How to effectively plan and conduct environmental study

Timetable

Course starts on Wednesday the 15th of April and classes will take place each Wednesday from 8.15 a.m. to 9.45 a.m., Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Collegium Geographicum, room 242. Dates of the meetings: the 15, 22, 29th of April, the 13, 20, 27th of May and the 3rd of June.

Module aim (aims)

The classes are planned as seminars. Its main aim is to help students – novice researchers to plan, prepare, conduct and report successful environmental research. You may expect basic theoretical background, as well as practical step-by-step guidance in planning research.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

N/A

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction. The scientific method.

Week 2: The scientific method – continued.

Week 3: How to start? Literature review, research problem and hypothesis.

Week 4: How to prepare? Desk-based study – methods and techniques.

Week 5: How to plan? Fieldwork planning, health and safety.

Week 6: How to wrap up? Research report.

Week 7: How to mitigate? Case studies of successful and unsuccessful fieldwork campaigns.

Week 8: Assignment – Research report draft

Reading list

S. A. Schumm, 2000. To interpret the Earth. Ten way to be wrong. Cambridge University Press, pp. 132