Term G- I
G30 Fall AY2022

First Year Seminar
Undergraduate / Graduate

Undergraduate

Registration Code0063215

Course Category

First Year Seminar

Credits

2.0

Term (Semester) / Day / Period

G-I (1st year, Fall Semester) / Wed / 2（10:30～12:00）

Instructor

HUMBLET Marc Andre●Theme of First Year Seminar
The main theme of this seminar is “water and the environment”.
●Goals of the Course【Standardized across all programs】
This course is conducted in the form of a small seminar. It will provide multifaceted intellectual training with a special
emphasis on reading (obtaining, analyzing, and evaluating sources), writing (summaries, papers), and speaking(discussion, presentation) which forms the most basic skills (“common basic”) needed for learning and studying atuniversity. Our goal is to help the students to acquire a good understanding of the "process of knowledge exploration," the“pleasure in learning," and independent learning ability. A wide variety of themes are prepared according to the research
field of the instructors.
●Objectives of the Course
The seminar is divided into two parts. The first part provides tips on how to search for information and how to give an oralpresentation. This is followed by a discussion on centered on the definition of science and the difference between scienceand pseudoscience. A few lectures on coral reef ecosystems will serve as examples of how science can be communicated.
The students will learn about the different kinds of reefs, the biology of corals and coral reefs, the factors controlling reef
growth, the present-day threats on coral reefs, and the geological evolution of reefs. Students will also be able to examine
hand-sized samples of coral reef limestones and observe thin sections under a microscope. During the second part of theseminar, the students will give two presentations each about any scientific subjects of their choice related to the marine or
freshwater world. The fields covered can be as varied as underwater exploration technologies, marine biology, water in thesolar system, hydroelectric energy… Each presentation is followed by a Q&A session. Class participation is stronglyencouraged. The basic objectives of this seminar are (1) to teach students how to search for scientific information, (2) toencourage critical thinking, (3) to improve presentation skills, (4) to nurture scientific curiosity, and (5) to promoteexchange of ideas about various scientific topics.
●Course Content or Plan
1. Introduction: tips on information search and oral presentation
2. What is science?
3. Science vs. pseudoscience
4. Coral reefs: diversity, past evolution and future trends
5. Lab session
6. Oral presentations by students●Course Prere uisites and Related Courses
There is no prerequisite for this course.
Related courses: mostly (but not restricted to) biology- and geology-oriented courses●Course Evaluation Method and Criteria
The grading is based on class participation (30%) and oral presentations (70%).
Students who enrolled in 2020 will be graded using the six-step A+, A, B, C, C-, and F grade evaluation system (A+:100-95%, A: 94-80%, B: 79-70%, C: 69-65%, C-: 64-60%, F: 59 % or less).
Students who enrolled in 2019 or before will be graded following the five-step S-A-B-C-F grade evaluation system (S:90-100%, A: 80-89%, B: 70-79%, C:60-69%, F: 59-0%).
A student will be given an “Absent” grade if he or she submits a Course Withdrawal Request by the 15th of November.
This deadline does not apply to students who drop the class part-way through for an exceptional reason (e.g., illness,accident). Also, NUPACE students should check the deadline set by the NUPACE program for course withdrawal.

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Term G- I
G30 Fall AY2022●Study Load (Self-directed Learning Outside Course Hours)
Outside course hours, students will need to prepare their oral presentations.
●How to Respond to Questions
Live lectures will be organized (in class or online or both), and students are strongly encouraged to ask questions during
the lectures. Students can also contact me by e-mail or meet me in person in my office. NUCT will be used as another wayof communication, to share files and send messages.
None
Textbook
Reference BookNone

Reference website for None
this Course

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