Natural SciencesAstrophysics Biochemistry ChemistryGenetics - PDF document

1 Natural SciencesAstrophysics Biochemistry ChemistryGenetics Earth Sciences History & Philosophy of Science Materials Science Mathematics Neuroscience PathologyPharmacology Why Natural Sciences? ��2 &#x/MCI; 0 ;&#x/MCI; 0 ;Even if youre quite sure about the area you wantto specialise in, the breadthof the first two years is extremely valuable in developing your understandingof important issues in other branches of sciencethat complement and influence your specialismMany students come to Cambridge expecting to specialise in one subject, but eventually choose something quite differenthaving had the opportunity to first fully explore and discover where their interests and strengthlieThe flexibility of Natural Sciences means you canexperience new areas of sciencefind out what more familiar subjectsare like at university leveldiscover the interconnectionsbetween apparently diverse subjectsgain an insight into different scientificmethodspostpone your decision to specialiseuntil youre sureabout the directionyou want to takeHow many people apply for the course?Approximately 2600students apply for entry each yearof which around 675are accepted. The malefemale ratio is approximately 6040.Further details are available at: http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/statistics/Can you tell me more about thecourse structure and how it worksNatSci is broad because you startby studying four subjectsin the first year, at least one ofwhich will probably be newto you, and one which is an appropriate mathematicscourse. Its flexible because you canchange direction as your interestsdevelop. You may begin the courseintending to be a physicist andend up asa molecular biologist or vice versa, or youmay transfer to a completely differentcoursesuch as hemical ngineeringor anagement tudies.Can I takenew subjects I’ve neverstudiedbefore?Yes. The course covers many subjects thatare not normally studied atschool/college, such asmaterials science,earth sciencesgenetics. In some casesyoul need to have specific A Level(or equivalent) ubjects(such as Chemistry or Mathematics) totake particular optionWhy it a good idea tostudy a wider range of subjectsin the first two years?A significant proportion of our studentschange direction within the framework ofthe NatSci course once theyCambridge. Oftenthe change is fairlysubtle, usuallyreflecting the availability ofnew subjects not taught at evel (orequivalent), but in some cases the change can be significanthe number ofstudentshere who study a different finalyear science from the one theyanticipated at the outset suggests thatmany studentshave benefitted from the opportunity to delay decisions about specialisationBut how caCambridge graduates havethe same level ofknowledgeas those fromsinglescience course?Ourgraduates are expected tohave achievethe same standard and depth intheir final subject as graduates fromnarrower courses elsewhere for threereasons:r students aresome of the most ableand work very harde provide them with worldclasseaching and learning facilitiesthe range of subjects studied in the first two years providea broader and deeper foundation for the final year specialism than the narrower focus singlesubject courses elsewhere What sort of jobs could a NatSci degree get me and what if I don’t want acareer in science?One of the most frequentasked questions by students considering the Natural Sciencescourse is what it leads to afterwards. Obviously, a good degree from Cambridgeopens many doors andbroabased course like NatSci is excellent preparation for many careersin a huge variety of areas, not justin the scientific sphereThe ability to acquire knowledge and then use it, as well as the other transferable skills you will develop here, will make you highly employable in a wide range of fields(see below for more information about transferable skills).perhaps not surprising that many of our graduatesgo on to do research in both academia and industry, in this country and abroad. Locally, the University has good contacts with research institutes and with the large number of hitech and sciencebased companies whose establishment in the area has been promoted by the University in recent years. However, many other graduates opt to change direction andfollowcareers in law, management, broadcasting, finance, teaching, the mediaand so on. ��3 &#x/MCI; 0 ;&#x/MCI; 0 ;Recent NatSci graduates from Cambridge have obtained positions as information scientists with pharmaceutical and chemical companies, curators in museums, producers of TV wildlife programmes, seismographersand jazz pianists. They work in telecoms, biotechnology, agrochemicals, and as patent lawyers, hospital radiation physicists, merchant bankersand scientific journalists.You can find additional data about graduate destinations online atwww.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/camdata/ . How will I be taughtLectures, seminarsd practicals arearranged by the University and takeplace in various lecture theatres laboratories throughout Cambridge.You will also have supervisions and undertake research projectsand field trips (where relevant)Lectures and seminarsLectures form the foundationof theteaching and will be the main way inwhich you start to learn about eachsubject. ectureare more than simply notetaking session, as theres nosubstitute for actually hearing a realexpert and enthusiast talk about thesubject it brings the work to life.However, the lecture is really just the starting pointfor the learning process which carries onin seminarspracticalsand especiallyin supervisions.Seminars, where lecturers discuss aparticular topic with smallergroups of students, are less formal thanlecturesand yll be expected toparticipate and contribute activelyto the discussion. The actual organisationand format of seminars will bedetermined by individual lecturers.Many of thelecturers you’ll have are working at the forefront of scientificknowledge, and will include thefindings of recent research in a lecture orseminar long before they’re available in any textbook. As such, ectures andseminars will enable you to acquire thevery latest research information.PracticalsPracticals are an important part of allNatSci subjectsas