ࡱ> DFC ,bjbj *<cc$&&,"0"2"2"2"2"2"2"0[$'b"b"dw"ddd0"d0"ddd@Q&Hd""0"d'd'ddd b"b"d"'&+ Q:   BIOL 416 Group Seminar assignment 2016 This exercise is aimed at familiarizing you with how to access, synthesize and present both general and primary scientific information on an issue in agroecosystem ecology. Working in pairs, you will prepare and deliver a seminar on some aspect that particularly interests you both of the central course thematic question What feasible changes in agroecosystem management would be most effective to meet global food demands in 2050? The most critical part of the whole exercise, and the key to a successful seminar, is to identify a clear and specific question that you would like to address. Your seminar question will relate to some component of the broader course thematic question above. You will need to be creative and think carefully about your chosen question. Seminar questions should be constructed so that they will likely lead to focussed, intelligent discussion that will move the seminar convenors and audience toward some potential answer, or toward a more refined perspective on the issue/theme, or toward an even more refined question. Expect to make several iterations of it as you read about the topic and develop your thinking and understanding of the issue involved. In many ways, formulating a good, clear, concise, challenging and original question is the most difficult part of the whole exercise, but it is also the most interesting and creative part, and once achieved, should make for a very effective seminar. As you prepare, I am happy to meet with each group to help you refine your question. Please allow plenty of time (e.g. a week) for this part of the exercise. Your ultimate goal as seminar convenors is to excite interest in your topic so that your audience will be fully engaged and keen to discuss ideas you raise, and therefore that they will leave the seminar afterwards with a much better understanding of the specific seminar question you have focused on, and how it relates to overall course thematic question. Learning Objectives: 1. Consult the general literature and devise an effective seminar question that synthesizes the current status of an issue in agroecosystem ecology that particularly interests you, and clearly relates to the overall course thematic question above. 2. Search the primary scientific literature for a significant example or 'case study' of research on that agroecosystem ecology issue. 3. Identify the hypothesis that was actually tested in the primary research paper. 4. Critically assess that research (positive and negative aspects). 5. Evaluate the contribution of that research to our understanding of the agroecosystem ecology issue. 6. Develop oral presentation skills, particularly discussion leadership. Seminar Exercise: Identify an agrocosystem ecological issue that relates directly to the course theme, and that is of particular interest to you. Consult the scientific literature and synthesize the current status of that issue. You may find the resources posted on the course web page Resources section including the websites and the list of highly recommended papers along with those listed in the References list (and the citations in those papers) useful as a starting point in reviewing the general agroecosystem ecology literature. Formulate your chosen issue into a question that you can use your literature research and seminar to make some progress toward answering. Search the primary literature (i.e. sources that present original research data) for a relevant article that you will use as an example or case study. Note that your seminar question should have a broader focus than the individual paper. In other words, the paper will not provide a comprehensive answer to your question, but will contribute to moving us toward an answer. You are encouraged to use evidence from other readings to supplement the seminar paper. You might find it helpful to look at the kinds of questions students have developed in previous versions of this course (e.g. BIOL 416 2014 website), but remember that these were for different