Developing Research and Presentation Skills (GEO620)

NB! This is an elective course and may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students are enrolled by August 20th.

Review of key topics relevant for scientific research.

• The scientific method,
• How to define a research project,
• How to write scientific articles, proposals, etc,
• How to make and present scientific/technical presentations, and
• Best practices to conduct research.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge on how to apply the scientific method, and
• Knowledge on how to search and collect information necessary to develop a research proposal for a thesis study.

Skills:

• Have research and knowledge skills on how to establish a problem for a thesis study,
• Be able to conduct basic research using library and internet resources, and
• Be able to give scientific presentations, both oral and written.

General competence:

• Write a proposal to define a scientific problem,
• Be able to communicate effectively in a written and oral form, and
• Define time frames and responsibilities in the definition of professional problems that may apply to real life cases.

Must have completed at least one full semester in a master program.

Compulsory assignments

Students must declare a research topic by October 15 in order to submit a report and give a presentation.

Fagperson(er)

Head of Department:

Alejandro Escalona Varela

Course coordinator:

Lisa Jean Watson

Study Program Director:

Lisa Jean Watson

This course uses a multi-mode teaching style. Students are expected to participate in all activities.

• Prior to class: e-lectures and readings as organized in Canvas
• In-class skill development workshops and discussion, including a library skills class
• After class: applying skills activities and researching topic for reports and presentation; optional assessments for ongoing feedback

The student's participation in the different working forms in this course is strongly recommended in order to develop skills directly related to the project.

The class meets twice a week, 2 hours each meeting: 1 meeting focuses on new skills workshop, 1 meeting for follow-up. Students are expected to work on their own an additional 10 hours per week.

This course is open to all UiS Master's students who have an interest in improving their research, writing, and presentation skills.

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Book How to write dissertations & project reports McMillan, Kathleen, Weyers, Jonathan D.B., Harlow, Pearson Education, XII, 288 s., 2011, isbn:9780273743835, Book Chapter Carrying out research for a project or dissertation and Research paradigms, theorising, and conceptual frameworks Wisker, Gina, Wisker, Gina, Carrying out research for a project or dissertation and Research paradigms, theorising, and conceptual frameworks, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, XXII, 298 s., 2009, 48-69, isbn:9780230520974, Report Guidelines for Research Ethics in Science and Technology The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees, 2016, Article A Scrutiny of the Abstract, II* K. K. Landes, Tulsa, Okla. :, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Online resource, AAPG Bulletin, 9, 50, 1966, Article Editorial Best, Jim; Fielding, Chris; Jarvis, Ian; Mozley, Peter, Li, Shunli.; Li, Shengli., Cham :, Imprint Springer; Springer International Publishing , 1 online resource ( pages), Sedimentology, 48, 2001, 1-2, Document Instantly Better Presentations Damian Conway, 2013, Article A guide to effective geophysical writing and presentation Stewart, R., Brown, J., Lawton, D., and L. Lines, CSEG Recorder, October, 2005, 36-41, Article Editor's Note: Writing for the AAPG Bulletin: We're not literary giants but we can try to be John Lorenz, Tulsa, Okla. :, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Online resource, AAPG Bulletin, 4, 87, 2003, 529-533, Book The undergraduate research handbook Wisker, Gina, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, XXII, 298 s., 2009, isbn:9780230520974, Book The Craft of research Booth, Wayne C., FitzGerald, William T.; Williams, Joseph M.; Bizup, Joseph,; Colomb, Gregory G., Chicago, University Of Chicago Press, XVI, 316 sider, 2016, isbn:9780226239569; 9780226239736, Book Doing a successful research project : using qualitative or quantitative methods Davies, Martin Brett., Hughes, Nathan., Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, X, 278 s., 2014, isbn:9781137306425, Book How to Write a Paper Hall, G., Wiley Blackwell, 40, 2013, Article A Writing Guide for Petrological (and Other Geological) Manuscripts Irvine, T. N., and D. Rumble, Tulsa, OK :, SEPM, Journal of Petrology, 1992, 1-46, Article Some general advice for writing a scientific paper Eriksson, P., Altermann, W., and O. Catuneanu, New York :; Oxford ;, Pergamon, Journal of African Earth Sciences, 41, 2005, 285-288, Article Commentary: Usage of stratigraphic terminology in papers, illustrations, and talks Owen, D. E., Tulsa, OK :, SEPM, Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 2, 57, 1987, 363-372, Document Geostandard 2013,

The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1