**Statement on NST IA teaching for 2021-2022**
The aim is to deliver as much teaching in person, we do however have courses with class sizes too great to meet the risk assessment requirements for lectures in any available indoor space. Practical teaching is being prioritised. Specific details will be provided by each course on their websites and will remain under review throughout the academic year.
Choosing your subjects and registering for practical classes: What subjects can I study?
In the second year, Part IB, of the Natural Sciences Tripos you read THREE subjects from those listed below. There are some timetabling restrictions and you cannot take more than one subject from any one group. The subjects are grouped together as follows:
| Group | Subjects | Lecture times |
|---|---|---|
| A | Earth Sciences B; Physics B; Mathematical and Computational Biology (new for 2022-23) |
M. W. F. 9 |
| B | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Earth Sciences A | M. W. F. 10 |
| C | Evolution & Animal Diversity; Mathematics; Pharmacology; Quantitative and Environmental Science (new for 2022-23) | M. W. F. 11 |
| D | Ecology, Evolution & Conservation; Biology of Disease; Physics A | M. W. F. 12 |
| E | Chemistry B; Physiology | Tu. Th. S. 9 |
| F | Materials Science; Cell and Developmental Biology | Tu. Th. S. 10 |
| G | Experimental Psychology; Plant and Microbial Sciences | Tu. Th. S. 11 |
| H | Chemistry A; Neurobiology | Tu. Th. S. 12 |
| I | History and Philosophy of Science | M. W. F. 5 |
Due to timetable clashes it is inadvisable to take Physics B with Evolution & Animal Diversity or Pharmacology. If you wish to take either of these combinations you must speak to your Director of Studies who will need to make an application to the Natural Sciences Tripos Management Committee on your behalf.
TIMETABLE OF TEACHING 2021-22
Practicals
Staggered start times may be possible where there are clashes with lectures. You will be informed of the start time when you register.
| Evolution & Animal Diversity | W. 12-5 or Th. 12-5. Four hours, fortnightly. |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Approximately four hours starting at 12 on M. or 11 on Tu. or W. or Th.or F. This does not include a 1 hour lunch break to be taken at the discretion of the Senior demonstrator: finishing times are 5 on M. and 4 on Tu. W. Th. and F. |
| Biology of Disease | W. and F. 2-4. |
| Cell and Developmental Biology | Tu. or F. 11-5. Sessions are broken down into AM (11-1) and PM (2-5) sessions on both days. Students can request preferences for a certain slot on Tuesday or Friday, however these cannot be guaranteed. |
| Chemistry A | M. Tu. W. Th. F. 1.45-5. |
| Chemistry B | M. Tu. W. Th. F. 1.45-6. |
| Ecology, Evolution & Conservation |
There are no practicals for this course: instead students undertake a research project. Students will also attend a small number of field trips and group sessions which will take place on various Monday afternoons during term; we also encourage students to undertake their project work during this time slot where possible, so students should therefore be available on Mondays 1-5pm. |
| Experimental Psychology | Two, two-hour sessions per week, one chosen from Tu. 9-11 or W. 10-12 or 2-4, and the other from Th. 2-4 or F. 10-12 or 2-4. |
| Earth Sciences A | Three 1.5 hour sessions. Choose one from each set: Set 1: F 11-1, F 2-4 Set 2: M 11-1, M 2-4, Tu 10-12 Set 3: W 11-1, W 2-4, Th 10-12 |
| Earth Sciences B | Three 1.5 hour sessions. Choose one from each set: Set 1: M 11-1, Tu 10-12 Set 2: W 11-1, Th 10-12 Set 3: F 11-1, S 10-12 |
| Materials Science | One regular practical per week in Michaelmas and Lent Terms only, either M. 9-11.30, or Tu. 2-4.30 or W. 9-11.30 or W. 2-4.30 |
| Mathematics | See Maths Timetable |
| Neurobiology | Tu. or Th. 2-5. |
| Pharmacology | Tu. 2-5 or W. 2-5. |
| Physics A | M. 2-5.45, Tu. 10-5.45, Th. 10-5.45, F. 2-5.45. Students will be allocated periods within these times. |
| Physics B | M. 2-5.45, Tu. 10-5.45, Th. 10-5.45, F. 2-5.45. Students will be allocated periods within these times. |
| Physiology | Tu. or Th. 2-4(5). |
| Plant & Microbial Sciences | M. or Tu. 12-5. Four hours. |
Practical registrations
Students must register for each subject at the following times and places:
| Chemistry A |
9-12 or 2-5, Monday 4 October, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry |
| Chemistry B | 9-12 or 2-5, Monday 4 October, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry Introductory talk: 10am, Wednesday 6 October, Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture Theatre. |
| Earth Sciences A and B | Register online by Wednesday 6 October. Link will be emailed by the department. |
| Materials Science | Register online by 10 am on Friday 1 October at https://forms.office.com/r/jsGWzXkTuu |
|
Physics A and Physics B |
2.00, Wednesday 6 October, online. Introductory talk will also be online. |
|
All biological subjects |
Students should also express their provisional wishes on the NST IB Practical Registration Moodle site by 1st Sept. Contact FacBiol@admin.cam.ac.uk if you have any questions. |
This year a new version of the timetable calendar has been developed and you will be able to go to www.timetable.cam.ac.uk, select your subjects and ‘Add’ the lectures and practicals. Once you have registered for a practical session, in order to add your practical sessions you can select the subject, click on ‘Practicals’ in the ‘Module’ box to expand the list, and then ‘Add’ those practical sessions which apply.
Location of Lectures
The location of the FIRST lecture in the Michaelmas Term for each of the courses is listed below:
|
Evolution & Animal Diversity |
Main Lecture Theatre, Department of Zoology |
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Online |
| Cell and Developmental Biology | Biffen Lecture Theatre, Department of Genetics |
| Chemistry A | BMS Lecture Theatre, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry |
| Chemistry B | BMS Lecture Theatre, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry |
| Ecology, Evolution & Conservation | Main Lecture Theatre, Department of Zoology |
| Experimental Psychology | Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building |
| Earth Sciences A | Tilley Lecture Room, Department of Earth Sciences |
| Earth Sciences B | Tilley Lecture Room, Department of Earth Sciences |
| History and Philosophy of Science | Mill Lane Lecture Rooms |
| Materials Science | BMS Lecture Theatre, Yusf Hamied Department of Chemistry |
| Mathematics | BMS Lecture Theatre, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry |
| Neurobiology | Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Department of PDN |
| Biology of Disease | Online |
| Pharmacology | Mixture of online and Biffin Lecture Theatre, Department of Genetics |
| Physics A | Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site |
| Physics B | Cockcroft Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site |
| Physiology | Michaelmas - Lecture Theatre 1, Department of Physiology Lent - please see Physiology timetable |
| Plant and Microbial Sciences | Large Lecture Theatre, Department of Plant Sciences |
Further information on each subject is available in the programme specification and on the course websites.