ILAS Seminar-E2 :Experiential short training course in basic life sciences using marine organism
| Numbering Code | U-LAS70 10002 SE50 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ Intensive, First semester | |
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| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | seminar | |
| Target Year | Mainly 1st year students | Target Student | For all majors | |
| Language | English | Day/Period |
Intensive August 31 to September 5 |
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| Instructor name |
Martin Robert (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Program-Specific Associate Professor) DOI MASAO (Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences Professor) |
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| Outline and Purpose of the Course |
Summary: A six-day intensive and interactive camp-like scientific experience held at the Research Center for Marine Biology of Tohoku University in Asamushi (Aomori prefecture). The contents include multidisciplinary basic sciences including marine organism-based basic biology, cell biology, and physiology with related essential pharmacology concepts. Understanding and practicing the scientific method, based on observation and experimentation, is important for any student in science and beyond. Using simple and easily accessible experimental models such as marine organism that can be directly collected from the natural environment offers a unique opportunity to develop skills toward that objective. Moreover, small group work in an international setting adds another layer for students to develop skills in collaboration and exchange which are other important aspects of science. Students will learn the basis of scientific experimentation using small marine animals as an experimental model. Using seashells (貝) and sea roaches (フナムシ), students will study their basic behavioral physiology (行動生理学). Participants also have the chance to see the amazing process of sea urchin fertilization and early development (ウニの受精と発生) as well as collect plankton and observe its diversity (プランクトンの多様性). These are fundamental examples of approaches in life science research and in the study of living processes. Students can also investigate the effects of sea water ionic composition and osmotic pressure on the extrusion behavior of seashells and their importance in muscle contraction (イオン・浸透圧 に基づく基礎生理学). Ion-mediated signaling pathways are common pharmacological targets and students can learn about some of these processes during the experiments. Overall, participants will learn basic principles of physiology and the scientific method, in a beautiful natural setting. The course will be held entirely in English in collaboration with instructors of the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University. In addition to students at Tohoku University and Kyoto University, the course will also be opened to participants from the University of Tokyo and Tsukuba University. Thus, participants will enjoy an interdisciplinary and international experience in which students from many academic backgrounds and institutions learn together, interact, and exchange. |
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| Course Goals |
The main objective of the course is to learn the basics of the scientific method by performing simple ecology and cell biology experiments with marine organisms, in small groups. Based on their own ideas, students will freely design and perform experiments to test their own hypotheses, collect data, analyze their results, and interpret them. Students will learn through a trial-and-error process and develop problem solving skills. Participants will develop skills in collaborative group work and in expressing themselves effectively in an international setting where students from different origins and academic backgrounds interact. |
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| Schedule and Contents |
After receiving basic guidance and explanations, groups will be formed and students will collect marine organisms, plan, develop, and perform various experiments together. Discussion and sharing of ideas/results and their interpretation will be encouraged and is an important activity. On the 5th day students will present in groups their main findings in the form of a short oral presentation and will be invited to evaluate the performance of other groups. Finally, students will prepare a report about their learning experience. All activities including presentation and report are to be done in English. Schedule (August 31 to September 5, 2022, inclusively) Day 1 Getting to Asamushi, Aomori prefecture Arrival at the Asamushi Research Center for Marine Biology Orientation and course introduction. Welcome event. Days 2-5 Main experimental program: field and laboratory work Exploring seashell extrusion behavior or the walking behavior of sea roaches Fertilization and early development of the sea urchin embryo Off-shore activity or plankton collection, observation, and classification Day 5 afternoon Group presentations and closing social event Day 6 Program wrap up Checkout Optional visit to the Asamushi aquarium Return to Kyoto |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy |
Attendance, active participation, and group presentation/evaluation (60%) Individual report (40%) The presentation and report will be assessed on the basis of the course objectives and specific criteria provided during the course. |
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| Course Requirements | None | |||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) |
No special preparation or background required. All field activities, experiments, and the final presentation will be completed during the six-day course duration. A report will be due within about one week from the end of the course. |
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| Textbooks | Textbooks/References | There is no textbook for this course. Handouts and other materials will be distributed to course participants. | ||
| References, etc. |
Resources will be introduced during course. Please see the course web site below. |
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| Related URL | https://sites.google.com/kyoto-u.ac.jp/ebmbp2022 | |||
