Life Science Students Research Articles

Life science students’ attitudes, interest, and performance in introductory physics for life sciences: An exploratory study

Including authentic life science examples in introductory physics for life sciences majors can increase students' interest in physics as well as their exam scores.

Using a Multidisciplinary Team-Based Challenge to Promote Brainstorming and Prototyping of Medical Devices

Abstract – Multidisciplinary teams of engineering and life science students are challenged to remove a foreign object from a child’s ear canal. Each group is provided with a model ear canal and asked to remove objects of different shapes and materials. The experience of iterative problem solving serves to encourage brainstorming and practice the prototyping process, which each team should complete in their over-arching design projects to be successful. Surveys taken from the students before and after the prototype challenge showed they learned more about the brainstorming method they used, but also learned what worked well for other groups. Student feedback indicates that this activity prepared them to be creative and tackle the larger challenge of developing a solution to their own design project as part of the Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design course.

Short Communication: Perception of synthetic biology application for biodiversity conservation among life science students in Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia

Kemal RA. 2018. Short Communication: Perception of synthetic biology application for biodiversity conservation among life science students in Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. Nusantara Bioscience 10: 35-39. The emerging science of synthetic biology uses advanced engineering and biological science to re-design living organisms to carry out a specific function. Its application to biodiversity conservation seems promising yet barely addressed. Public perception of any emerging sciences and technologies should be studied. Therefore, this pilot study sought insight into the public perception of synthetic biology application to biodiversity conservation. As a pilot study, a web-based survey was designed for life science students in Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. Obtained responses were exported into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS 16.0. Results showed that respondents had a high agreement (>75%) on biodiversity problems, but the attitude toward risk in tackling problems is more cautious yet still open to new conservation technology. The respondents' overall perception of synthetic biology application for biodiversity conservation was positive (70% agreed/strongly agreed). The respondents perceived the application as risky but at the same time beneficial. There was a significant correlation between support for new technology development for biodiversity conservation with belief in promises that synthetic biology application's benefit (0.549, p<0.001). The respondents were still optimistic that the application would not decrease people's interest in biodiversity conservation. Results from this pilot study can serve as starting point for discussions and assessments of synthetic biology application in biodiversity conservation.

Announcing the winners of our 50th Anniversary Science Communication Competition.

The FEBS Journal is pleased to announce the three winners of its 50th Anniversary Science Communication Competition. Read on to see their prize-winning entries!

NMD SERVER: NATURAL MEDICINES DATABASE FOR DRUG DISCOVERY

Cancer is the most frequently diagnosed disease globally and the second leading cause of the death. Natural Medicines are the alternative form of treatment that includes use of various plants. It is one of the safe treatment option to treat cancer and safer than allopathic medicines in order to reduce side effects. NMD Server: Natural Medicines Database for Drug Discovery is a unique and significant database of its kind, giving researchers, medical practitioners, pharmaceutical industries and students of Life Sciences an instant access to over 354 records of Natural Medicines which may be developed and used for treatment of Cancer. This database constitutes the specific information related to Natural Medicines and their respective target sites. NMD Server: Natural Medicines Database for Drug Discovery provides all the information (database fields) regarding the physiological parameters of database and is considered to be the linked table with pre-determined values and names that are included to aid in populating the fields of the linked tables. There have been many different types of fields with its respective data types that have been designated on the basis of data provided. NMDdock Tools have been integrated in this database for convenience for users like docking analysis of target and natural medicine, Sensitivity & Specificity analysis of natural medicine, Linear Correlation and Regression tool, Sequence Manipulation of target, Statistical Analysis. For the precise information about any particular drug, connectivity has been made with other databases and applications based highly bioinformatics tools have been embedded for convenience of users.

