BIOL495 Assignment 1
ASSIGNMENT: FUTURING ANALYSIS IN THE LIFE SCIENCES (115 points/10%)
Addresses Course Outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4:
• Interpret and critically analyze primary scientific literature to assess the validity and reliability of scientific results and evaluate the conclusions drawn from these data
• Demonstrate proficiency in scientific principles, techniques, and applications in the life sciences to evaluate experimental design and determine compliance with standards of protocol and ethical practice
• Effectively communicate scientific principles, concepts, methods, and research findings based on critical analysis of primary literature, industry reports, and other life sciences resources
• Pose vital and relevant scientific questions to identify problems, challenges, and opportunities for the development of innovative products and services in the life sciences
To remain relevant within the life sciences, you must be a visionary. Whether you are motivated by discovery research, finding cures, furthering biotechnology, introducing new medicines, or some other aspect of the life sciences, you will want to assess whether your ideas and plans have a place both now and in the future. The basis for the observations (the first step in the scientific method) that lead to the innovation is often gleaned from primary scientific literature. In this assignment, you will develop and exercise your visionary skills, first by tracing the scientific method through an assigned primary scientific article.
You will then apply two futuring techniques to the innovation – the development of a new research technique, project, product, or service – you propose based on the primary scientific article.
Pre-Futuring Analysis
1. Read primary article A.
2. Read the supplemental material provided for Futuring Analyses.
Scenario
As the CEO of your company, you have just read primary article A. Now you are tasked with determining the future direction of your company by exploring possible innovations based on some aspect of the article.
After reading the resources for futuring analysis, please follow the guidelines for completing the futuring analysis based on your innovative idea in the life sciences. The Futuring Analysis must include all criteria as specified below. Deviations or missing elements will result in point deductions.
The Futuring Analysis
I. Futuring Analysis Format (8 points)
A. Paper title page – name, instructor, title, due date (2)
B. Sections of paper labeled properly – see A-D below (1)
C. Type double-spaced, 11-point, Times New Roman font paper with 1-inch margins (2)
D. 3-4 pages (not including title page and reference page) (3)
II. Futuring Analysis Content (70 points)
A. Introduction of the company – (you will use this company for the remaining assignments) (8)
1. Share the type of company you head as CEO (manufacturing, medical, agricultural, environmental, pharmaceutical, etc.) (2)
2. Share the name of your company, its location, and its employee base (3)
3. Share your company’s motto or mantra (3)
B. Introduction of the innovation (22 points)
1. Trace the scientific method (12) – briefly identify the observations, question, hypothesis, experiment, results, and conclusion of primary article A
2. Eureka! moment (5) – In 3-4 sentences, describe an aspect of primary article A (introduction, materials, methods, results, discussion, or conclusion) that stood out to you which you believe could lead to an innovative technique, project, product, or service in the life sciences for your company. In other words, what piqued your interest?
3. Innovation (5) – Based on the Eureka! moment you have described, fully explain the innovative technique, service, product, or research you have conceived. The innovation must be a technique, project, product, or service that you conceived on your own – not one already presented in primary article A.
C. Futuring techniques described (15 points)
1. Provide a general overview of futuring analysis (5)
2. Choose two futuring analysis techniques best suited for your innovative idea
a. Describe how each chosen futuring analysis technique is performed (5)
b. Explain the significance of each chosen futuring analysis in determining the
future of products and services in the life sciences. (5)
D. Futuring techniques applied (20 points)
1. Research the application of each futuring technique to your innovation
2. Present the results from applying each of your two chosen futuring analysis techniques
to your innovative idea in the chart below (10 each)
3. Results must be presented in the table format below:
Futuring Technique 1
(Insert name of technique)
Futuring Technique 2
(Insert name of technique)
Futuring
Technique
Results
(3-5 results
for each)
• Result of futuring 1
• Result of futuring 1
• Result of futuring 1
• Result of futuring 1
• Result of futuring 1
• Result of futuring 2
• Result of futuring 2
• Result of futuring 2
• Result of futuring 2
• Result of futuring 2
E. Conclusion (5 points) – Based on the results of both futuring techniques, explain in detail
whether you think your potential innovation is a worthy investment of time and resources.
III. Paper References (20 points) No references = zero for this assignment
A. Use at least 5 credible references (10) DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA
B. In-text references in APA format (5) (All references should be cited throughout the paper)
C. End references in APA-format (5)
IV. Paper Grammar (5 points)
Correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence construction, and paragraph construction will be considered in the grading of this assignment.
V. Paper Submission (13 points) Submit Word documents ONLY – PDF files will not be graded
A. Save your Word file as: First and Last name – Futuring (e.g., Sharon Brown – Futuring) (3)
B. Turnitin score (10)
FUTURING ANALYSIS RESOURCES
Innovation in 5 Minutes
Short Practical Steps to Developing an Innovator’s DNA (Slide Presentation):
What is Creativity and Innovation?
Use the resources listed below to help you choose a specific area of interest for the opportunities section of the assignment:
Career Trends
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/healthcare-science/careers-in-healthcarescience/careers-in-life-sciences/
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-who-you-are/undergraduates-and-recentgraduates/
http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/nj7393-277a
Service Trends
http://www.lifesciencepatents.nl/en/
http://lifesciencesadvisory.com/services
http://www.indeed.com/q-Technology-Transfer-jobs.html
http://www.federallabs.org/employment/
Technology Trends
www.bio.org
http://www.biotech-now.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptqPJGTsIoM Future Technologies That Will Change the World
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/life-science-chemical-biotechinstrumentation-market-38.html
http://aami-bit.org/loi/bmit OR https://www.mhealthevidence.org/journaltitle/biomedical-instrumentation-technology-association-advancement-medicalinstrumentation
http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/journal/Biomedical_instrumentation technology
http://www.biotechmedia.com/y2001-ed-bit.htm
Another resource to use on the different futuring analysis techniques:
file:///C:/Users/aicha/Downloads/FUTURING%20IN%20THE%20LIFE%20SCIENCES.pdf