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Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Sciences Division of Human Nutrition
University of Alberta AFNS 601
Seminar in Human Nutrition and Metabolism
Course Outline Winter 2018
AFNS 601 is a required course for all MSc and PhD students.
Course coordinator:
Dr. Cathy Chan, Professor of Human Nutrition Office: 6-126B LKS.
Email : [email protected] Office phone: 780-492-9939
Office hours: Arranged by email or phone.
Term: Fall or Winter
Meeting time and location:
Wednesday 12:00-1:00, ECHA L1 150 Credits: 1
Course description:
Covers specialized topics of current interest to graduate students in AFNS.
Presentations will be given by students, faculty and invited speakers. Students register in one of four sections - Animal Science, Plant Science, Food Science or Human Nutrition. Attendance is required of all graduate students throughout their program. MSc students normally register for one term in year 2, and are required to present one seminar; PhD students normally register for one term in each of year 1 and 3, and are required to present one seminar per term.
Only open to graduate students in AFNS.
Objectives:
1. To provide students with opportunities to present on their thesis topic;
2. To provide students with advice and feedback in preparing oral presentations;
3. To use these opportunities to develop skills in evaluating research and public speaking.
Students will engage in the following activities:
Attend all scheduled Wed noon seminars in the Fall 2016 term that are coordinated by the Division of Human Nutrition (AFNS). These seminars
2 provide an opportunity to learn about research in human nutrition and related areas such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, lipid metabolism, infant and child health, population health. Students should attend as many nutrition-related seminars that are held at times outside of the Wed noon time slot as possible.
Attend additional seminars on such topics as the basics of research methodology including formulation of research questions and objectives;
study design; selection and evaluation of endpoints; sample/model selection; appropriate methodology; summarizing and explaining results;
interpretation of results; comparing and contrasting studies.
Discuss current research relevant to human nutrition.
Write a research abstract.
Present a research seminar, either as a research proposal or as results from your own research.
Grading
This is a Pass-Fail course
MSc students must register for 1 term (normally during the 2nd year of their program). PhD students must register for 2 terms (normally during the 2nd and 4th year of their program).
Requirements:
o Students are expected to attend at least 75% of the seminars during the term in which they are registered. Absences should be documented with the course instructor.
o PhD students must present 1 seminar during each of the 2 terms in which they are registered.
o MSc students must present a seminar during the term in which they are registered.
o Students must chair at least one research seminar during the term in which they are registered.
o Students must receive a passing grade for their seminar as determined by the course instructor and one other Faculty member (usually the Supervisor).
Seminars will be evaluated by the course instructor and the faculty member invited by the students as well as other 601 students. See AFNS 601 Presentation Feedback Form. Oral feedback will be provided
immediately following the seminar you give.
Students who attend 75% of the seminars during the term in which they are registered, chair presentations for which they were assigned, and successfully complete 1 (MSc) or 2 (PhD) research presentation(s) following the criteria outlined will be assigned a “pass” in the course.
Failure to meet the requirements as outlined above will result in a
“fail”.
3 Academic Integrity
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these
standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour
(www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behavior, which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.” (GFC 2003)
Plagiarism and Cheating
The University of Alberta is committed to highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students must be familiar with standards regarding academic honesty and uphold policies of the University. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
All students at the University of Alberta are subject to the Code of Student Behaviour, as outlined at
http://www.governance.ualberta.ca/en/CodesofConductandResidenceCommun ityStandards/CodeofStudentBehaviour.aspx. Students should familiarize
themselves with the current version of the code and ensure they do not
participate in any inappropriate behaviour as defined by it. Key components of the code specific to this course include the following statements. Plagiarism:
no student shall submit the words, ideas, images or data of another person as the student’s own in any academic writing, essay, thesis, project, assignment, presentation or poster in a course or program of study. Cheating: no student shall represent another’s substantial editorial or compositional assistance on an assignment as the student’s own work. The most recent version of the Code of Student Behaviour can be found on line on the University of Alberta web site.
Students should speak with the course instructor about any questions or
concerns about the code. Students should be particularly aware of the code as it pertains to internet and library research, use of previous class notes,
reclamation plans of former students and interviews or discussions with others.
