Science and Communication Methods

Code:

RM01

Acronym:

MIC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Research Methodologies

Instance: 2019/2020 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Microscopy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Marine Sciences - Marine Resources

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCMRM	17	Oficial Plan 2018	1	-	5	50	135

Teaching language

Portuguese and english
Obs.: Inglês, se necessário | English, if needed

Objectives

Present and discuss the scientific method and the more frequent failures.

Review, discuss and train the forms of scientific communication for different audiences.

Make incursions in the management of bibliometrics and publishing systems.

Addressing issues of ethics in research and the interaction of science and society.

To promote opportunities to gain or to improve transversal competences.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should be able to improve their criative capacities and to gain critical abilities on how to correctly communicate scientific results, orally and in writing, for diverse audicences.

Enhance the capabilities of individual communication and the capacity for designing scientific studies.

Have the ability to search and interpret metric indicators of scientific production.

Aquisition and improvement of tranversal competences.

Working method

Presencial

Program

The fundamental concepts of scientific methodology.

Common basic errors and systems of validation and dissemination of scientific results.

The scientific world: publishers, editors, peers, authors. The indexing systems.

Presentation of databases and discussion of indicators of scientific impact.

The planning of a scientific study (e.g., proposals for funding, dissertation proposal).

Brainstorming in group for project definition. Conclusion with mind mapping software.

Preparing and presenting a Scientific Poster.

Preparing and presenting an Oral Communication.

Writing a scientific paper.

Writing and presentation of a thesis, of a dissertation or of a internship report.

Bibliographic databases and management of references via software.

Ethics and fraud in science - fundamentals and analyses of cases.

Communicate science to society.

Mandatory literature

Petter Laake, Haakon Breien Benestad, Bjorn Reino Olsen; Research in Medical and Biological Sciences: From Planning and Preparation to Grant Application and Publication, Academic Press Inc, 2015. ISBN: 0127999434
Ranjit Kumar; Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, SAGE, 2014. ISBN: 978-1446269978
Scott L. Montgomery; The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science (Second Edition), University of Chicago Press, 2017. ISBN: 022614450X
Geoffrey R. Marczyk, David DeMatteo, David Festinger; Essentials of Research Design and Methodology (Essentials of Behavioral Science), Wiley, 2005. ISBN: 978-0471470533

Comments from the literature

The teachers distribute further study materials and indicates online resources that are supplementary to the suggested bibliograhpy.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures

Exposure with discussion

Brainstorming

Work and discussion of group

Work and discussion extended

Representation

keywords

Social sciences > Educational sciences > Research methodology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	30,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	25,00
Estudo autónomo	43,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho de investigação	25,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

According to the rules of the U.Porto and ICBAS, namely attendance to at least 3/4 of the classes. Attendance toWe also consider the participation in at least 1 of the 2 Special Work requested (see below).

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade (0 to 20 points): Task 1 + Task 2 + Task 3 + Participation

Note 1: Each Task is scored from 0 to 6 values. The Participation is scored from 0 to 2 values.

Note 2: The participation (P) rewards the quality of performance (QD) of each student throughout the classes, taking into account the attendance (A). The classification to give P = QD x A (% of attendance to classes).

Note 3: Bónus of 0.5 points on Tasks 1 and 2 if written and presented in English.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Task 1. Small Group (class divided into groups of ca. 3 to 4 students):

Completion and presentation of a poster on a theme to choose. It is randomly selected at the time and day who presents the poster. Presentation Duration: 7-10 min. Discussion: up to 10 minutes.

There is a self-assessment of the performance of each element of the group, in % (0 to 100), to deliver on the day of presentation. The percent of participation of each student may influence its final grade.

Task 2. Enlarged Group (class divided into 3 groups of approximately equal number, ca. 6 to 8 students):

Preparation of project proposal for Master Dissertation (with 1 year duration). Work of simulation to create a project based on the form used in the Masters. Delivery (printed and PDF) and oral presentation (up to 15 min), followed by critical discussion (15 min).

The group shall appoint a spokesman for the presentation of the work. Is made self-assessment of the performance of each element of the group, in % (o to 100), to deliver on the day of presentation. The percent of participation of each student will influence its final note individually.

Task 3. Final Exam (test of multiple choice).

Classification improvement

Face to evaluation mode, is only subject to improvement of note the Task 3 (except if the student attend to new classes during the next academic year).