1. Biological Sciences Honours Course 4100
Get the most authentic science experiences you can!
Biological Sciences Honours Course 4100

3. Honours Committee 2017 – 2018 Jay Kormish, 474-7810, Buller 318
(chair 2018 –2019)
Jillian Detwiler
Kevin Fraser
Colin Garroway
Gary Anderson
Joy Stacey
John Markham
Gordon Goldsborough
Jane Waterman BIOL3100

4. What is BIOL 4100? Includes: A six credit hour course:
designed to give students experience in scientific research from inception to presentation
Includes:
planning
extensive background reading
experimental design and execution
data analyses
communication of results
(both written and orally)

5. Why take BIOL 4100?
- Do I have a talent for research?
Opportunity to complete a self-directed research project
- Learn how research is done
- Do I enjoy doing research?
- Major qualification for your future scientific life
Awards (best proposal and best thesis) and one bursary

6. - 4th Year Honours status in Biological Sciences
To enroll in BIOL 4100…
Student must have:
- 4th Year Honours status in Biological Sciences
- GPA ≥ 3.0
- ≥ C grade in all Biological Sciences courses
Make sure you have the grade requirements...
If you do not have these requirement let me know as soon as possible
- BIOL3100

7. To enroll in BIOL 4100…
2. Student is responsible for finding an advisor
AND, with the advisor’s help, finding an additional external committee member within (or associated) with the Biological Sciences Department
For advisors from outside the department
→ must be approved by Honours committee
→ need a co-advisor within the department
Take BIOL 3350!
Data & Analysis in Ecology
Advice from students:

8. Committees… Each student has a committee composed of: i) advisor(s)
ii) one member of the Honours Committee
iii) one additional external committee member
Role:
Assess student proposal and progress report
Ensure consistency among thesis projects
Grade thesis document and oral defense

9. BIOL 4100 Course Structure No formal lectures or labs!
Informal meetings with HTC committee
Communication via myumanitoba account
Three general meetings with the advisory committee:
1. Proposal meeting (May/Sept 2018)
2. Progress meeting (Document: due Dec 15; Meeting date by Jan 18, 2019)
3. Thesis exam symposium (April 2019)

10. Course requirements Written Proposal Proposal presentation
Summer: by May
Written Proposal
Fall: start of September
Due: 7 days before proposal meeting
Summer: by May
Proposal presentation
Fall: by September
Written Progress report
Due: Dec
Data collection & preliminary analysis complete OR
VW  Major Degree
Due: Jan
Written Progress Presentation
March 28
Written Thesis
Due: March 27, 201
tba ~April 10, 2019
(before final exams)
Thesis Defense Presentation

11. Evaluation (overview)
Proposal (written & oral) 10%
Progress Report (written & oral) 15%
Thesis (written) 50%
Thesis defense (oral & exam) 10%
Conduct of research (supervisor) 15%
100%

12. Usually 30+ page document (please not 50 or more)
Thesis (written)
Usually 30+ page document (please not 50 or more)
- style follows departmental guidelines, see outline and honours website
- 1st draft to supervisor by March
- thesis to all examiners by March
- final revised copy to office by April
Bring a bound copy of a thesis

13. Thesis (oral defense) After classes end, before exams (~April 10 2019)
→ 12 minute presentation
(project overview and research findings)
→ questions from Examining committee
(5-10 minutes of questions from each examiner)
→ questions from general audience
Total?

14. What next? If you have already identified an advisor
(and the additional committee member):
→ background reading, start to formulate questions; initiate proposal writing and mthods
→ safety training; animal care course
animal care protocol forms
→ Manitoba Conservation permits

15. What next? If you have not yet identified an advisor:
→ check out the Biological Sciences website for a list of potential advisors
Don’t
Delay!!!
→ meet with potential advisor(s)
→ discuss possible research projects
→ formulate research questions...

16. QUESTIONS?