BIOL695/BIOS703
“SEMINAR TO YOUR INTERESTS” 
FALL 2024  SEMESTER
On Line, with Zoom meetings on request 

Course Description
This is a one-credit seminar that would respond to your interests in Biosciences. This is a Special Section. It is designed to fit your specific interests and/or schedules.  
In each section you will attend 10 seminars, either at GMU, or at other Universities, or at NIH. I will send you the ads for seminars as they will get to my attention.
 
You are allowed to choose these seminars by yourself - according to your interests. All these seminars should be in the general field of Biology/Bioscience/Bioinformatics rather than Public Health/Psychology/Social Sciences. When in doubt - please ask me a question before attending.

NIH calendar for public events is here:
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/events
Please also look at "Yellow Sheet" calendar on the same website page.
Please note that NIH has a variety of Day-long events, when you will be able to "book" more than one seminar at the same day.
You may also go to seminars physically, i.e. at other Universities closer to your home, or at place of your work, or on-line. You may also go to any in-person conference (examples: Virginia Academy of Science, ASM, SfN etc). You may also visit PhD dissertation defenses at GMU or otherwise (no more than 2 PhD defenses per seminar pack is allowed)
 
I will expect you to submit to me by email a package of 10 write ups for seminars you took (at the end of semester). Same seminar may not be submitted to two different sections of BIOL 695/ BIOS 704/ BINF704
Please see examples of seminars written by some other student long time ago. (On Blackboard) 
You can start at any time.

Instructors
Dr. Ancha Baranova; abaranov@gmu.edu; 571-334-1145; 312 Colgan Hall (SciTech Campus)

Class Schedule
You can request meeting with Dr Baranova on a Zoom, or Call/ Txt anytime 

Grading
Students will be evaluated by the quality of 10 written summaries of the seminar. Please see example of summaries on the Blackboard 

Academic Integrity
GMU is an Honor Code University; please see the University Catalog for a full description of the code and the honor committee process (http://catalog.gmu.edu). The principle of academic integrity is taken very seriously and violations are treated gravely. When in doubt (of any kind) please ask for guidance and clarification.

GMU Email Accounts
Students must use their Mason email accounts to receive important University information, including messages related to this class. See http://masonlive.gmu.edu for more information.

Office of Disability Services
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through the ODS (http://ods.gmu.edu).

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): (703) 993-2380; http://caps.gmu.edu

University Policies
The University Catalog, http://catalog.gmu.edu, is the central resource for university policies affecting student, faculty, and staff conduct in university academic affairs. Other policies are available at http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/. All members of the university community are responsible for knowing and following established policies.