Project Thesis 2004 Information Class 26.10.2004 INFORMATION SESSION 26.10.2004 Project Thesis (Fundamental Research Tools)

Project Thesis 2004 Information Class 26.10.2004

INFORMATION SESSION

26.10.2004

Project Thesis (Fundamental

Research Tools)


Objective of Project Thesis Class

The overall objective of the class is to equip the student with all the tools and methodological know-how required for the effective planning, execution and reporting of his research.

To achieve this objective, we will arm you with fundamental research tools (both tangible and non-tangible) to assist you throughout the duration of your thesis….and beyond!

The contents of the class should assist in the preparation of the DEA thesis and DEA presentation, and the culmination of the class will be a formal presentation


At the end of this class you will have• identified the novelty and originality of your research and the contribution it will make

• identified the objectives and sub-objectives of your research

• carried out a detailed literature search, created a database of this literature (Endnote) and using this database, written a literature review

• written an abstract summarising your research work

• carried out a plan of your research, identifying research tasks, resources required, identified deliverables and milestones, carried out a risk analysis and identified a contingency plan, plotted Pert and Gnatt charts (MS Project)

• written an article based on your research and submitted it the Project Thesis Editorial Office

• refereed articles and written a referee report

• replied to a referee report

• drafted a project proposal

• carried out a detailed patent search and drafted a patent of your research work

• prepared and video-ed a presentation of your research

• given a formal presentation of your research work to a mock DEA panel and your colleagues and supervisors

Outcomes of Project Thesis Class


Ciara O’ Sullivan

x 8740

[email protected]

José Luis Toca

X 8661

[email protected]

Joan Rosell

X 8660

[email protected]

Class Profs


Class layout

INTRODUCTORY SESSION

CLASS 1

Introduction, objectives,

lit. review

CLASS 2

Efficient writing and

workplanning

CLASS 3

Article writing and refereeing

CLASS 4

Patent searching and

proposals

CLASS 5

Presentation guidelines and

practise

PRACTISE PRESENTATION

PRESENTATION EVALUATION

FORMAL PRESENTATION


Class layout

INTRODUCTORY SESSION 26 October 2004

CLASS 1

November 23 2004

JL Toca

CLASS 2

November 30 2004

CK O Sullivan

CLASS 3

December 14 2004

J Rosell

CLASS 4

December 21 2004

JLT & CKOS

CLASS 5

January 11 2005

ALL

PRACTISE PRESENTATION 18 January 2005

PRESENTATION EVALUATION 19 January 2005

FORMAL PRESENTATION Thursday 27 January 2005


Class Rules

The language of the class is ENGLISH. All homeworks and presentations must be done in English.

Students must attend at least 80% of the classes in order to pass.

Students must attend 75% of Multidisciplinary Seminars as part of the Project Thesis Class.

Each prof will provide homework submission dates, that will be posted on the web with the homework. Homework submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

The class will be graded on the basis of (i) class attendance and interaction (ii) homeworks and (iii) final presentation, in an equivalent manner.


Tutor Groups

Each class will be given on Tuesday between 17.00 and 19.00 in Aula 116.

Each prof has an assigned tutor group (to be decided in information session) of nine students and the prof and tutor group will arrange a time to meet on Friday to review homeworks, discuss themes/problems/concerns etc.

The students of the tutor group and their assigned prof can meet on an individual or group basis, as is decided between them.

Homeworks will be carried out on an individual basis but could be reviewed within a group format.


Website

There will be a Project Thesis class web page, that should be consulted frequently for messages/links/downloads etc.

The webpage will contain

OVERVIEW

CLASSES - description, ppt file, links, homework, useful downloads, book references

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES - links, downloads, book references

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

MESSAGES - homeworks etc.

SUGGESTION BOARD - PLEASE use

CLASS EVALUATION


Homeworks

Throughout the course there will be homeworks that all have one final common objective - preparation and execution of the DEA.

Although not obligatory, it is STRONGLY recommended that the theme chosen for all the homeworks will be the research theme of your DEA.

It is also HIGHLY recommended that you discuss the homeworks of the class with your supervisor and keep him/her updated of the class.


Example Research Theme

To complement that the student’s homeworks will be based on one constant research theme, the examples given from class to class to demonstrate tools etc. will be the constant theme of

‘Beer brewing’

…….and maybe sampling!


Class 1 General Introduction,

Identification of research objectives and literature review

José Luis Toca

23rd November 2004


Contents

Identification of research theme

Identification of objectives

Introduction to basic definitions

Philosophy, scientific methodology and ethics

Literature Review

Database searching and management

Impact factor, citation index

Live ENDNOTE tutorial

Live ISI tutorial

Identification of novelty of research theme

Identification of contribution of literature theme


Homework

Identification of research themes

Carry out literature review and using trial version of ENDNOTE, create organised database.