they demonstrate the reallife aspects of the lectures.Practical classes will beat the heart of your learning process but will bear littleresemblance to the experiments andsimple manipulations you might havedone up til now. During your course,practicals might involve techniquesranging from microscopythroughcomputer modellingto the use ofcomplex electronic equipment. Laboratory facilities for practical workat Cambridge are exceptional, and are being improved all the time.The practical classes will enableyou not only to ‘create facts’ foryourself, but to understand the processby which this is achieveddevelop theorganisational skills required tomplete experimentsuccessfully.SupervisionsSupervisions are smallgroup teaching sessions (typicallybetween two and four people) of about an hour in length with a specialist in the subject youre studyingwho is often(though not always) member ofyour College. Supervisions are one of thedistinctive features of teaching atCambridge andwillenable you to keep upwith the fast pace and high quality workthat’s demanded by the NatSci course.This smallgroup teaching, organised byyour Director ofStudies,will provide you with a further opportunityto explore the subjects you’ll belearningabout inlectures and practicals.Supervisions will give you a chance clarify anything youre not certainabout,to discuss advanced topics, to engagein indepth problemsolving, and toexplore topics that particularly interestyou.Youll probably find the supervisionsboth useful and challenging. You’ll usually be expected to prepare some work for each supervision soas wellas increasing your scientificknowledge,theyll also develop your written andoral communication skills.Research projectsAs you progress through your course,your practical work will become moreadvanced and openended until youyourself are pushing back theboundaries of scientific knowledge.Most Natural Sciences students areexpected to undertake at least oneresearch project, usually in thethird fourth year. This research, for which you’ll be workingwith experts in the field, will give youa chance not only to make a genuinecontribution to current scientific knowledge it’s not uncommon for project work to be published in the scientific literaturebut also to discover whether a career inresearch would be right for you. Field tripsField trips are essential forsomesubjectsand highly desirable for others. Where you go and what youdo will obviously vary; popular fieldtrips currentlyinclude aearth sciencestrip to the Isle of Arran in thefirst year, ��4 &#x/MCI; 0 ;&#x/MCI; 0 ;a fieldcourse in ortugalforsecond yearplant scientists, aa tectonics field course in Greecefor third year geological scientistsInformal discussionsDiscussions are fundamental to thelearning processat Cambridgeou should spend a greatdeal of timeparticularly in the later years,thinking aloud with otherstudentswith staff, research workersand visitors to the laband with otherCollege members in your own andother subjects. These impromptu discussionsinformal contacts can be one of themost valuable parts of the course.Other than the course, what else will I get out of coming to Cambridge? A social lifeNaturally, what this will involve will be down to you but NatScistudentsplay an active role in University and College life;on the sports field, in the concert halland being involved in and organising the many social activities that can make Cambridge life quiteexhausting!itting everything in around your studies can bebalancing act, but everyone tends to develop their time management skills quickly and have a greattime whilst ey’re hereStudying science is a bit like a fulltime jobwith over 30 hours a week when you’lltimetabled to be at lecture, practicalsupervisionFortunatelymost students enjoy the work and not only find it challenging and stimulatingbutlso very sociablein itself labs, unlike libraries, dont have ‘Silence!’ signs on the wall, but encourage discussion and cooperation. And, just like those people in a fulltime job, youll still have time for a great social life outside your workas weTransferable skillsThe flexibility of the NatSci course will only give you a broad scientificbackground and indepth knowledge ofthe subject in which you finally specialise,but will also enable you to acquire a wide varietyof allimportant transferable skills that are somuch in demand by employers in all sectors,for exampleintellectualskills, such as critical thinking, analysis, problemsolvingcommunication and presentation skills, including written, oral, nonverbalorganisational skils, such as independent working,managing time interpersonal skills, such as teamwork, negotiation, delegation, flexibility, adaptabilityresearch skills, including data management and analysis, critical analysis, specialist research methodsnumeracycomputer literacyYou will also develop transferable skills through all the other activities you’re involved with outside your course, for instance any sports or groups/clubs/societies, volunteer work and vacation placements/employment. For more informationabout transferable skills, visit the website at: http://www.natsci.tripos.cam.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/tskillsWant to know more?You can find more details about the Natural Sciences course, such as the individual options(including current content)and information on the departments which contribute to the teachingonline at: http://www.natsci.tripos.cam.ac.uk/If you have any further questions about Natural Sciences please email us atnatsci@admin.cam.ac.uk . For more general guidance about how to apply to the University, entrance requirements and selection, please see tUndergraduate Prospectusor Undergraduate Admissions websiteour school or college should have a reference copy of the printed Prospectus and the information is also available on thewebsitehttp://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/index.htmlIf you have any further questionplease get in touch with any of the College admissions offices (contact details available at: http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/colleges/ the Cambridge Admissions Office. Cambridge Admissions OfficeFitzwilliam House32 Trumpington StreetCambridge CB2 1QYTelephone: 01223333308Email: admissions@cam.ac.uk www.cam.ac.uk