Basic Information

 

BIOMED399 is the required capstone course for undergraduate students completing a Bachelors of Science specializing in Biomedical Science. It is a course designed to prepare students for prospects following the completion of their degree. The course consists of one lectorial and one workshop each week. Week 11 and 12 are the only exceptions to this, when there are no workshops. Students normally enroll into a workshop stream based on their chosen pathway or research interest (i.e. Neuroscience, Cardiovascular Biology). This is because the mentors you will meet in these workshops, and hence the papers you will read closely, will be from the field that the workshop is based around. 

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Lectorial Content

• Lectorial 1 - Introduction to Course
  Workshop (Mentor directed) - Introductory Workshop

• Lectorial 2 - Careers & CVs
  Workshop (Mentor directed) - Literature Critique Workshop

• Lectorial 3 - Postgraduate Study Advisors
  Workshop - (Student directed) Group Meeting for Interview Plan

• Lectorial 4- Science Communication
  Workshop - (Student directed) Student Group Interview of Authors

• Lectorial 5 - Responsiveness to Māori in Biomedical Research
  Workshop (Mentor directed) - Lab Visits

• Lectorial 6 - Essay Writing Skills
  Workshop - (Student directed) Watch the movie GATTACA

• Lectorial 7 - Innovation - Desirability, Feasibility, Viability
  Workshop (Mentor directed) - Poster Ideas

• Lectorial 8 - Science and Society Community Engagement Info
  Workshop (Student directed) - Group Planning for Community Meeting-1

• Lectorial 9 - Science in the Government and Policies
  Workshop (Student directed) - Group Planning for Community Meeting-2

• Lectorial 10 - Community Engagement 1
  Workshop in Week 10 - Science and Society - Poster Submission / Presentation 

• Lectorial 11 - Community Engagement 2

• Lectorial 12 - Biomed Alumni - Where Are They Now?

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Course Review

 

BIOMED 399 is quite different from the content-heavy courses earlier in the BIOMED degree. Instead of focusing on large amounts of new material, the course is designed to develop practical skills relevant to pathways after graduation, including academia, industry, clinical work, and other careers.

 

The course places emphasis on transferable skills such as scientific presentation (poster presentation), critical reading and academic writing (literature critique and essay), and engagement with different perspectives through workshops and community-based activities. Students with experience in scientific communication, presentations, or academic reading may find some components more familiar.

 

Weekly quizzes have a 60-minute time limit and are generally manageable if students keep up with the lectorials. The main workload comes from the two major assessments — the literature critique and the essay — which require consistent time and effort across the semester.

 

Workshops are a core part of the course and provide structured opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and peer interaction. They also offer time to discuss assignments and exchange ideas with classmates.

 

Overall, BIOMED 399 serves as a concluding course that focuses on skill development and reflection rather than heavy content learning. Students who stay engaged with the course components are likely to find it a useful way to finish the BIOMED degree.