Syllabus+Spring+2012

Bio 572  Plant and Microbial Sciences Journal Club **__Class Details:__** Meeting Time: Alternating Fridays from 9 – 11 AM   Location: 312 McDonnell Hall Credit: 1 unit
 * Spring 2012**

**__Coursemaster__: Barbara Kunkel** **Email:** **kunkel@wustl.edu** **Phone:** 314-935-7284 **Office:** Monsanto 319 **__Discussion Leaders:__** Ivan Baxter, Bob Blankenship, Liz Haswell, Barbara Kunkel, Sona Pandey, Lucia Strader, Jim Umen, Oliver Yu   **__Course description:__** A biweekly discussion of modern and classic research in plant and microbial biology, including topics in molecular genetics, development, biochemistry, physiology, population dynamics and plant-pathogen interactions. Credit will be contingent on regular attendance and __active__ and __informed__ participation in group discussions and in an online format. **__Goals:__** **__Course Format:__** Faculty advisors will select a recent or classic paper for discussion, and distribute questions meant to stimulate discussion in advance of class via an online wiki. Students will take turns leading discussions of each paper. Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss any aspect of the assigned readings. The focus will be both on big-picture themes, scientific rational, experimental approaches, as well as technical details of each of the figures in the research paper. **__Required Reading:__** Papers for discussion and any relevant background material will be distributed well in advance of each class meeting. **__Academic Integrity:__** Students are expected to abide by the Washington University Polices on Academic Integrity: Graduate Students: http://artsci.wustl.edu/GSAS/Policies/ACINTEG03.pdf Please also observe standard classroom etiquette: turn off your cell phone, no email or texting during class, and listen to other students’ ideas with respect and without interruption.
 * 1) To develop students’ critical reading skills and prepare them for the peer review process.
 * 2) To provide an in depth discussion of both classic and important new papers in the area of plant biology.
 * 3) To give students experience in explaining scientific concepts in a casual atmosphere.