ENVR356-25X (C) General non-calendar-based 2025

Field-focused Research Methods in Environmental Science

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 8 June 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 2 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 May 2025

Description

This course links field-based learning and/or data collection with instruction in research methods and tutorials dedicated to working in research teams analysing, processing and interpreting data in the broad subject area of environmental science.

ENVR356 is an undergraduate research course for students enrolled in the Frontiers Abroad program. This course is designed to link data collection with instruction in research methods and tutorials dedicated to working in research teams analyzing, processing and interpreting data.  As part of this course, students conduct a research component as part of a larger team research project.  At the end of the course students will have completed a series of learning objectives, written a short journal-article style paper, and delivered a professional research presentation in the form of a poster.

Learning Outcomes

This course seeks to provide students with the basic skills to conduct scientific research and communicate scientific results.

The learning outcomes of this course are to:
- Learn how to collect and interpret field data
- Learn how to design a data collection approach
- Learn how to design and write a research proposal that is punchy and scientifically rigorous
- Learn how to perform a literature search
- Learn how to prepare and write a literature review
- Learn how to present research data effectively using figures and tables
- Learn how to make and deliver a professional research presentation
- Learn how to effectively communicate science concepts to a broad audience
- Learn how to structure and write a research article

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Biculturally competent and confident

Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

Engaged with the community

Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

Globally aware

Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Enrolment in the Frontiers Abroad programme and Head of Department approval. RP: Completion of course(s) at home institution in the broader field of Earth Systems Science and Environmental Science and Studies.

Restrictions

GEOL356. This course is not open to non-Frontiers Abroad students

Recommended Preparation

Completion of course(s) at home institution in the broader field of Earth Systems Science and Environmental Science and Studies.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 11:00 - 13:00 Ernest Rutherford 211
Ernest Rutherford 219 Geog/Geol Teaching Lab (17/2-31/3, 28/4-26/5)
211A GIS Comp Lab (17/2-24/3)
Ernest Rutherford 211A GIS Comp Lab (31/3, 28/4-26/5)
Ernest Rutherford 211 GIS Comp Lab (31/3, 28/4-26/5)
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 16:00 - 18:00 Ernest Rutherford 211
Ernest Rutherford 219 Geog/Geol Teaching Lab (19/2-2/4, 30/4-28/5)
211A GIS Comp Lab (19/2-26/3)
Ernest Rutherford 211A GIS Comp Lab (2/4, 30/4-28/5)
Ernest Rutherford 211 GIS Comp Lab (2/4, 30/4-28/5)
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun

Timetable Note

Field work to collect research data will be collected prior to the semester, dates and times will be negotiated for each research project.

During the semester the course is broken up into a weekly two-hour lecture/seminar component and a weekly two-hour tutorial component.

Course Coordinator

Olivia Truax

Course Coordinator: Olivia Truax olivia.truax@canterbury.ac.nz

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Research Project Proposal 10%
Research Milestones 10%
Final research manuscript 30%
Conference-style research presentation 15%
Science communication and reflection exercise 15%
Tutorial exercises 10%
Class participation 10%

Notes

Prerequisites: Subject to approval of the Head of Department

Restrictions: GEOL356; GEOL240; GEOL241

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $2,073.00

International fee $10,375.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 5 people apply to enrol.

Limited Entry Course

Maximum enrolment is 30

For further information see School of Earth and Environment .

All ENVR356 Occurrences

  • ENVR356-25X (C) General non-calendar-based 2025
  • ENVR356-25X2 (C) Special non-calendar-based Two 2025