A!ENG Research LabA course on science, research and scientific writing

11.4.-26.5.2016

D.Sc. Timo Räsänen and Prof. Harri Koivusalo

Water and Environmental Engineering

Department of Built Environment

Today’s program: Doctoral thesis process

12.15-12.30 Introduction to the course

12.30-12.45 Participant introductions

12.45-13.10 Group discussion: research plans

13.10-13.25 Break

13.25-14.10 Science, Research and Scientific Writing (Lect. Marko Keskinen)

14.10-14.25 Break

14.25-15.10 Doctoral thesis in ENG, (Prof. Harri Koivusalo)

15.10-15.15 Instructions for pre-reading for scientific method session

Learning aims

• Aims and requirements for doctoral degree in A!ENG

• Main principles of science

• The role of research method

• Scientific writing skills

• Stress and well-being during the thesis

• Creativity and intuition as part of productive research process

• Awareness of future career interests

A!ENG Research Lab and/or Scientific Writing Seminar?

• A!ENG Research Lab + Scientific Writing Seminar = 3 cr. (ECTS)

• A!ENG Research Lab = 2 cr.

• Scientific Writing Seminar = 1 cr.

Make sure you have enrolled also to Scientific Writing Seminar in WebOodi if you want to participate!

Course content and schedule

• 14.4. Doctoral thesis process, Thu, 12.15-16, U358

• 21.4. Scientific method, Thu, 12.15-16, U119

• 28.4. Research methodology, Thu, 12.15-16, U358

• 3.5. Mental process and well-being, Tue, 12.15-16, U119

• 12.5. Creativity and career, Thu, 12.15-16, U358

• 18.5. Scientific writing, Wed, 9.15-16, U358

• 19.5. Scientific writing, group work, Thu, U358 available for group work 9-17

• 20.5. Scientific writing, Fri, 9.15-16, U119

• 26.5. Wrap up meeting, Thu, 12.15-14, place to be confirmed

Only one non-attendance allowed!

NOTE: Places/lecture rooms updated in MyCourses on 14.4.!

Lecturers

• Prof. Harri Koivusalo, Head of Doctoral Committee of ENG, Built Environment, Aalto

• Timo Räsänen, Postdoc, Built Environment, Aalto

• Suvi Sojamo, Doctoral candidate, Built Environment, Aalto

• Marko Keskinen, University Lecturer (D.Sc.), Built Environment, Aalto

• Panu Kiviluoma, Senior University Lecturer (D.Sc.), Mechanical Engineering, Aalto

• Aura Salmivaara, D.Sc., Recent graduate from Built Environment, Aalto

• Nina Lyytinen, Psychologist, Diacor

• Asta Raami, Doctor of Arts

• Helena Knuuttila, HR Specialist, Aalto

• Prof. Emeritus Bengt Lundberg, Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University

Session structure

• Pre-reading

• Group discussion of pre-reading materials

• Lecture/exercise/discussions

• Reflective essay

Except fo scientific writing!

• Wed: Lecture day

• Thu: Group work

• Fri: Presentation of group works

Course assignments

• Reflective essay (1-2 pages per session, altogether six times)• Free reflection of the session topic and discussions

• Reflect how the session topic and discussions relate to your personal thesis process

• Pre-reading for 21.4. Scientific method session (Read well! Poster walk!)

• Pre-reading for 28.4. Research methodology session

• Pre-reading for 3.5. Mental process and well-being session

• Pre-reading for 12.5. Creativity and career session

• Group work on scientific writing on 19.5.

Course materials

• All information and materials available in MyCourses

• Reading materials in MyCourses (Log in to see materials)

• Visible and accessible only for those enrolled in the course

• In case of problems contact course coordinator: Timo Räsänen (timo.rasanen@aalto.fi)

Group discussion: Introduction of research plans• Introduce your research plans:

• Topic• Aim and contribution of your research• Why your research is important (broader picture)• Specific research questions and hypotheses• Methodology (data and methods)• Expected outcomes• Links between thesis publications• Challenges

• Then discuss: Differences and similarities between research plans?

• Time available 15 min

Group discussion: Introduction of research plans• Topics and methodologies can differ a lot

• But there are strong similarities• Thesis requirements

• Principles of science and research

• Scientific writing

• Publishing

• Similarities = collaboration and peer-support opportunities!

A!ENG Research LabA course on science, research +scientific writing

Science, research, scientific writing?

1) Write down your own short definitions (text) for these three themes

2) Discuss with a pair

3) Then finding common definition

Science?

“A systematically organized body of knowledge on a particular subject” Oxford Dictionary

“The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment” Oxford Dictionary

Research?

“The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions” Oxford Dictionary

Scientific writing?

No dictionary definition!

Mine, uncertain!

”A systematic process of writingfor ’translating’ research into a publication, following the norms of the discplineand the instructions of the publisher”

How do these three relate to each other?

Visually describe this in your groups to a poster!

Pre-reading assignment for 21.4. Scientific Method session

• Six groups

• Read:• Everyone: Introduction (Gauch, 2012)• Group 1: Four bold claims (Gauch, 2012)• Group 2: Science’s contested rationality (Gauch, 2012)• Group 3: Science’s presuppositions (Gauch, 2012)• Group 4: Science’s power and limits (Gauch, 2012)• Group 5: Ethics and responsibility (Gauch, 2012)• Group 6: Logic and reasoning: deduction and induction, common fallacies and

confirmation bias (mainly from Gauch, 2012)

• Next time we make posters in groups and everyone has to present theirs in a new group in a poster walk. Read Well!

• Instructions also in MyCourses