01:090:101:21
Byrne Seminar: Launching Your Successful STEM Career
Fall 2018
The Byrne Seminar
program is sponsored by the Rutgers
Office of
Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
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Instructors
Prof. Andrew Baker
Serin W309
Phone: 848-445-8887
Email: ajbaker[at]physics.rutgers.edu
Office hours:
Monday 1:40-3:00pm
Prof. Chuck Keeton
Serin W305
Phone: 848-445-8876
Email: keeton[at]physics.rutgers.edu
Office hours:
Monday 1:30-2:30pm
Thursday 10:30-11:30am
Venue
Wednesday (1:40-3:00pm) in Serin W401
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Overview
Here's the official course catalog listing:
"Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields offer
exciting opportunities for careers of discovery, innovation, and helping
others. But how does one prepare for and achieve such a career? In this
seminar, students will learn about the critical role played by research in
STEM fields, the skills and qualities that are valuable in research (e.g.,
programming, teamwork, communication, and persistence in the face of
obstacles), and the practical steps they can take at Rutgers to foster
success in STEM majors and careers. Students will interact with guest
researchers from multiple STEM fields, explore the life stories of STEM
professionals like 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Katherine
Johnson and 2016 Rutgers honorary degree recipient Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and
receive training in basic programming in the Python language. As a final
project, students will work in teams to reproduce some of the calculations
made by Johnson and others to help launch NASA rockets as part of the Mercury,
Gemini, and Apollo programs."
Schedule
CLASS |
DATE |
THEME |
READING |
GUEST(S) |
1 |
Sep 5 |
Dealing with professors |
none |
none |
2 |
Sep 12 |
Scientific discovery |
J. Bell-Burnell |
Prof. Saurabh Jha |
3 |
Sep 19 |
Persistence |
S. Ramanujan |
Prof. Juliane Gross |
4 |
Sep 26 |
Teamwork |
K. Johnson |
Prof. Sevil Salur |
5 |
Oct 3 |
Asking questions |
C.J. Finlay |
Prof. Nina Shapley |
6 |
Oct 10 |
Communication |
L. Margulis |
Prof. Kimberly Cook-Chennault |
7 |
Oct 17 |
Ethics |
A. Sakharov |
Dr. Patricia Morton |
8 |
Oct 24 |
Python hack session # 1 |
none |
none |
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Oct 31 |
no class |
no class |
no class |
9 |
Nov 7 |
Python hack session # 2 |
none |
none |
10 |
Nov 14 |
Final project presentation |
none |
none |
Grading
Your course grade will be based on a combination of four elements:
- active participation in discussions of assigned reading (25%)
- active participation in other in-class activities (25%)
- programming project and presentation (25%)
- documented meeting with a departmental undergraduate adviser (25%)
In this course, "active participation" has several elements:
- demonstrating knowledge of assigned reading through contributions
to discussions
- asking questions during discussions and laboratory visits
- working cooperatively with classmates during group exercises
The programming project will use Python, a powerful and popular programming
language. Computer programming is valuable throughout STEM fields, and
Python is increasingly widespread. No prior experience is needed; two class
sessions will be devoted to hands-on training in Python programming. For
those sessions it would be helpful to bring a laptop to class. No specific
computer or operating system is required, because we will access Python
online. For the final project, you will work in groups and use the
programming skills developed in class.
Other items
- Absences
If you need to miss a class, you should report your absence at this website. More
than two unexcused absences will result in a "NC" grade for this course.
- Students with disabilities
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the
university's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for
reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the
appropriate disability services office on the campus where (s)he is officially
enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide
documentation. If the documentation supports your request
for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will
provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with
your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your
courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the
registration form on the Office of Disability Services
(ODS) web site.
- Student wellness services
The School of Arts and
Sciences and the Rutgers
University Student Assembly have requested that all course syllabi
include the following information on resources to support student wellness:
- The Just In Case Web App
provides access to helpful mental health information and resources for
yourself or a friend in a mental health crisis on your smartphone or tablet,
and easily contacts CAPS or RUPD.
- Rutgers Counseling, Alcohol & Other Drug Assistance Program, and
Psychiatric Services (CAPS) (848-932-7884; 17 Senior Street in
New Brunswick) is a University mental health support service that includes
counseling, alcohol and other drug assistance, and psychiatric services
staffed by a team of professionals within Rutgers Health Services to support
students' efforts to succeed at Rutgers University. CAPS offers a variety of
services that include individual therapy, group therapy and workshops, crisis
intervention, referral to specialists in the community and consultation, and
collaboration with campus partners.
- The Office for
Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA) (848-932-1181; 3 Bartlett
Street in New Brunswick) provides confidential crisis intervention,
counseling, and advocacy for victims of sexual and relationship violence and
stalking to students, staff, and faculty.N Staff can be reached by phone
during office hours when the university; advocates can be reached by phone
after hours.
- The Office of Disability
Services (848-445-6800; Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus,
54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue in Piscataway) works with students with documented
disabilities to determine eligibility for reasonable accommodations,
facilitates and coordinates those accommodations when applicable, and lastly
engages with the Rutgers community at large to provide and connect students
to appropriate resources.
-
Scarlet Listeners (732-247-5555) is a free and confidential peer counseling
and referral hotline, providing a comforting and supportive safe space.
Last updated September 24, 2018.