Life Science and Science Communication and Society

Specialisation of: Life Science & Technology
Degree: Master of Science in Life Science and Technology
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 2 years
Start date: Flexible, for international students preferably September or February
Language of instruction: Dutch
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 66286
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In recent decades, life science research has enabled enormous breakthroughs in our understanding of fundamental molecular and cellular processes and mechanisms of life. The MSc programmes in Life Science & Technology in Leiden and Delft are complementary.
Knowledge about genomic organisation, studies of protein-protein interactions and the characterisation of molecular structures have become central in modern life science research and technology. This knowledge forms the basis of the molecular understanding of health and disease. It finds important applications in innovative health care, in the pharmaceutical industry and in so-called ‘red’ biotechnology, and is the focus of the Leiden programme.

Programme

The Leiden MSc programme LS&T includes the Science, Communication and Society specialisation, which relates to science communication in a broad sense. The programme prepares you for a career in the popularisation of science, for example, as a scientific writer or public relations officer.

The various elements of the specialisation are:

Science, Communication and Society courses and internship

This course offers a broad introduction to the primary forms of scientific communication to society. You follow lectures on scientific communication, journalism/the media landscape, the role of museums/science centres in scientific communication, presentation skills, information visualisation, the new opportunities provided by internet, learning theory, giving and receiving feedback, the ethics of scientific communication and the construction of knowledge.

For more information, see the website Life Science and Science Communication (in Dutch).

Compulsory advanced modules

Students have to present a paper and write a literature essay and have to choose two core courses. Two other core courses should be chosen from the Leiden Chemistry programme or the Delft Life Science and Technology programme.

Electives

Electives can be chosen from courses from any science master’s course or from other master’s courses (permission required). In consultation with the mentor, any deficiencies in required prior knowledge can be compensated partly by the electives.
Excellent electives in organic and inorganic theoretical chemistry, toxicology, biophysics and bioinformatics are offered within the Leiden Science Faculty and within the Delft LS&T MSc programme.

Master’s research project

A master’s research project can be carried out within a single research group or divided into two smaller master’s research projects in separate or collaborating research groups.

Prof. Noteborn

“In Leiden we introduce small peaces of DNA in bacteria and in human cells.”

“May 20, 2010, U.S. Scientist Craig Venter announced his team succeed in producing bacterial DNA in their laboratory and introducing this DNA into a bacteria whose own DNA had been removed.

With the aid of the synthetic DNA the scientists were able to revive a bacteria that had nearly died and get it to breed an bacteria colony. You can compare this to a computer. When you take out a software pack and replace it with a new one, the computer will retain new characteristics and start working again. To this “empty bacteria” the synthetic DNA was a new software pack.

The synthetic DNA the scientists introduced is a replica of natural bacterial DNA. The synthetic DNA resembled the original DNA of the bacteria. Does this make the discovery less important? No. Creating such a large bacterial genome in a laboratory still is a large technological challenge. Have these US scientists created new life? No, absolutely not. The scientists used a natural mechanism. This discovery may be used for a great number of applications: advancements in the production of proteins used to produce medications, combating oil pollution more effectively and improved methods for capturing CO2.

It’s not surprising that the entire would wanted to know more about this discovery. Friday the 21 of May reporters from the RTL4 asked me to explain about this new discovery in their seven thirty news bulletin, and they also asked whether it would be possible to film the interview in our brand new Cell Observatory. A large number of scientists of the LIC and other institutes at Leiden University have been introducing smaller DNA pieces into bacteria and human cells, similar to what to Craig Venter did, but much more small scale in terms of the size of the DNA involved. By doing this we are for example trying to find out which DNA particles deter the development of growing cancer cells. My colleague Dr Claude Barckendorf and a number of students Life Sience and Technology were working on these experiments on May 21st.”