Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On the completion of this subject students will understand and use the scientific method, the manual skills, and the organisational and intellectual effort required to complete a small research project that is potentially publishable; understand the scientific background relevant to the area of their research project, as well as obtaining an introduction to other research currently being undertaken in the physiological sciences; know and be able to use the specialised skills required to apply successfully a variety of different research techniques to the study of physiology; develop scientific writing skills and be able to express complicated scientific ideas in simple, unambiguous phrases; use computer techniques for the analysis and graphical presentation of experimental data, to assemble and illustrate experimental data effectively with audio-visual aids and to present it to an audience of their peers.
Synopsis The entry requirement for PHY4000 is a credit average in third-year physiology. Students achieving this will be invited to proceed to a fourth year for the honours degree of BSc in physiology, subject to acceptance by the head of the department. Each student will work under the direction of a supervisor within the department. Students wishing to undertake a project based in an affiliated research institute or a clinical department of the Faculty of Medicine may also enrol for an honours degree through the Department of Physiology. The project will form the basis of a research report to be presented at the end of the year and will involve experiments of a publishable standard. In addition to the research project, the year's work will include training in advanced scientific techniques, lectures and tutorials on advanced aspects of physiology, critical reading of the literature, and preparation of essays.
Assessment Research report: 60% + Written theory examination: 20% + Essays, seminars, supervisor assessment: 20%