The aim of the course is to give doctoral students in various chemistry disciplines the opportunity to place their own science in a broader perspective and to discuss science from a chemical field that is more distant from their own research questions.
After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- Understand scientific hypotheses and research questions in more chemistry disciplines than their own, and how chemistry can be used to approach them.
- Discuss experimental methods used in chemistry disciplines other than their own.
- Critically review and evaluate scientific quality in more chemistry disciplines than their own.
Contents
The course is conducted in the form of a doctoral seminar series, held in connection with the chemistry division's regular seminar series, and through participation in mid-term seminars and dissertation defenses within the division.
A preparatory discussion forum is also included, where doctoral students meet and learn about each other's methods.
Educational methods
The course is conducted as a seminar series integrated into the chemistry division’s research seminar series, with approximately eight seminars per year. Doctoral students take turns giving a presentation in the first part of each seminar, and in the second part of the seminar features a presentation by a senior researcher. The goal is for the two presentations to come from different areas or research groups within the chemistry division.
The material presented can be an introduction to a project about to start, preliminary data from ongoing work, or a completed article. The doctoral student may also present a procedure or technique. Doctoral students are expected to ask questions to both senior and junior presenters.
Before the seminar, the presenting doctoral student gathers the other course participants and gives a short (approx. 15 min) introduction to the main method used in the presentation.
Examination
Examination is conducted through active participation in 75% of the chemistry division's seminars, including preparatory discussion forums, as well as attendance at 50% of dissertations and mid-term seminars within the division.
The doctoral student must also give a presentation at the chemistry seminar on at least two occasions. At the preparatory discussion forum, a short record is kept with the topic title and attendance list by the presenting doctoral student, which is then submitted to the examiner.
If 75% attendance is not achieved due to valid reasons such as illness, conference travel, teaching obligations, or other circumstances deemed equivalent by the examiner, there is an opportunity to complete a compensatory written assignment.