Experimental Nutrition Physiology

The course includes three main teaching frameworks: lectures, group work sessions, and exercises. Group work sessions and exercises are performed in groups of 4-5 students in laboratories, lecture halls, or other available space.

The course flow is mimicking an actual research study flow, from getting an idea and forming a hypothesis, to testing it, to getting results, to interpreting them, and finally disseminating them. Students will be required to act as research subjects themselves, and provide physiological measurements (e.g. weight, height, body composition, energy metabolism) and biological samples (e.g. blood, urine, stool). Not all students will provide all measurements and samples, but each student will be required to provide at least some measurements and samples; this assignment will be finalized at study start by the course responsible. To generate the physiological and biological data, students will need to utilize the various methodologies taught in the course. After obtaining the results, students will write a report and present the results orally at a mock mini-conference.

Exercises will consist of both theoretical preparations (e.g. experiment design and calculations) and practical laboratory work. The actual experimental testing will be performed by the students themselves and measurements will be obtained by them or with supervision of a teacher or lab assistant. Results will be summarized in scientifically written protocols and reports and presented orally during mock mini-conferences. The students will act as opponents for other groups, but the supervisors and the course responsible will do the final judgment of the reports and oral presentations.