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Decoding the Deep Sea: Learning Genomics Tools for Marine Conservation
Decoding the Deep Sea: Learning Genomics Tools for Marine Conservation
Group size
1-6 students
Outcome
A 2–3 page research paper with data visualizations and RStudio coding
Tuition
$495
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Decoding the Deep Sea: Learning Genomics Tools for Marine Conservation
The ocean is teeming with hidden life, much of it invisible to the naked eye—but thanks to cutting-edge genomic tools like environmental DNA (eDNA), we can uncover these mysteries like never before! In this Pod, students will dive into the world of marine conservation, using real biodiversity datasets to explore how genomics is revolutionizing our understanding of marine ecosystems. Along the way, they’ll learn to code in RStudio, create stunning data visualizations, and apply biostatistical methods to answer their own research questions. By the end of the course, students will have the skills to analyze genomic data and contribute to the future of ocean conservation!
Week by week curriculum
Week 1
The session will begin with student and mentor introductions, an overview of the Pod structure, and final outcomes (e.g., a 2–3 page research paper with data visualizations and RStudio coding). Key topics like marine conservation, biodiversity, genomics, and eDNA will be introduced, along with guidance on forming research questions, structuring introductions, distinguishing sources, and conducting literature searches.
Week 2
The session will begin with a group discussion where students share the research questions they have prepared and decided to pursue, followed by 5–10 minutes of collaborative editing. Week 2 content will focus on understanding environmental DNA (eDNA) data, including what it is and how to work with it. Students will also begin learning to code in RStudio using R including the basics of working in RStudio, including writing and running code.
Week 3
The session will begin with a group discussion addressing any errors or questions that arose while working with RStudio. Week 3 content will focus on the methods of the biodiversity dataset: how samples were collected and sequenced. Students will address any errors in coding during a group work session and start writing the methods section of their research papers.
Week 4
This session will begin with collaborative editing and a discussion of effective methods section writing. Week 4 content will focus on how to visualize biodiversity data to answer research questions. We will have a group coding session to produce figures that display the marine communities within the eDNA dataset.
Week 5
This session will begin with a group discussion addressing any errors or questions that arose while working with RStudio. Week 5 content will include a lecture on biostatistics and how to conduct statistical analyses in RStudio. Students will participate in a coding session to add biostatistics that answer their research question.
Week 6
This session will begin with collaborative editing of results section drafts and address any errors that arose while working with RStudio. Students will share a small presentation that highlights the figure and statistics that best answers their research question.