overall course themes. Make an oral presentation (that would total ~20 minutes for a conventional talk, but that will actually last much longer because it will be interspersed with multiple question and answer and discussion sections), aimed at stimulating ideas and debate. The presentation should be suitable for an interested public audience, and should include the following headings (which should be divided among group members): a) The agroecosystem ecology issue: Introduction covering the scientific concepts underlying the issue, its spatial extent, and its historical context. Present your seminar question - Make sure to write it up very clearly in your title page, and possibly again later. In addition, writing it up on the white board is strongly recommended. Explain why you chose it. b) Research paper introduction: Introduce the primary research study that you are using as an example. Specifically refer back to concepts presented in the initial course seminars (-Pauls, and the guest lecturers) where appropriate. Describe the study's focus by identifying and articulating the specific hypotheses that you think were actually tested by the data reported in the paper. c) Research paper results: Outline the experimental approach briefly, and present a summary of the study's main results (e.g. perhaps 1-3 of the core graphs or tables no more). d) Research paper assessment: Critical assessment of the study's main results and conclusions. This component should contain both positive and negative aspects, and should identify and evaluate any assumptions underlying the study. e) Research paper context: Evaluation of the study's contribution to the agroecosystem ecology issue. f) The future: Finish your seminar by summarizing your conclusions on the seminar question you have posed. Be sure to include a synopsis of what you have learnt from your seminar audience as well. Finally, offer some conclusions on the future importance and development of your chosen agroecosystem ecology issue within the broader context of the course theme. Seminar convenors: Note that the main objective of this exercise is the process of synthesizing information on an issue, and critically evaluating a primary research source from the scientific literature. You are not expected to understand (or present) the fine detail of the results and data analyses from your chosen primary research paper. Concentrate on the main points and big issues. Use the paper as a spring-board to highlight your chosen agroecosystem issue. The more interactive and discussion-based the seminar is, the better. Seminar convenors: Seminar convenors will be graded as a group (50% of the total mark) according to the following criteria: i) quality of the seminar question clarity, focus, intellectually stimulating, creativity ii) development of that question during the seminar using evidence from the chosen reading, and other sources, and linkages to concepts presented in initial seminars by Paul and/or the guest lecturers iii) presentation structure and clarity iv) synopsis at the end of the seminar Individual seminar convenors will be graded separately (50% of the total mark) on each of their presentations according to the following criteria: v) evidence of independent critical thinking (e.g. identifying the actual hypothesis tested in the primary research paper; identifying other issues/arguments and critiquing them), and original ideas vi) enthusiasm and originality in presentation vi) audience engagement and discussion leadership Note the above very carefully - They tell you what I am looking for. Seminar participants: The success of this course as a learning instrument will largely depend on the quality of the discussions in each seminar. The main objective is to encourage the thinking processes of identifying and assessing some of the major cutting-edge issues in agroecosystem ecology that fit within the course thematic question. Initiation and participation in the discussions following each seminar is a critically important part of the learning process in this course. Please read the research paper circulated prior to each seminar, and