Anthropology 4594. Experimental Methods in Primate Biomechanics

 

Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00pm - 11:30pm

McMillan B17 (Lectures) and B21 (Human Evolutionary Biomechanics Lab)

Spring 2008

 

Herman Pontzer                                                TA: Anna Warrener

119 McMillan Hall                                            email: agblackb@artsci.wustl.edu

Phone: 935-5292

hpontzer@artsci.wustl.edu

 

Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00-2:30pm, or by appointment.

 

Course website: http://artsci.wustl.edu/~hpontzer/Courses/Anth4594.html

 

Recommended textbook

Animal Biomechanics (2003) by Andrew A. Biewener

 

You will also need to bring a scientific calculator to class each day.

 

 

 

Course Description

The first portion of this lab-based course will cover basic concepts in biomechanics and training in the equipment and non-invasive experimental techniques used to investigate locomotion, energetics, and other biomechanics questions in terrestrial animals, including humans.  In the second portion, students conduct their own research projects, developing questions and hypotheses, collecting and analyzing data, and using results to test predictions.

Prerequisite: Anth 4593 or permission of instructor.

 

Grading

Project Proposal …….…...10%

Research Participation…...30%

Project Presentation……...30%

Term Paper……………....30%

 

Participation

Unlike many other courses, the nature of this class requires that each student take an active role in learning the course material and research methods, and in conducting and analyzing their research project.  To get full credit for the Research Participation component of your final grade, you will need to actively participate in class, work with your team to develop and refine your research protocol and predictions, make a plan for collecting your data and stick to it, and work with your team to analyze your data on schedule and present it well.  Simply showing up to class each day will not be sufficient for full Research Participation credit.

 

Human Subjects Research Certification

ALL students will be required to complete the online training module for student researchers.  This will take approximately four to six hours (outside of class), and must be completed by February 10th. 

Schedule

Jan 15. Introduction to the course, Newton, and Euclid

Jan 17. Walking and running   Reading: Biewener 46 - 77

 

Jan 22.Muscle physiology and energetics   Reading: Biewener 15 - 45

Jan 24. Energy cost of locomotion   Reading: Biewener 207 - 229

 

Jan 29. Introduction to the lab and research projects

Jan 31. Lab Methods 1: Kinematics

 

Feb 5. Lab Methods 2: Kinetics and Inverse Dynamics   Reading: review Biewener 46 - 77

Feb 7. Lab Methods 3: EMG and muscle function   Reading: review Biewener 15 - 45

 

Feb 12. Lab Methods 4: Measuring energy use   Reading: Biewener 187 – 206

Feb 14. Lab Methods 5: Computer modeling and analytical methods

 

Feb 19. Lab Methods 6: Research conduct and ethics

Feb 21. Student Project Proposals

15 minute Powerpoint presentation per team, plus a 2 – 4 page paper from each person describing Hypotheses, Predictions, and Methods

 

Feb 26 & 28. Research Project: Pilot data collection

 

Mar 4 & 6. Research Project: Data Collection

 

Mar 11 & 13. Spring Break

 

Mar 18 & 20. Research Project: Data Collection

 

Mar 25 & 27. Research Project: Data Collection

 

Apr 1 & 3. Data analysis

 

Apr 8 & 10. Data analysis

 

Apr 15 & 17. Data Analysis

 

Apr 22 & 24 Student Presentations 15 minute Powerpoint presentation per person (~20 slides)

 

May 1. Final Papers Due.

7 – 10 page paper, 12pt Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 1” margins. Page limit does not include figures, tables, or references.  Must include the following sections: Abstract (200 words), Introduction, Hypotheses & Predictions, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion