BSc (Hons) Biotechnology course preparation

Suggested reading

You will be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies in September.

In the meantime, there are a couple of popular science books you might like to read, if you can, before starting your degree. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive. But if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online, our Head of Biology suggests:

• Genentech: The Beginnings of Biotech. Sally Smith Hughes
• Regenesis: How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves Book. Ed Regis and George Church
• The Antidote: Inside the World of New Pharma. Barry Werth
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Rebecca Skloot

Useful websites

Did you know you can hang out with scientists online via The Natural History Museum?

You can also use the BBC and Guardian websites to follow science (especially biology) stories in the press. Focus on the scientific principles rather than the human element as you read.

For some great articles and insights, the New Scientist website is highly recommended.  And, as it’s never too early to start thinking about topics you enjoy, you could try comparing news articles to scientific papers you can find on Google Scholar. This will be a useful skill for your studies.

Other useful websites include:

• Trello.com to create an online To Do List
• To research future careers in Bioscience, visit this website

Here are a couple of ideas for you to try some Bioscience related fun:

• Try some home experiments. STEM Learning has some good ideas
• Discover a new and exciting topic with aTED talk
• Start a journal. Get practicing for writing a lab book.