Draft "Goals"
Here are some draft goals of the group, hopefully I’ll have time to write up a more succinct version (and include input from others!):
Goals of “Discuss Evolution”
The goal is to set it up so it's fairly informal and there's no pressure to attend regularly. A main goal was to help brush up that sort of things we learnt about in undergrad but have forgotten as we become more focussed in our own fields of study.
Goals of “Discuss Evolution”
The goal is to set it up so it's fairly informal and there's no pressure to attend regularly. A main goal was to help brush up that sort of things we learnt about in undergrad but have forgotten as we become more focussed in our own fields of study.
What it's about.
As biologists, we all end up inevitably with a narrow focus on our own topic, and most of what we know about other aspects of biology is based on fading memories from our undergrad courses, when the key topics and papers were handed to us on a platter. As we become postgrads and academics the time we can't afford the time to keep track of all the other fields as it takes all our time to research our own one. Unfortunately this means that we end up with a less integrated view of biology and crucially some really important information that could benefit from other fields us could fly under the radar. Additionally, we find many new leaps forward and fruitful areas of research stem from links made between other fields of research.
Having some streamlined, simple and efficient way to keep tabs on these other fields of research I think is beneficial, if not imperative for some one who is serious about being a professional biologist. We don't necessarily need to know the details, but at least be aware of the developments, have a handle on the "keywords" to help look them up if we need to, and also know a few names of people who do research or understand these other concepts.
The Discuss Evolution group:
I'm hoping this discussion group can do just that. "Evolution" was the best broad umbrella term I could think of for the group. Despite still being in start up mode those that are participating include postgrads and academics involved or interested in animal genetics and developmental biology, nerve growth, anthropology, forensics, human and animal anatomy, vertebrate palaeontology, functional morphology and biomechanics, philosophy of science (esp. evolution theory) and some with backgrounds in artificial intelligence, maths and computing, and general physics (esp. quantum physics).
So, how is it run? – Fortnightly meetings…
Journal Club meetings (fortnightly 4:30pm, UQ Staff club). These fall on the study weeks with even numbers (see UQ Calendar). Set papers are read prior to the meeting and discussed at the start of the meeting. The discussion should lead on to other topics, and the opportunity should arise for questions on other matters can be asked of members more familiar of particular fields.
Book Club meetings (fortnightly 4:30pm, UQ Staff club). Odd weeks in the UQ Calendar. This is expected to be smaller meetings, where chapters of set books are discussed, but generally follows the same structure as the Journal Club meetings.
There is no pressure to attend every meeting, and though we prefer the readings be read prior to the meetings, we welcome those that haven’t (in fact explaining the reading to a small number to those that haven’t can highlight differences in opinion and interpretation and therefore fuel the discussion).
Contact:
Other than this website, emails will be sent to members with [discuss.evo] in the subject heading (so you can set your email filter to put it into a special folder) that will alert members of suggested readings, news and websites that may be of interest as well as upcoming talks held at UQ. By hitting “Reply all” members can contact all others in the group.
Input:
The idea is to get input from all members across diverse fields that should be of broad interest and importance, so please take the opportunity to put forward a topic or reading at a meeting or via the email list [discus.evo].
Journal Club meetings (fortnightly 4:30pm, UQ Staff club). These fall on the study weeks with even numbers (see UQ Calendar). Set papers are read prior to the meeting and discussed at the start of the meeting. The discussion should lead on to other topics, and the opportunity should arise for questions on other matters can be asked of members more familiar of particular fields.
Book Club meetings (fortnightly 4:30pm, UQ Staff club). Odd weeks in the UQ Calendar. This is expected to be smaller meetings, where chapters of set books are discussed, but generally follows the same structure as the Journal Club meetings.
There is no pressure to attend every meeting, and though we prefer the readings be read prior to the meetings, we welcome those that haven’t (in fact explaining the reading to a small number to those that haven’t can highlight differences in opinion and interpretation and therefore fuel the discussion).
Contact:
Other than this website, emails will be sent to members with [discuss.evo] in the subject heading (so you can set your email filter to put it into a special folder) that will alert members of suggested readings, news and websites that may be of interest as well as upcoming talks held at UQ. By hitting “Reply all” members can contact all others in the group.
Input:
The idea is to get input from all members across diverse fields that should be of broad interest and importance, so please take the opportunity to put forward a topic or reading at a meeting or via the email list [discus.evo].
posted by Chris Glen @ 4:41 PM
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