Unit name | Biomedical Sciences Lab Summer Programme |
---|---|
Unit code | PHPH10016 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
Unit director | Dr. Goodhead |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience |
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
The unit is designed to offer student a wide exposure to a variety of laboratory skills and experiences within the biomedical sciences with a particular focus on preparing students for a future career in biomedical research. The unit consists of three main themes: an introduction to biomedical science techniques; exploring the systems of the body; and clinical and scientific inquiry.
Aims
To promote understanding of the biomedical sciences through exploration of scientific techniques
To work independently in the laboratory environment to design, carry out and analyse biomedical experiments and data
To develop scientific communication skills
To promote the integration of scientific theory with practical application
To promote further study and career opportunities in biomedical research
The unit is taught via practical based laboratory sessions and skills-based symposia. The laboratory sessions will include:
Pharmacology
Quantifying drug action
Measurement of drug action on isolated blood vessels
Physiology
Homeostasis and the effects of altitude
Human electrocardiography and effects of haemorrhage simulation
Dynamic lung volumes and control of breathing simulation
Biochemistry
pH and buffers
Recombinant DNA technology
Microbiology
Techniques in microbiology
Histology
Comparison of normal and diseased lungs
Tissue structure and function
Neuroscience
Muscle nerve properties in the human forearm
Neurophysiology cockroach stimulation
Reflex and voluntary contractions of human muscle
Field work
Visit to We The Curious
Visit to the University of Bristol Botanic Garden
The symposia will include:
Careers and postgraduate study
Biomedical sciences research symposium
The unit will include a three-day research project in the final week whereby students will use techniques and skills already developed to design, carry out and analyse experiments which will be presented via an oral presentation towards the end of the week.
It is envisaged that the unit will help develop a wide range of skills required for all biomedical science students, both laboratory based as well as transferable skills such as group work, problem solving and scientific communication.
By the end of the unit students should have developed skills including:
Practical based work in laboratories
Field trips to local sites of scientific relevance
Careers and future prospects symposia
Oral communication session
E-learning portfolio using EndNote and e-voting using TurningPoint
The unit will be assessed through a combination of coursework and TurningPoint quizzes undertaken throughout the unit and a group oral presentation delivered in the final week.
Coursework (50%)
Satisfactory reflective laboratory proforma completion using OneNote
TurningPoint quizzes (20%)
Content based quizzes completed each week using evoting
Oral presentation (30%)
Group based oral presentation
There are no set texts for the unit but below lists key texts for each of the disciplines studied during the unit: