Course outline for NSCI1000B

NSCI 1000 Course objectives


The course objectives are:
  1. To learn the communication skills required of a working scientist, both written and oral.
  2. To learn to be constructively critical of scientific ideas
  3. To understand how the scientific process works, from the original concept through the design of experiments to the publication of results
  4. To learn to work in small groups towards a common goal
  5. To obtain an insight of the facilities available for a science student at Carleton

Class time will be used for discussions, debates, workshops and student-led seminars. Most classes will take place in SH 311, but from time to time classes will be scheduled in other locations. The aim of this course is to move away from a lecture format and towards the more interactive teaching style that is usually reserved for upper-year undergraduate and/or graduate courses. Consequently, this course will rely very heavily on student participation and investigation/preparation. The course will be far more interesting and useful if you take the time to prepare for each class and participate in discussions and debates.

Information

Course web page: http://www.physics.carleton.ca/~watson/Physics/NSCI1000/Course_outline2013.html

Note: Everything will be posted on this website. Things can change, so check the announcements.

Course Outline

NSCI FAQs

Assignments

Projects

Talks

  1. How not to give a talk (PW + Sureesha's talk)
  2. Writing
  3. Bad Science

Seminars


NSCI 1000 will be structured primarily around a series of 5 guest seminar speakers. We have put together an exciting line-up of speakers, who have been selected not just because they are outstanding speakers but represent a wide range of interests. Seminars will take place for all first year seminar in science students at the same time, in the "workshop" slot.
  • Seminar Presentations
    1. Richard Herd: "Meteorites: Messengers from space and time"
    2. Alex Wong: “Microbes and Monkeys”
    3. Brian Burns "Sustainability from 1950 to 2050"
    4. Maria deRosa Constructing Nanotechnology with Nature’s Tools
    5. Heather Logan: "Why the Higgs Boson Matters"
    We will include more details of these as the time approaches. In particular each of the speakers will provide a title along with some background information. All students are expected to do some research in advance for the seminar, as well as write a report on it afterwards.