Major Innovation Project

Course goals

After finishing the Research Project the student is capable of:  

• Translating a life sciences problem into a relevant research question, suitable for research development or product design  

• Designing a suitable research plan to test the formulated research questions according to methodological and scientific standards 

• Generating a tangible impact deliverable (i.e. a prototype) 

• Indicating the importance of research or innovation activities for solving a (multidisciplinary) question or problem, from a systemic and/or nature-based design perspective 

• Handling, analysing, interpreting and evaluating empirical data in a correct manner  

• Discussing the outcomes of empirical research and linking them with scientific theories  

• Critically reflecting on their own research work in life sciences, as well as on societal impact perspective  

• Critically reflecting on their own behavior / contribution in group work 

• Comprehensibly reporting research results/advise orally and in writing, to specialized and non-specialized audiences and society in an international context. 

Content

The Major Innovation project has the format of a challenged based learning (CBL). This is an educational approach where students actively acquire knowledge and apply skills. CBL frames learning around global, realistic, and authentic challenges. These challenges are collaboratively co-developed by students, teachers, and various stakeholders.  
  
Our challenges will tackle societal problems like climate change, biodiversity, planetary health, or one health. The challenges preferably originate from industry or (non)governmental organizations and link to the Life Sciences research at Utrecht University and/ or UMC Utrecht. Students will work in a team of 3-6 students and come up with bio inspired solutions. The challenge will start with scoping of the problem based on interviews with stakeholders and a literature search. This will be followed by defining the Project plan. The plan will consist of the research question, a Gant chart, milestones, key goals and deadlines as well as of a number of proposed components including (amongst others): Literature, Research, Interview, stakeholder analysis, Life Cycle Analysis, Intellectual Property, Business Plan, Report, deliverables and potential prototypes. The students will collect and analyse data (i.e. statistics), derive discussions and conclusions based on data and literature research. At the end of the project, the students write a report (including plain language summary) and give a final oral presentation. Moreover, the students are requested to write a critical reflection on the process and how they contributed to it (to elucidate their individual contribution). 

Deliverables 

• Project Plan (pass/fail) 

• Individual Research skills / professional development including critical reflection (30%) 

• Prototype or Proof of concept (30 %) 

• Report (30 %) 

• Presentation (10%)