Prospectus

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Spotlight on Biology, Advanced Lecture series

Course
2010-2011

Coordinator Dr.Tom de Jong (5118); t.j.de.jong@biology.leidenuniv.nl
Alternative contacts: Dr. Arthur Ram (4914)

Description
In the Spotlight on biology series both PhD students, postdocs and staff members give short (20 minutes plus 10 minutes questions) presentations about new, exiting developments in biology. The lectures give a broad overview of what is happening in the Institute Biology Leiden and related institutes such as the Herbarium, Naturalis and the Institute for Environmental Sciences. The coordinator will grade students for this project at the end, if necessary with the help of specialists in the institute.

Methods of instruction
lectures

Study material
After lectures it will be possible to ask some questions to the speakers and coordinator. Powerpoints and/or supporting materials are available in Blackboard.

Examination
Presence will be noted, please fill in the form when you attend. At the end of the course students hand in a short report about the lectures (no longer than 0.5 page A4 for one talk), summarizing the main question(s) and findings of the speakers and to what extent they answered these questions in their talks. Students expand (3 pages A4) on one subject of their choice by looking up and reading related scientific papers and writing a small review of the literature. Students are required to follow 9 Spotlights (=18 lectures). The IBL Symposium counts as 3 Spotlights so that 6 Spotlights and 1 Symposium is also possible. It is possible to follow other symposia, but contact the coordinator IN ADVANCE about this option.

Course requirements/recommendations
lectures are open for all MSc students from the Faculty Mathematics & Natural Sciences, but non-biology students should check with their study advisor.

Time table
Lectures are from 12.30-13.30 at the Sylvius building at the first Thursday of each month, with the exception of a summer break. Up-to-date info about dates, speakers and titles at biology.leidenuniv.nl Students can begin attending the Spotlight meetings at any time of the year. They may miss lectures and ttend lecture in different years, as long as the total is 9 Spotlight units. Students are required to sign up with the coordinator at their first attendance.

Remarks
a free lunch is available before the lectures