Using egocentric analysis to investigate professional networks and productivity of graduate students and faculty in life sciences in Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Prior studies showed that scientists’ professional networks contribute to research productivity, but little work has examined what factors predict the formation of professional networks. This study sought to 1) examine what factors predict the formation of international ties between faculty and graduate students and 2) identify how these international ties would affect publication productivity in three East Asian countries. Face-to-face surveys and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of faculty and doctoral students in life sciences at 10 research institutions in Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. Our final sample consisted of 290 respondents (84 faculty and 206 doctoral students) and 1,435 network members. We used egocentric social network analysis to examine the structure of international ties and how they relate to research productivity. Our findings suggest that overseas graduate training can be a key factor in graduate students’ development of international ties in these countries. Those with a higher proportion of international ties in their professional networks were likely to have published more papers and written more manuscripts. For faculty, international ties did not affect the number of manuscripts written or of papers published, but did correlate with an increase in publishing in top journals. The networks we examined were identified by asking study participants with whom they discuss their research. Because the relationships may not appear in explicit co-authorship networks, these networks were not officially recorded elsewhere. This study sheds light on the relationships of these invisible support networks to researcher productivity.

The Math-Biology Values Instrument: Development of a Tool to Measure Life Science Majors' Task Values of Using Math in the Context of Biology.

In response to calls to improve the quantitative training of undergraduate biology students, there have been increased efforts to better integrate math into biology curricula. One challenge of such efforts is negative student attitudes toward math, which are thought to be particularly prevalent among biology students. According to theory, students' personal values toward using math in a biological context will influence their achievement and behavioral outcomes, but a validated instrument is needed to determine this empirically. We developed the Math-Biology Values Instrument (MBVI), an 11-item college-level self--report instrument grounded in expectancy-value theory, to measure life science students' interest in using math to understand biology, the perceived usefulness of math to their life science career, and the cost of using math in biology courses. We used a process that integrates multiple forms of validity evidence to show that scores from the MBVI can be used as a valid measure of a student's value of math in the context of biology. The MBVI can be used by instructors and researchers to help identify instructional strategies that influence math-biology values and understand how math-biology values are related to students' achievement and decisions to pursue more advanced quantitative-based courses.

Null effects of boot camps and short-format training for PhD students in life sciences

Many PhD programs incorporate boot camps and summer bridge programs to accelerate the development of doctoral students' research skills and acculturation into their respective disciplines. These brief, high-intensity experiences span no more than several weeks and are typically designed to expose graduate students to data analysis techniques, to develop scientific writing skills, and to better embed incoming students into the scholarly community. However, there is no previous study that directly measures the outcomes of PhD students who participate in such programs and compares them to the outcomes of students who did not participate. Likewise, no previous study has used a longitudinal design to assess these outcomes over time. Here we show that participation in such programs is not associated with detectable benefits related to skill development, socialization into the academic community, or scholarly productivity for students in our sample. Analyzing data from 294 PhD students in the life sciences from 53 US institutions, we found no statistically significant differences in outcomes between participants and nonparticipants across 115 variables. These results stand in contrast to prior studies presenting boot camps as effective interventions based on participant satisfaction and perceived value. Many universities and government agencies (e.g., National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation) invest substantial resources in boot camp and summer bridge activities in the hopes of better supporting scientific workforce development. Our findings do not reveal any measurable benefits to students, indicating that an allocation of limited resources to alternative strategies with stronger empirical foundations warrants consideration.

Living organisms from Prigogine’s perspective: an opportunity to introduce students to biological entropy balance

All living structures, from archaea to human, are open thermodynamic systems analysed through nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Nonequilibrium thermodynamics is a field with important applications to life sciences, which is very often left out of life science courses. A three-step method is suggested to make an easy introduction of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to life science students. The first step is to introduce the Prigogine equation dS = deS + diS, and explain the meaning of the entropy exchange with the surroundings deS and internal entropy generation in the system diS. The second step is to show that the Prigogine equation is connected to the equilibrium thermodynamics already known to students. This can be done by deriving the Clausius inequality dS ≥ dq/T, from the Prigogine equation applied to reversible and irreversible processes in closed systems. Reversible and irreversible processes are discussed separately and the results are then combined into the Clausius inequality. The third step is to introduce the fact that the Prigogine equation has a variety of applications in life sciences. This would give the students an opportunity to understand the entropy balance of physiological processes in cells and organisms. The import and accumulation of entropy, entropy generation, and entropy export could be made easier for students to adopt.

