Unit information: Biomedical Sciences Lab Summer Programme in 2022/23

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. Zoe Palmer
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

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.

Your learning on this unit

By the end of the unit students should have developed skills including:

• Demonstration of key laboratory skills including the use of pipettes, handling animal tissue, microscopes and obtaining physiological recordings
• Being able to communicate effectively in both oral communications and written work
• Working in groups to collect and analyse data
• Using problem solving skills to trouble shoot
• Being able to contribute to planning, carrying out and analysing a short research project
• Time management

How you will learn

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

How you will be assessed

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

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHPH10016).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.