Course Format and Processes Seminar Topics:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to present, discuss, and critically appraise research, and to highlight current research activities conducted by members of the Division of Human Nutrition,
4 AFNS, and their guests. Students may also present at “Journal Club” on a regular basis, as time allows.
A seminar title and abstract should be sent to the Bite of Nutrition newsletter ([email protected]). The deadline is noon on Monday, 9 days before the presentation date. In addition, please send the same information to [email protected] by the Monday immediately prior to your seminar (can be sent to both at the same time).
Seminar
Seminar Abstract:
Prepare a short abstract (< 250 words) summarizing the content of your seminar.
Send the abstract to your supervisor for approval at least 2 weeks before your presentation.
After approval by your supervisor, send the abstract to Bite of Nutrition and Stephanie Ramage (see above for details)
Seminar Content:
Seminars should be 15-20 min in length followed by 5 minutes of questions. The exact length is determined by the number of people in the class. In general, PhD students will be given a longer time slot.
The following topics may be addressed during each presentation.
o Note: that these are suggestions, and are not required content o Background:
Provide information about the importance of the topic
Summarize the work conducted thus far by others and by you or your research group
(eg. describe TCA cycle, grounded theory)
What is known about this topic?
What is not known about this topic?
Why is this study needed?
What is unique about this study compared to other studies in the same area?
Outline the specific objectives and hypotheses (if appropriate) o Methodology:
Describe the research or study design (eg. RCT, cohort)
Research subjects/model and basic approach
the participants/model used and its suitability to answer the research question
Describe the patient population, reasons for inclusion/exclusion, baseline characteristics, differences between control and test groups
Describe the methods used
Summarize the process, how it works, the science behind the methods
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Describe the analysis of data (eg. coding of qualitative data, measurement of plasma glucose levels)
Briefly describe the process
Describe the selection and suitability of endpoints
Discuss strengths, limitations, alternate methodologies
Define and describe key statistical concepts o Results
Define key terminology (eg relative risk, HOMA IR index)
Summarize main findings
Present key tables, figures o Discussion:
Restate the overall question and objectives, and the major findings with respect to each one
Were the study objectives met?
Describe how these results compare to the findings of others, and why results were similar/dissimilar
Discuss the suitability of the study design to answer the research question, strengths, limitations, suggestions for improvement
Discuss the suitability of the methods to answer the research question
Discuss strengths, limitations, alternate methodologies
Implications of findings for research, clinical care, etc.
Student Chair Role:
Contact the presenter for a title and CV. Deadline is 1 week before the seminar.
Write a brief introduction to introduce them (name, educational background, supervisor, thesis project, presentation title).
Fill in the name of the speaker and title of the presentation on the AFNS 601 Presentation Feedback Form. Make enough copies (talk to Tracy about getting copies made for the AFNS 601 class) and distribute them to AFNS students and the course instructor at the seminar.
Seminar duties:
o A/V: assist with A/V set-up and take down.
o Evaluation (for AFNS 601 student presentations only): distribute AFNS 601 Presentation Feedback Forms at the beginning of the seminar, ask the audience to fill them out and return them to you before leaving, collect feedback forms and return to the course instructor.
o Seminar: introduce the speaker, thank speaker, initiate and close discussion time.
6 o Time: the Student Chair is responsible to ensure the seminar runs
on time. Seminars should begin at 12:05pm, and the discussion time must finish no later than 1:00pm.
A/V:
The classroom for the seminar is a smart classroom.
Speakers are responsible for the operation of the A/V equipment, however the Student Chair should provide assistance.
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Schedule:
The roster of speakers will be determined during the second week of class.
Winter Semester
Date Activity/Presenter Host
January 10 First day of class C Chan
January 17 Seminar tips C Chan
January 24 January 31 February 7 February 14
February 21 No class – Reading week February 28
March 7 March 14 March 21
March 28 3 Mager students (3 x MSc) April 4
April 11
MSc PhD
Shima Paulina
Maryam Ana Teresa
Samah Luana
Amanda Katherine
Laura Jacqueline
Rachel Lisa
Laura Beth Sarah Carolina