Using ISI, choose 5 of the articles found and make a table listing journal, impact factor, no. of citations of paper

Short summary of literature review

Identification of novelty of research to be carried out, contribution that will be made and where results could be published

Due date: 29 November, 2004


Class 2 Efficient writing and

workplanning

Ciara O’ Sullivan

30th November, 2004


Contents

Guidelines to writing efficiently

Interactive tutorial for improvement of grammar and punctuation skills

outline of abstract and abstract elements

Class activity - draft abstract exercise

Methodology for planning of research

Task timing, deliverables, milestones

Resources

Risk analysis and contingency planning

Pert, Gantt Charts


Homework

Abstract of research theme

Workplan - identifying research tasks, time required to carry out tasks, identification of deliverables, milestones, their timing as well as a contingency plan.

Identification of required resources and Pert and Gantt charts.

Due date: 7 December, 2004


Class 3 Article writing

Joan Rosell

14th December, 2004


Contents

Guidelines to preparation of a technical journal article

Initial barrier considerations surrounding artcile writing will be discussed - defining the story, choosing the journal, impact factor, citation index

Questions of execution will be discussed - what is in each section, computer tools, figures, log vs linear plots

The submission and refereeing process


Homework

Students provided with a short mystery story describing a research process and asked to transform into a short communication for a scientific journal (e.g. JACS) and will be asked to submit to the Project Thesis Editorial Office

Due date: 20 December, 2004

Students will be sent three manuscripts to referee and should prepare a referee report and return to the Project Thesis Editorial Office

Due date: 11th January, 2005

Students will be sent referee reports and should correct and resubmit their corrected article according to correct protocol



Class 4 Proposal writing and patent

searching

José Luis Toca & Ciara O’ Sullivan

21st December, 2004


Contents

Preparation of a DEA research proposal, focusing on format, use of illustration, structure, referencing and editing

Example proposal will be extrapolated in class and financial planning explained

Major sources of research funding (e.g. EU, NSF etc.) will be introduced and this style of research proposal will be outlined and the research proposal review process explained.

IPR, ownership, inventorship, patent application, patent protection, patent databases will be outlined.

An interactive patent search will be carried out using Derwent Innovation Office, European Patent Office and the US Patent Office


Homework

Preparation of complete DEA project proposal, complete with Introduction, Identification of novelty and potential contributions, Identification of Overall Objective and Sub-objectives, Task descriptions, Timing, Deliverables, Milestones, Resources, Finances, Risk Analysis, Contingency Planning, Pert and Gantt Charts, Bibliography


Patent search related to research theme and summary of patent search



Class 5 Presentation Guidelines

José Luis Toca, Joan Rosell & Ciara O’ Sullivan

11th January, 2005


Contents

Preparation and delivery of effective presentations

Body language, attitude, effective visual aids, equipment, content & timing, structure, importance of introduction, visual aids dos and donts

Guide to preparation outlined and voice exercises to highlight correct stressing will be carried out

Tips to giving presentations in English

Guidelines for preparation of European PhD

Video highlighting examples of good and poor presentations


Homework

Preparation of 10 minute presentation based on research theme



Presentation Practise


18th January, 2005


Contents

There will be two three-hour sessions on Tuesday 18th January

Each student should attend the entirety of at least one of these sessions

Each student will give a 10-minute presentation, that will be video-ed and 2 minutes will be allocated for questions

Each student should takes notes to evaluate the other students


Homework

Summary of notes to assist in evaluation of student presentation



Presentation Evaluation


19th January, 2005


Contents

There will be two three-hour sessions on Wednesday 19th January

Each student should attend the entirety of at least one of these sessions (and the same one they attended on Tuesday 18th January)

Each student will shown the video of their presentation and students and profs will discuss how the presentation could be improved


Homework

Prepare final presentation



Formal Presentation

All supervisors, colleagues and a mock-DEA panel

27th January, 2005


Contents

This should be treated as a trial run of the DEA presentation and students should dress semi-formally as the would for the final DEA presentation

Students and supervisors will be asked to attend and will contribute to the grading of the presentation and will complete a feedback form that will be given back to the student so as to assist in further improving the quality of the presentation

A mock DEA panel will ask questions - if possible technical - but the importance is the style!


Homework

Meet with assigned tutor for final feedback on formal presentation

Before 31st January

HAVE MANY BEERS TO CELBRATE!


EVALUATION

The only way we can improve our class is to have feedback and evaluation.

There will be an anonymous suggestion board available on the web page - please use it

We will distribute an informal evaluation from at the end of the course

ALL students should complete the formal evaluation process - it is a very bad reflection on the profs if this evaluation is not completed!


GOOD LUCK!

Whatever problem you have regarding the class - contact us!

Remember this class is to help you, and any homeworks etc will assist you in your research work….

Looking forward to collaborating,

José Ciara Joan

Documents

Project Thesis 2004 Information Class 26.10.2004 INFORMATION SESSION 26.10.2004 Project Thesis (Fundamental Research Tools)