Students launch into new degree

Students of the new Bachelor of Biomedical Science at UQ received a lively induction into their undergraduate careers when they gathered on campus for an introductory day of experimental science activities earlier this month.

From measuring human reaction time, to determining the velocity of nerve signals in toads and calculating the speed of sound across the Great Court, the inaugural scholars were treated to an exciting taste of the hands on learning experience that lies ahead of them.

Program Director, Associate Professor Peter Thorn, said the day’s activities – centred on the theme of “reaction time” – represented just the first in a long line of research opportunities that will set the cutting edge program apart from other degrees.

“The idea is that students will take part in activities that introduce them to the process of science research,” Dr Thorn said.

“While we have similar courses to those in the Bachelor of Science, we have supplemented them with a range of additional activities that will have a research focus, of which [our introductory day] was the first.

“In second semester, for example, we are going to be building our own apparatus to investigate the action of antibiotic drugs, and it is only this cohort of students who will be doing that.”

Kicking off their time in the University’s research-rich environment on a high note, the students were also the first to use the new world-class Science Learning Centre in St Lucia’s Priestley Building.

Dr Thorn said he thought it was a fitting introduction to the type of scientific atmosphere they will work in throughout their degrees.

“While they will begin with courses providing a broad foundation in the biomedical sciences, the students will later choose from specialisations that include things like neuroscience, human genetics, physiology, pharmacology, immunology and infectious diseases, and molecular and cellular biology.

“During this time, they will gain valuable experience by working in the laboratories of some of Australia’s leading biomedical scientists as part of their Bachelor program,” he said.

“[Additionally], unlike the Bachelor of Science which runs for three years, the Bachelor of Biomedical Science is a four-year program that includes an honours project.

“For this final year, honours year students will be embedded in a lab and undertake a detailed research project.”

Despite the program’s emphasis on scientific research, Dr Thorn said it was important to note that coordinators welcomed students with a range of career aspirations.

“We do have a research focus that builds on the research expertise of UQ scientists and will see our students ideally equipped for a career in science research.

“We also expect some students will pursue a post-graduate medical degree and go on to clinical research.

“However, the course work and skills acquired during the program will have widespread applicability to a huge range of careers both scientific and not.”

For now though, the opening intake of 139 biomedical students will be keenly focusing on the lessons from their debut “reaction time” experiments.

They found that reaction times are dominated by the time it takes for the brain to process information.

MEDIA: Dr Peter Thorn (07 3346 7579, p.thorn@uq.edu.au) or Lucy Manderson (07 3365 2339, l.manderson@uq.edu.au).