Assessing the Knowledge Pattern Regarding the Palliative Care among the Non-Medical Life Science Students in Bangladesh

Assessing the Knowledge Pattern Regarding the Palliative Care among the Non-Medical Life Science Students in Bangladesh

Targeting Future Customers: An Introductory Biobanking Course for Undergraduate Students of Life Sciences

Biobanking is a relatively new concept in the Arab region. Targeting different stakeholders to introduce the concept of biobanking and develop an acceptance of it among them is important for the growth of biobanking in the region. Undergraduate students of life sciences represent an important segment of stakeholders, since they constitute potential future biobank customers. Limited funding, lack of awareness of the existence of the term "biobanking" itself among these students, and questions regarding best marketing strategies presented challenges to planning for the most effective message delivery to this target group. A specific course was designed for undergraduate students of life sciences, which was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. The course was conducted twice in 2016 and included lectures covering biobanking, quality, ethics, information technology, and translational research. Facebook and word-of-mouth were used for marketing and advertising. A total number of 125 participants attended both courses cumulatively. Facebook appeared to have been an effective marketing outlet, especially when paid advertisements were used. Evaluation of knowledge, measured using a pretest and posttest, demonstrated some improvement in knowledge of participants. Evaluation forms filled after the course showed positive attitude toward content and message delivery by a majority of participants. Facebook was also used as an evaluation method through analysis of engagement with posts created after course completion. Biobanking education can be carried out effectively with limited resources. Understanding the needs of the target group and using appropriate methods of communication are essential prerequisites to a well-tailored curriculum and effective message delivery. Using Facebook appears to be an effective and affordable method of communication and advertising. Targeting undergraduate students of life sciences interested in research is a good investment and can be very effective in increasing awareness about biobanking inside the research community.

The Case for Biocalculus: Design, Retention, and Student Performance.

Calculus is one of the primary avenues for initial quantitative training of students in all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, but life science students have been found to underperform in the traditional calculus setting. As a result, and because of perceived lack of its contribution to the understanding of biology, calculus is being actively cut from biology program requirements at many institutions. Here, we present an alternative: a model for learning mathematics that sees the partner disciplines as crucial to student success. We equip faculty with information to engage in dialogue within and between disciplinary departments involved in quantitative education. This includes presenting a process for interdisciplinary development and implementation of biology-oriented Calculus I courses at two institutions with different constituents, goals, and curricular constraints. When life science students enrolled in these redesigned calculus courses are compared with life science students enrolled in traditional calculus courses, students in the redesigned calculus courses learn calculus concepts and skills as well as their traditional course peers; however, the students in the redesigned courses experience more authentic life science applications and are more likely to stay and succeed in the course than their peers who are enrolled in traditional courses. Therefore, these redesigned calculus courses hold promise in helping life science undergraduate students attain Vision and Change recommended competencies.

Ecological awareness of students of life sciences and their choice of the way of transport

Ecological awareness of students of life sciences and their choice of the way of transport

Commentary: Physicists without borders

Commentary: Physicists without borders

Understanding student motivations and career aspirations so that we can effectively support our graduates

With graduate employability existing at the heart of the Higher Education (HE) agenda, we review student motivators, and the aspirations of life science, pharmacy and chemistry students for entering into HE. We evaluate this particularly in reference to Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students, as their career aspirations and motivators for studying may play an important role in determining degree attainment and consequent graduate opportunities.Keywords: Employability; Black and Minority Ethnic; attainment

ANALYSIS OF EPISTEMIC PRACTICES IN REPORTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS GROUPS IN CARRYING OUT THE INQUIRY-BASED ACTIVITY OF IMMUNOLOGY

Practical classes in immunology are important to assist the learning of abstract theoretical concepts of biological phenomena learned in the classroom. Here, our proposal was the qualitative characterization of epistemic practices. Analysis of the results obtained from the investigative activities showed that student groups mobilize a huge variety of epistemic practices during reports writing, for example, to predict, conclude, name, describe, explain, opine, and the use of theoretical data for reviewing and evaluating the consistency of the data observed. A better understanding of these interactions can help in the teaching of Immunology classes for undergraduate students of life sciences and health courses.

