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BB20152: Practice of science

Academic Year: 2018/9
Owning Department/School: Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Description: Aims:
To familiarise the student with the nature of scientific enquiry as a collective human enterprise, and the organisation, funding, communication and ethics of contemporary science. Areas in which there are differences of opinion and potential conflict are emphasised.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this course the student should be able to:
* Discuss the nature and organisation of science, making reference to such aspects as scientific communication, funding, intellectual property and profession, social and environmental responsibility
* work both as part of a team and independently to present a case
* engage fairly with matters of controversy and formulate their own opinions.

Skills:
Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Group working T/F, Career preparation T/F.

Content:

* The nature of science as a method of human enquiry:
* Funding and control: who decides what science should be done?
* Intellectual property and the public good.
* Publication of science: scientific writing, primary literature and reviews; the editorial process; peer review, good and bad; open aces literature.
* Professional and social responsibility: the scientist's duties to the employer, the Public Interest, environmental preservation etc.
* Ethics and values: some principles and implications
* Error and deception in science. 		Before taking this unit you must take BB10001 and take BB10002
Programme availability:

BB20152 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2018/19 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2019/20 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2018/19.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Undergraduates: .
  • Postgraduates: .