This course is intended to provide you with a broad exposure to biology by hearing about the ongoing and exciting research of scientists.  Attending seminars is one way that professional scientists keep abreast of new information in biology.  Attending seminars will also benefit you by exposing you to new and different areas of biology.  The seminar speakers are also good sources of information about careers or graduate school.  You will have the opportunity to meet informally with the speakers in the Biology Conference Room (CNS 163) immediately following the seminar.

Policy:

Attendance:

Official college policy stated in the “Undergraduate Announcements” is: Students are expected to attend classes and that they are responsible for all material even when absent.  Acceptable reasons for absence include 1) student illness, requiring the student to be bed-ridden; 2) death or serious illness in immediate family; 3) appearance in court; 4) religious holidays. 

As a pass/fail class, the only criteria for passing the course are attendance and participation.   While there may be valid reasons to miss one or maybe two seminars,  you are required to attend an absolute minimum of six seminars and two discussions during the course of the semester.  Of the seminars that you attend, at least one MUST include the Junior Research  Symposium.  If you fail to attend the absolute minimum number of events, you will fail the course.  Please be aware that situations may occur where the speaker has to cancel at the last minute, for a valid reason – do not PLAN to attend the minimum number of events, a cancelled talk is not a valid excuse for failing to meet the requirements of the course. 

Attendance will be taken at each seminar & discussion session. A clipboard will be passed around the room during the seminar.  It is your responsibility to sign it to indicate you were present.

 

Personal Conduct:

"A student's behavior must not interfere with the activities of the College or with other student's pursuit of educational objectives" (see General Information, Undergraduate Announcements).  Seminar speakers are not paid by us, they are speaking as a courtesy to us – so please show appropriate courtesy to them in return.  Often, the guest speaker is involved in admissions for their institution: they are interested in spreading the word about their postgraduate programs and possibly recruiting students.   We want the speakers to leave with strongly positive feelings. Talking during lecture (except for questions or participating in class discussions) is disruptive and is disrespectful.  Cell phones, pagers, etc. are to be kept turned off during classes. Coming in late, falling asleep, or trying to catch up on reading during the seminar are similarly disrespectful and will result in you being marked absent.

 

REVISIONS IN THE SCHEDULE WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND BULLETIN BOARD IN THE MAIN FOYER (1ST FLOOR CNS).  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES TO THE SCHEDULE.

 

Each seminar speaker is introduced by a student.  Please sign up to introduce a speaker.  Information for the introductions can be obtained from the Departmental Assistant, Nancy Pierce (CNS 161).  Please introduce yourself to the seminar speaker before the seminar. 

 

At 3:45 pm we will put refreshments in the front hallway: this is a chance to socialize with your classmates, the faculty, and our guest speaker.  This is traditional in departmental seminars throughout academia.  Please consider the environment and bring a reusable mug – we are trying to minimize garbage and waste of resources.

 

Seminars and discussions are open to all students, not just students enrolled in 411/412.  Feel free to bring a friend!