Reproductive Medicine: Science and Ethics

Course Structure

1. Science at Work
2. Practical and Applied Research Skills for Advanced Biologists
3. The Science of Reproductive Medicine
4. The IVF World
5. Reproduction and the Beginnings of Life
6. provide you with an academic framework to underpin a career in any area of reproductive medicine
7. enable you to understand the social and professional processes by which reproductive medicine operates at a scientific, medical, social, ethical and legal level
8. give you an understanding of the process of academic investigation in a range of academic disciplines relevant to reproductive medicine
9. provide a stimulating, research-active environment for teaching and learning in which you are supported and motivated to achieve your academic and personal potential
10. facilitate a valuable learning experience through a variety of teaching and assessment methods that will promote the assimilation, comprehension, analysis application, synthesis and evaluation of the knowledge base
11. give you the experience of undertaking an independent research project or dissertation
12. prepare you for further training and employment both in science and non-science based careers by developing transferable and cognitive skills
13. develop the qualities needed for employment in situations requiring the exercise of professionalism, independent thought, personal responsibility and decision-making in complex and unpredictable circumstances.
14. provide access to as wide a range of students as practicable.
15. the scientific basis of reproductive medicine including aspects of developmental biology, infection, genetics, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology
16. the medical basis of reproductive medicine including the clinical decision making process that affects patients
17. the workings of clinics and scientific laboratories that routinely practice reproductive medicine
18. the social, ethical and legal mechanisms that have influenced (and continue to influence) the acquisition of scientific knowledge in the field of reproductive medicine
19. the ethical context of the practice of reproductive medicine and scholarly debates surrounding it
20. mechanisms by which different professions in reproductive medicine deal with complex scientific information and disseminate this information to their patients and/or audiences
21. the social, political and economic impact of reproductive medicine
22. the processes though which research leads to knowledge and ultimately clinical practice.
23. the ability to investigate and collate information from the medical, scientific and social science literature, then analyse and synthesise it to address particular issues pertaining to reproductive medicine
24. the ability to understand the range and scope of teaching and assessment methods and study skills relevant to the various academic disciplines that encompass reproductive medicine
25. the ability to differentiate between points of view that lead to different lines of investigation and contribute to reproductive medicine
26. the ability to present reasoned medical, scientific, legal and ethical arguments based on reflection, study and critical judgement.
27. the ability to understand the needs for different modes of communication to different audiences including patients, clinicians, academics and the public
28. the ability to engage in effective and intelligent discussion with people of varied training and perspectives
29. an intellectual capacity and skill set that spans the disciplines of medicine, science and social sciences.
30. the critical faculties involved in searching and reviewing the scientific literature
31. an awareness of the various techniques and processes used in the production of scientific knowledge
32. basic practical competence in skills relevant to an IVF laboratory
33. an ability to source and deconstruct legal arguments
34. to find information on science communication from a wide range of information sources (eg journals, books, electronic databases) and maintain an effective information retrieval strategy
35. an understanding and application of scholarly methods and concepts used in the critical study of science, technology and medicine
36. an understanding of the role of the clinician in reproductive medicine and factors affecting the decision-making processes that lead to patient management.
37. the ability to reflect on, and manage your own learning and seek to make use of constructive feedback from your peers and staff to enhance your own performance and personal skills
38. independence of mind and initiative
39. self-discipline and self-motivation
40. the ability to work in a team and have respect for others\x92 reasoned views
41. communication: the ability to organise information clearly, create and respond to textual and visual sources (eg images, graphs, tables), present information orally, adapt your style for different audiences
42. numeracy: the ability to read graphs and tables, integrate numerical and non-numerical information, understand the limits and potentialities of medical, scientific, legal and ethical disciplines
43. information technology: the ability to evaluate critically and communicate effectively in a number of the following formats: written documents, email, databases, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, web sites, social networking media.
44. Protein Science \x96 encompasses researchers involved in industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology, and protein form and function
45. Molecular Microbiology \x96 encompasses researchers interested in yeast molecular biology (incorporating the Kent Fungal Group) and microbial pathogenesis
46. Biomolecular Medicine \x96 encompasses researchers involved in cell biology, cancer targets and therapies and cytogenomics and bioinformatics.