During this first class of the semester, students are asked during the first few minutes of class to respond to the following question in writing:
Why should we care about conducting research in space? What is the value of this research?
Then students work in small groups or pairs to discuss the following discussion prompts:
What are the main categories within space biology research?
Consider the two main variables (radiation and microgravity) within space. Which questions would you want to ask regarding the effect of these variables on biological processes?
What types of experiments could or are being performed within each research category that you came up with?
Keep in mind that research is conducted in different locations – space, high altitude, low earth orbit, parabolic flights, etc.
The instructor then introduces the interdisciplinary nature of space biology research and discusses some of the topics that are currently being researched, as well as the research goals for 2016-2025 outlined by NASA Space Biology.
The instructor then goes over the syllabus and learning objectives for the course.
The second hour of the first class focuses on how to read a scientific paper. Students spend a few minutes writing an answer to the following prompt:
What are your current strategies for reading a scientific research article (primary literature article)?
Students then work in small groups to come to a consensus on the best approach to read a scientific paper. These ideas are shared with the entire class.
The instructor then distributes copies of the article, "Perceptions of scientific research literature and strategies for reading papers depend on academic career stage" to students. Students are asked to look at the methods and results in the article. The instructor can assign a particular figure or table to each group of students and they are asked to then present the information in that figure/table to the class.
Class discussion focuses on how to best read a scientific paper. It is helpful for students to understand that the difficulties they may currently be encountering while reading scientific papers are appropriate for their education level. This class will help them gain additional practice reading and interpreting scientific literature.
The instructor can choose to assign further reading of the scientific article, such as the discussion section, and a reflection prompt on the reading.
The final hour of the class session is dedicated to lab work. Students are introduced to gravitropism assays, the flashlapse device, and asked to gather all of the parts they will need for assembly of the flashlapse device into a plastic bin.
Related resource: How to (seriously) read a scientific paper
Powerpoint slides for Day 1:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Powerpoint slides for Day 2:
Some of the figures and data that are presented and discussed in this class are from these articles:
Powerpoint slides for Day 3:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Powerpoint slides for Day 4:
Assigned reading for this class: Microgravity culture reduces apoptosis and increases the differentiation of a human colorectal carcinoma cell line.
Homework for this class:
Powerpoint slides for Day 5:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Powerpoint slides for Day 6 - Review of Muscle Structure and Contraction:
Readings assigned for Day 7 - Guest Lecture with Dr. Danny Riley on Neuromuscular Junctions and Neurolab:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Powerpoint slides for Day 8:
Homework and readings assigned for this class (Day 9):
Powerpoint slides for this class:
Readings assigned for Day 10 - guest lecture with Dr. Martha H. Vitaterna on Circadian Rhythms and the Microbiome:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Powerpoint slides for this class:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Readings assigned for this class:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Powerpoint slides for this class:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Powerpoint slides for this class:
Homework and readings assigned for this class:
Powerpoint slides for this class:
Students were instructed to work in groups of 2 to lead the class through discussion of an article of their choice. Students were provided with a list of recently published NASA articles as a starting point (see NASA space biology publications 2010-2016 and 2017-2018 below). They also had the option of finding a different article through pubmed.gov or another database.
Presentation Instructions: