A large number of Trent students packed a lecture hall at Gzowski College for a poster session on Thursday, December 1, 2011, displaying their course work from “Methods of Biological Inquiry”. The second-year biology course teaches the process of scientific inquiry and how to write for science, while providing hands-on experience in the field.

“The location of our campus is a real benefit to students,” said Professor Thomas Luloff, the course instructor. “It’s very easy to conduct field work and sampling here. Through hands-on work, we’re able to compare a controlled lab to field work." 

A third-year biochemistry and molecular biology student in the course, Shawn MacFarlane said that the course provided him with skills that will be key to pursuing his own research as he heads towards medical school. “I learned how to properly write a technical report,” he said.

“This course gave me really good practice for anything that I may end up doing,” said third-year biology student Jeremy Metzger. “I gained experience collecting data and generating statistics for analysis.” For his future, Mr. Metzger is hoping to go into fisheries management.

Local student Lucas Martignetti is one of Trent’s 90% full-tuition scholarship recipients. He said that “Methods of Biological Inquiry” gave him the opportunity to gain more detailed and refined knowledge of the scientific method. Mr. Martignetti also has his sights set on medical school.

“I wish I learned this in first year!” said international student Jiyoung Park. Ms. Park is a second-year student pursuing a joint-major in Biology and Forensics.

“’Methods of Biological Inquiry’ truly is the most fundamental course,” said Professor Luloff, “and it is very important to set students up so that they are all working on the same level. It’s preparation for what may come after their undergraduate degree.”

Interdisciplinary in nature, the course considers that a number of Biology majors will move into work in areas where they are required to write clearly and concisely. Prof. Luloff says the Trent course offers those fundamental writing skills necessary for careers outside of pure science, in government, for example, or law. By considering the interdisciplinary nature of the course, Prof. Luloff contributed a versatile approach to Methods of Biological Inquiry to develop exceptional science students at Trent University.