Getting started

Classroom 14 was packed full!

First of all, we have introduced ourselves... We wanted you to put the face to the name of the teachers that will guide you through the diverse topics of "Introduction to Research" during this semester.

Cartoon of the "Intro teachers" (Note: Andoni in the bottom right of the cartoon has been replaced by Leire this year) [Reproduced with permission of the artist (María Mouzo) and the owner of the cartoon (Ana Pérez); both students currently attending the 5^th year at our Med School].

Making use of the "clickers" we have asked you about your interest on the subject - which is your opinion on the usefulness of this course, and whether you would like to devote your professional career exclusively to research or preferred to combine it with clinical work. Not surprisingly, approximately a third of you (36%) were unsure about the usefulness of this course. We hope to be able to raise your curiosity, interest and respect for science, as a whole, and for research, in particular, during the coming months by sharing with you the experience, passion and enthusiasm of many of the scientists that preceded us and paved the way to develop the knowledge that is being taught and applied nowadays. Also as expected, most of you (77%) would like to combine clinical work with research, while a minority (5%) expressed their interest of dedicating themselves exclusively to research. 

Subsequently, we have outlined why this subject is important to any medical student. What you are being taught and what you will learn throughout your medical career, and thereafter, is due to the research effort of many physicians and scientists that asked themselves questions in order to improve their knowlege to better help their patients.

We also want to "demystify" the image of the "boring researcher" working alone in his/her laboratory. In the following Lady Gaga parody videoclip you have a nice example of how funny scientists can be:

Research lies at the heart of all medical knowledge, activities and applications.

Attendance to practical sessions is mandatory.

There will be written short questions throughout the year that will have a 10% impact on your final score.

You will have to form a working group to prepare a topic to be presented in front of your classmates.

Additionally, as an individual you will have the chance to perform an optional or voluntary work consisting in a written essay on the book entitled "Bad Pharma" by Ben Goldacre.

It is important that you read the teaching guide of "Introduction to Research" to be aware of all the details of what is expected from you and how it will be evaluated.