Learning Goals

Students will be able to:

1. Examine different scientific approaches, including experimentation, observational studies, meta-analyses, and modeling
2. Formulate hypotheses and design well-controlled studies
3. Differentiate between forms of scientific dissemination, including primary literature, reviews, and scientific communication to the wider public (for example: journalism, advocacy, social media, podcasts, etc.)
4. Evaluate scientific literature critically, interpret data accurately, and draw appropriate conclusions
5. Examine the connections between biology, other ways of knowing, and the role of science in society
6. Examine ethical considerations, structural barriers, and systemic biases in science

Students will be able to:

1. 1. Prepare reagents, operate common scientific equipment, record observations, and collect data
   2. Use computational techniques and databases to acquire and analyze data
   3. Explain and apply basic statistics to analyze data

Students will be able to:

1. Engage in various forms of scientific writing including primary literature, reviews, and scientific communication to the wider public
2. Translate and communicate visual representations of scientific data and concepts
3. Create and present an informative, visually appealing research poster
4. Create and deliver an effective oral presentation with appropriate visual aids

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the five core biological concepts, as recommended by the AAAS/NSF Vision & Change initiative:

1. Evolution
2. Structure/function relationships
3. Information flow, exchange, and storage
4. Energy transformations
5. Systems (the ways in which living things are interconnected and interact with one another)