Senior Seminar - Intro

message from a former Env. Sci. BC major

I guess, I just wanted to see what you are up to, and also to thank you because as I look back to Barnard, one of the memories that come up in my mind most often is all the classes that I took for the Environmental Science major, and even writing my thesis...(which I must admit, back then, I could not understand the purpose of writing one, but now as I look back... I realize that a lot of the projects that I am working on now resemble small theses... the research, the timing, the developing of the ideas... the editing and the collection of all thoughts into one small project...)." January, 1999.

This student graduated in 1997 and is now working as a Sr. Statistical Analyst for an Investors Service.

Elements of Senior Research Projects in Environmental Sciences/Biology/Policy:

An environmental issue is identified. Other people's work on the topic is collected and

evaluated. Data necessary to solving the problem are either collected

by the student, or obtained from other sources. Data are analyzed using techniques appropriate to the

data set. Results of the analysis are interpreted in light of the initial

environmental issue and communicated to others.

Three groups of students2nd semester senior seminar, research

mostly completed, focus on writing the thesis

1st semester students Thesis proposal extending research

performed over the summer Thesis proposal based on ideas developed

at the beginning of this semester

Goals of Senior Seminar 1st semester senior

seminar identify project/mentor formulate hypothesis understand background develop/refine

appropriate methods begin/complete data

collection & analysis summarize state of

project as thesis proposal

progress as far as possible with the elements listed

2nd semester senior seminar complete data collection

and data analysis write results, discussion

and conclusion sections complete senior thesis

both information & data collection, data analysis communication (oral, written) skills independence/professionalism

Structure of a thesis (proposal)1. Title page 2. Abstract 3. Table of contents 4. Introduction 5. Thesis statement 6. Approach/methods 7. (Preliminary) Results8. Discussion 9. (Work plan including time table) 10. Implications of research 11. List of references 12. Appendix

Website tour

http://cool.barnard.edu/envsci/

Purpose of writing a thesis proposal

is to demonstrate that the thesis topic addresses a significant environmental problem;

an organized plan is in place for data collection and analysis to help solve the problem;

is to ensure (as much as possible) that the project can be concluded on time.

To be able to write good proposals is a very useful skill in general!