A capstone seminar for Plant Biology majors and minors, aimed at students finishing their coursework. Faculty will lead students in a precis of science communication (both with scientists and the public), a review of interpretation and evaluation of primary literature, and discussion of how to respond to science misinformation.
Athena Title
Capstone Skills in Plant Bio
Pre or Corequisite
[(BIOL 1108 or BIOL 2108H) and BIOL 2108L] or GENE 3000-3000D or GENE 3200-3200D or STAT 2000 or STAT 2000E or STAT 2100H or BIOS 2010 or BIOS 2010E or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Faculty will lead students in 1) a detailed examination, interpretation, and evaluation (pros and cons) of primary literature on a chosen topic in plant biology (topic changes each year); 2) learning how to distinguish science from pseudoscience, and distorted from legitimate science news; and 3) considering how science is communicated, effectively or not, both in the context of primary literature communication to the larger scientific world, as well as communication of science to the public.
We expect students completing this course to be able to analyze, evaluate, and interpret the primary literature on a specific topic in plant biology. Students should be able to characterize the main hypotheses in primary literature and to evaluate the methods used to test these hypotheses. Students should be able to interpret the results reported in the primary literature. Students should be able to judge critically whether the authors have justified their conclusions and to assess the strength of the support for the conclusions. Students should be able to propose and devise alternate approaches to testing these research questions. Finally, students will prepare and present a poster or oral presentation on PBIO 4960R research that they have done prior to or concurrently with the capstone seminar. This capstone seminar allows students to consolidate the knowledge and skills accumulated through the major. This seminar, required of all Plant Biology majors, also serves as an important point of assessment for the major.
Students will read, interpret, and evaluate primary scientific literature.
Students will identify hypotheses and determine how those hypotheses are tested.
Students will identify and evaluate distorted and misrepresented science ("pseudoscience").
Students will communicate science to both the scientific community and the public at large.
Topical Outline
Each seminar focuses on a different topic in plant biology. The common element is a deep engagement with the primary scientific literature in a specific topic. This seminar also provides the primary point of assessment for the major in Plant Biology.
