Science, Ethics and Society

(ME:440.712)

This is a required course for first year Neuroscience Graduate Students. Class will meet on the third Wednesday of each month (except for November and March) at 12:15 p.m. in 811 WBSB (library). Course format will consist of informal luncheon discussions.

The course directors are Dr. Nick Marsh-Armstrong and Dr. Paul Worley

Description

Science as a profession has undergone radical changes in the last decade. Central issues include mentoring, misconduct in science, preparedness of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for careers in science, and the career choices currently available. To this end, this course will focus on mentoring and issues of ethics and scientific misconduct. Preparedness for a career in science issues will be discussed in the context of funding currently available to scientists and preparation strategies involved in grant writing. In addition, methods of oral presentation and slide preparation will be discussed.

October 11, 2006                    Mentoring
                                                Participating Faculty: Jonathan Pevsner, Guo-li Ming

November 15, 2006              Scientific Misconduct
                                                Participating Faculty: Seth Blackshaw, David Linden

December 20, 2006               Authorship Issues
                                                Participating Faculty: Argye Hillis, Richard Johnson

January 17, 2007                     Conflict of Interest
                                                Participating Faculty: David Ryugo, Xinzhong Dong

February 14, 2007                   Oral and Written Presentations
                                                Participating Faculty: Hongjun Song, Vassilis Koliatsos

March 7, 2007                         Animal/Human Experimentation
                                                Participating Faculty: Joe Brady, George Uhl

April 18, 2007                         Funding Strategies/Career Development
                                                Participating Faculty: Jeff Rothstein, Nick Gaiano

May 16, 2007                          Issues of Diversity
                                                Participating Faculty: Shan Sockanathan, Alex Kolodkin

Consent of Instructor is required for all non-Neuroscience Students.