The First Year Seminar in Science is an innovative course given in the Faculty of Science that is designed to jump-start you in your academic career in science by exposing you to teaching styles, concepts and research opportunities that are normally reserved for upper-year students. We hope that you will find NSCI 1000 both interesting and challenging, and we will work with you to make your experience of NSCI 1000 as rewarding as possible.

• Read what other students are saying about the First Year Seminar

First Year Seminar in Science is typically offered in the the Fall term only.

Course Objectives

• To learn the communication skills required of a working scientist, both written and oral.
• To learn to be constructively critical of scientific ideas
• To understand how the scientific process works, from the original concept through the design of experiments to the publication of results
• To learn to work in small groups towards a common goal
• To obtain an insight of the facilities available for a science student at Carleton

Most classes will take place in the lecture rooms, but from time to time they will be scheduled in other locations.  The material to be covered in NSCI 1000 does not lend itself well to a traditional lecture-style course. 

Class time will be used for discussions, debates, workshops and student-led seminars.  Moreover, the aim of this course is to move away from a lecture format and towards the more interactive teaching style that is usually reserved for upper-year undergraduate and/or graduate courses.  Consequently, this course will rely very heavily on student participation and investigation/preparation. 

The course will be far more interesting to those students who take the time to prepare for each class and make the effort to participate in discussions and debates.

Lecture Schedule

NSCI 1000 will be structured primarily around a series of 5 guest seminar speakers.  We have put together an exciting line-up of speakers, who have been selected not just because they are outstanding speakers but represent a wide range of interests
Seminars will take place for all first year seminar in science students at the same time, in the "workshop" slot (Fri., 2.35- 3.55 p.m.) We will include more details of these as the time approaches. In particular each of the speakers will provide a title along with some background information.

All students are expected to do some research in advance for the seminar, as well as write a report on it afterwards.

You will also be expected to attend at least one seminar outside the course: There are various possible ones, e.g. Herzberg Lecture

Contact Information

Dr. Peter Watson
Coordinator

Tel: (613) 520 - 2600 Ext. 4318
Email: watson [at] physics [dot] carleton [dot] ca