YNH-30302 Frontiers in Nutrition Science

Course

Credits 2.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

BSc degree in Nutrition Science or related

Continuation courses:

MSc thesis

Contents:

Interdisciplinary research often enhances scientific insights, but often the potential for interactions between fields is not realized to its fullest. The field of Nutrition and Health shares a common research interest, but a wide range of approaches to answer this question is used.
This course aims at challenging the student to recognize and exploit the potential relationship between different approaches and keep up to date with current Wageningen Nutrition and Health research outcomes.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- analyse opportunities in inter-disciplinary research;
- identify potential connections between specializations within the MSc Nutrition and Health;
- identify main requirements for successful interdisciplinary research.

Activities:

- an introductory presentation is given twice a year;
- throughout the academic year, lectures with time for discussion are organized on 'state of the art' topics in the various nutrition and health disciplines. Students have to attend at least 8;
- in groups of 2 or 3 participants, the topic of one of these lectures, not directly linked to the specialisation of the participants, is selected and linked to the own specialisation of the participants;
- this is supported by literature study and discussion within the group;
- write a 2 page (research) proposal highlighting the (novel) ways in which this topic can be interlinked to other fields;
- anonymous peer review of proposal from another groups (1 page);
- give feedback/rebuttal on the review to be used by the examiner(s) in grading the essay (0.5 page).

Examination:

- attending at least 8 presentations is mandatory to pass the course;
- the course should be completed within 1 year from the first visit to a presentation;
- 30% quality of peer review done on proposal of another group;
- 20% assessment by the anonymous peers;
- 50% essay combined with rebuttal.