come prepared with a typed list (hardcopy) of three relevant discussion ideas or questions relating to the agroecosystem ecology issue in general, or to the chosen research paper, or some combination of the two. These questions will be graded by the convenors and the course instructor on the basis of their quality (i.e. their perceptiveness and relevance). The overall question and possible readings that you are considering using for your seminar should be sent to me in time (at least 10 days prior to your seminar) so that we can schedule a one on one meeting where I can assess the question and the possible papers and provide feedback. The earlier you send them to me, the more feedback I will be able to provide. If you are having difficulties, please contact me. Finally, note that I am very keen to support individual approaches in this course, so if you have other suggestions of how you would like to do your seminar (e.g. role plays, debate), please contact me. !&' < = B E i j k l |  . J K Q Y l         % H N ެ酑酑}鍑h:h:>*h:hV.>*h*h:hH56\]hHhH56\]=hHhH56B*CJ$OJQJ\]^JaJ$nH phPtH hH hV.hV.hV.h*>* hV.h*hl-hV. h 5hoho5 h51'mjhF/    gd:gd*gdl-gdBDgdoN \ lmg;EFTm~9Q6OQ\t3RSTuvϽh@C%h3h h2odhoho5ho hV.h* hAhl-hl-h\(hl->* hl->* hBD>*hBDhBD5 hBDhBDhV.h:h*A*6PVm)Pn5.v[{9CIc2Hd|Zoּּּּ֩ hq;hq;h]mho6h]m h]mh]mhV.hq;hoho>* h_>* hV.>*hohBD hmh: hq;h:hrp<hl-h h_h:@    > ^ W!!!!!!"""."/"0"1""""""#########$$$$U%W%i%j%n%%%%%%%ͥҎ hq;5h_hBD5 hq;hrp<h_hrp<5hrp<hrp<5h_hq;5hrp<hq;5hq;hrp<h^hrp<5 hrp<5hBD hBD>*hBDho>*hq;ho>* hBD5hoho5hohV.4 """1"""##$$$j%%%%&&&*&)),gdP$gdq;gdrp<gdo%%%%&&&&&*&'')':'g'i''''(\(g(j(o(((((()>)Z))*.***++,,ǿǸϭϭhes hesho hX<hohX<hV.>*hX<ho>*$.<hoho5hohBDhq; hq;>*h@hq;>*h_((/ =!"#$% .~h6666666662 0@P`p2( 0@P`p 0@P`p 0@P`p 0@P`p 0@P`p 0@P`p8XV~ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@ 0@66PJ_HmH nH sH tH D`D NormalCJ_HaJmH nHsH tHDA`D Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k (No List *W * V.`Strong5\HH @C% Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ^/^ @C%Balloon Text Char$CJOJQJ^JaJmH nHsH tHPK!pO[Content_Types].xmlj0Eжr(΢]yl#!MB;.n̨̽\A1&ҫ QWKvUbOX#&1`RT9<l#$>r `С-;c=1g?}~O:~kҏM݄׷ )I0wK)K`qfݢFHb?G+D7HȌ x|iRLJqbOYPΥyL#R=E6wR#ϣ\16h>(()1!F\OI1yA"֐LəQMc@^V6o#6ϝU񅉄Q )FRrFrB72aʜ snyz? rnyӑCv(Yذ: ~%'L̼C9c_lj5xS,<̨ɊVRohzB+~KOOI̲uk##7~FmKw{ 7n_n?/绗Bx˭kYW[d}N('\m9zj"Cy'.ʐq2&""h;+Dpqg8lհշerfk.NsHlk~9"Gڛҽb5i{d&D{=(!hjew¢kaёשaʬɁV=0#xBdTyL`MvL$r3IȨc4Euиid(|PZX6` 4Օem5}(-z0Y@pE4g6ʲȸ"WABJ+_JCz%YA$BO6"#Zaol ijK.Joegzmo1QT5#QQt1JK:ꬌvVhglzPnZvޮ{&iv3fXXޮk!M;|.ے]k>2~{QLfPweXjv1jv&~kv+neN`]04_+U՗;{ 1K*J%|zl&jO"DqkH}]^J*^ӫU:~Y~>uË(*/]۽%UTq! :[q*f\Na+hto\B~3ZNUתIn5}b+壈W:PK! ѐ'theme/theme/_rels/themeManager.xml.relsM 0wooӺ&݈Э5 6?$Q ,.aic21h:qm@RN;d`o7gK(M&$R(.1r'JЊT8V"AȻHu}|$b{P8g/]QAsم(#L[PK-!pO[Content_Types].xmlPK-!֧6 -_rels/.relsPK-!kytheme/theme/themeManager.xmlPK-!o(ʾtheme/theme/theme1.xmlPK-! ѐ' theme/theme/_rels/themeManager.xml.relsPK] $&<N %, ,8@0(  B S  ?"&w &/9B#,6!?!$' $3@RO8h;E3X=#!X!/BJg|gB&32,Y *z q"Zs x z j)  4 = B C  z '?/;'IzVE .#q)Red&;(;Ny]kIO k|W}1@1RAc| 49*%7 \*:#Bz/@5lDiz%  RO ,!:!Z!D""F;"Ql"6~"} #C#$$U$%D % %%51%@C%)&2&uP)g*Rv*v%+p+5,>,ի,<-c-l- ./+//$/5/;/0oY0Y0 1I1l1(1E12 2tH2cP34N`4;57*747W818 l8o8's8x99/c9i9u9 :0:g:p: ;6;q;rp<=-O=>>d>>5?6?豷??%7b+ᴡⴡT|#:9Eᷡ[+-?5ѱue00tLհՎe.̱ʏK]:Ցܑ(&=ݒ8lٔ3.5!=q4Wo]< W0bc0%K?[irhz O<H@oaRW$J+|%Tn '16eATp7$7YaFP]V.k oYXpCUEGbQ@f_s4-G5:0fm<J1>S}U#{79?oq2{,-HP/Ye- -m>r;b[)QO)]f c^8B;E)Aoprm3{&X<q( %64@H#pt? }CC9x~L9gt3| *H_lY k'a?SXl/O9C1^!fi+T<t#CovyW >A$U(2U_\(*YN*1]DURu/U\`cDG\4{r5d)>V0g{+.i4+5os $V_#&5?Rmp~I4 G_hPAu^E8 A,fT b_>'L6j3%;N.k.4F^OC>H;IF#8NbUg$$@&&&&$0@UnknownG*Ax Times New Roman5Symbol3 *Cx Arial3Times; jMS Mincho5 .[`)TahomaA$BCambria Math"hJ'`J'J'aAaA!4## 2qHP ?2!xxbD Seminar assignment Paul GroganMicrosoft Office User Oh+'0   D P \ ht|'Seminar assignment Paul Grogan Normal.dotmMicrosoft Office User5Microsoft Macintosh Word@NZ@B@@ a ՜.+,0  hp  'Queens UniversityA# Seminar assignment Title  !"#$%&'()*+,-./012456789:<=>?@ABERoot Entry FQ&G1Table'WordDocument*<SummaryInformation(3DocumentSummaryInformation8;CompObjr  F Microsoft Word 97-2004 Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q