Featured Collection Introduction: Open Water Data Initiative

Featured Collection Introduction: Open Water Data Initiative

Gamification: using elements of video games to improve engagement in an undergraduate physics class

Gamification has been extensively implemented and studied in corporate settings and has proven to be more effective than traditional employee-training programs, however, few classroom studies of gamification have been reported in the literature. Our study explored the potential of gamified on-line undergraduate physics content as a mechanism to enhance student learning and motivation. Specifically, the main objective of this work was to determine whether extrinsic motivation indicators commonly used in video games could increase student engagement with course content outside of the classroom. Life Science students taking an introductory physics course were provided access to gamified multiple choice quizzes as part of their course assessment. The quizzes incorporated common gaming elements such as points, streaks, leaderboards and achievements, as well as some gamified graphical enhancements and feedback. Student attitudes and performance among those using the gamified quizzes were examined and compared to non-gamified control groups within the same course. Student engagement was quantified through examining student participation above and beyond the minimum course requirements. The results showed that gaming techniques are significantly correlated with increased engagement with course material outside of the classroom. These results may assist instructors in engaging and motivating students outside the classroom through carefully designed online and distance-delivered undergraduate physics content. Furthermore, the gaming elements incorporated in this study were not specifically tied to the physics content and can be easily translated to any educational setting.

Team-Based Development of Medical Devices: An Engineering-Business Collaborative.

There is a global shift in the teaching methodology of science and engineering toward multidisciplinary, team-based processes. To meet the demands of an evolving technical industry and lead the way in engineering education, innovative curricula are essential. This paper describes the development of multidisciplinary, team-based learning environments in undergraduate and graduate engineering curricula focused on medical device design. In these programs, students actively collaborate with clinicians, professional engineers, business professionals, and their peers to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. In the undergraduate senior capstone courses, teams of biomedical engineering (BME) and business students have produced and delivered numerous functional prototypes to satisfied clients. Pursuit of commercialization of devices has led to intellectual property (IP) disclosures and patents. Assessments have indicated high levels of success in attainment of student learning outcomes and student satisfaction with their undergraduate design experience. To advance these projects toward commercialization and further promote innovative team-based learning, a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Design and Commercialization was recently launched. The MEng facilitates teams of graduate students in engineering, life sciences, and business who engage in innovation-commercialization (IC) projects and coursework that take innovative ideas through research and development (R&D) to create marketable devices. The activities are structured with students working together as a "virtual company," with targeted outcomes of commercialization (license agreements and new start-ups), competitive job placement, and/or career advancement.

Attitudes toward genetically modified organisms in Poland: to GMO or not to GMO?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a subject of on-going scientific, political and social discussions in Member States of the European Union (EU) concerning their use, benefits, risks, safety and limitations. EU societies have every right to substantive information and education in biotechnology, yet they appear to be misinformed by contradictory views and sensationalism. The present study investigated the level of knowledge and the attitude of citizens of Poland (n = 1021) towards the various uses of GMOs. As found, the use of GMOs in medicine and pharmacy received slight approval from the surveyed group, and was generally perceived as the greatest benefit of GMOs. In contrast, most respondents were against the production and distribution of GM food products on the Polish market or at least favoured the labelling of any product that contains a GM component. The majority of individuals who were willing to accept GM foods also demanded their labelling. The studied group revealed various concerns related to the safety of GM foods, particularly their potential effect on health and the environment. Generally, the greatest scepticism towards GMOs and GM foods was expressed by farmers, medical workers and school teachers while the greatest enthusiasm was shown by students of medical and life sciences, and researchers/academicians. Importantly, most of those taking part in the survey admitted that their knowledge of GMOs was insufficient, expressed a willingness to improve it, and expected school teachers, academicians and researchers to be actively involved in this process. In conclusion, the present study underlines the urgent need to implement evidence-based educational programmes so as to raise the public understanding of the current possibilities and limitations of GMO-based technology in Poland.