Lab procedure 9 July 2008

Today is our first real lab period. Exciting, isn't it?

The plan for Wed 9 July and Thurs 10 July is for you to spend 2 days in groups researching and writing a small paper about a recent scientific development. Here is the writeup [pdf]; print out one copy per group when you arrive for the lab (329 Gallalee, 3:30pm TODAY).

Basically, you will have to:

• find a recent scientific development covered in the popular media (online)
• assess its importance
• assess the quality of the article (do you buy it? is it really a big deal?)
• relate it to physics/chemistry/biology courses you have taken
• relate it to your field of study

The thing is only supposed to be two pages long, so I think you can come up with something nice in two lab periods. Beware, however, that group writing is not always easier than going it alone: you will have to be organized and efficient.

And, yes, grade-wise this will count as two labs.