This module is an exciting and innovative initiative that will give students the opportunity to learn from world-renowned investigators from the Faculty of...

Contemporary Topics in Brain Science Research (BRNF0001)

This module is an exciting and innovative initiative that will give students the opportunity to learn from world-renowned investigators from the Faculty of Brain Sciences, via a series of taught Master Classes. The Master Classes will focus on exposure to cutting-edge research that is advancing critical understanding and translational outputs in the field of brain sciences. The aim of the module is to provide a multidisciplinary perspective of brain function and dysfunction from the molecular to the systems level. Topics covered include neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, cognition and dementia, psychotic and mood disorders, movement disorders, sensory system disorders and therapies, mental health care research and complex interventions, addiction neuropsychology and neurocomputation.

This is a research project on teaching and learning in the Biosciences, including how the Biosciences are taught in a University setting. Students will work...

Education Research Project in the Biosciences (BIOS0025)

This is a research project on teaching and learning in the Biosciences, including how the Biosciences are taught in a University setting. Students will work towards completion of a dissertation based on a piece of original research on education in the Biosciences. For example, students may investigate how different Biosciences concepts are taught at UCL, how staff and students engage with these concepts to teach and understand them, the similarities and differences of teaching and learning between a school setting and with university teaching. Under supervision from two members of staff, one from the UCL Institute of Education and one from the Division of Biosciences, the student will undertake independent research using social sciences approaches.

Students will be recruited onto the project module in the Summer before their final year and assigned prior reading to be completed before the Autumn term start. Project proposals will be suggested by students and will be crafted by the two UCL staff members in discussion with the student. Project proposals will only be approved if there is a key link to fundamental Biosciences teaching and research. Students will be required to write all documents necessary to obtain ethical approval for the project. Supervision will be throughout the project design, achievement of ethical approval, data acquisition and writing-up phase of the project. Through small group tutorials and independent reading, students will be introduced to the qualitative and quantitative methods of enquiry used in Education research, such as questionnaires, observations and interviews. Quantitative analysis may require training in statistical software packages.

Students taking the module will be encouraged to work together in a team to address separate aspects of Biosciences education but will also receive one to one supervision from the UCL supervisors.