This informal seminar style course fosters connections and collaborations across departments working on plant-insect interactions. Class meetings include presentations from across campus and the world or discussions of topical papers. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to present in an informal setting to receive feedback on planned or current research.
Athena Title
Plant Insect Group
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will become familiar with current techniques and questions in the field of plant-insect interactions.
Students will develop a broad understanding of foundational and cutting-edge research in plant-insect interactions and be able to place their own projects within that context.
Students will gain a familiarity with the scientific method and experimental design.
Students will build critical thinking skills and be able to evaluate literature, presentations, experimental design, and analyses.
Topical Outline
1. Presentations: Presentations are friendly, informal and specially designed to utilize the intellectual community at UGA. Rarely in your academic career do you have the undivided attention of so many brilliant minds, including current and future leaders in the field. It is to your advantage to solicit feedback at all stages of your research projects, from conception and relevance all the way through design, data analysis, interpretation, and presentation.
Possible presentation ideas:
• Discuss thesis proposal ideas
• Preparation for manuscript
• Discuss research question and experimental design
• Practice conference presentation or job talk
• Discuss field season plans
• Practice qualifying exam presentation
• First look at data
• Grant or fellowship research proposals
2. Jigsaw style paper discussions: In this format, three papers covering a specific topic are chosen. Each student is asked to read only one of the papers. Students will first meet with others that read their same paper to discuss the main points and then break into new groups with students who have read the other papers. Students will be responsible for introducing their paper to this new group. The class joins back together at the end to discuss all three papers together.
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
