will use those skills in developing their research question.

Collaboration (~3 ECs):

Workshops within this thread will include teamwork, collaborative design, conflict management and resolution, peer feedback and team building.

Research (~6 ECs):

The students will work in small groups, building their knowledge, to generate a deep understanding of the biomedical/societal problem they've selected to focus. They will problem share and brainstorm with other groups on Friday afternoons . Other groups will peer review the weekly plans and ideas. Because students from different disciplines will work within the same groups, diverse knowledge and points of view will be shared to provide a transdisciplinary educational experience.

There will also be workshops related to this thread, such as perspectives and values, research funding, patents, knowledge utilisation, etc

Reflection (~3 ECs):

Reflective skills are integrated throughout the minor, in workshops, lectures and discussions. This will provide the students with skills and power to reflect on themselves, their personalities, their position within the group, their science and what they expect to gain from the Minor. Students will have reflective writing assignments.