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Environment Systems Project - ENV00016I

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• Department: Environment and Geography
• Module co-ordinator: Dr. Claire Hughes
• Credit value: 10 credits
• Credit level: I
• Academic year of delivery: 2017-18
  • See module specification for other years: 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21

Module will run

Module aims

Environmental Systems Project allows students to develop skills in the planning, execution and reporting of a piece of field research on a specific environmental management topic. This module has a strong student-centred learning component which allows students to develop skills in independent thinking and problem-solving. Each group is assigned a supervisor who provides guidance at each stage of the project.

The current focus of this module is the Heslington East Campus and its surrounding areas. Heslington East is a relatively new development and it is important that its current environmental status (water quality and ecology) is assessed so that action planning can be undertaken should any problems be identified. The findings from ESP projects could contribute to shaping the future environmental management strategy for the site.

Module learning outcomes

• Be able to define a specific science or management question, and develop an overarching aim, specific objectives and hypotheses for a research project.
• Be competent in designing a research project to answer a specific science question including sampling strategies, analytical techniques and data analysis.
• Be able to effectively incorporate data quality assurance and quality control procedures into a research project.
• Be able to collect high quality qualitative or quantitative data in a laboratory or fieldwork setting.
• Be competent in analysing and summarising primary data using descriptive and inferential statistics.
• Be able to produce a high quality research project report.
• Have developed skills in project management and time planning.

Assessment

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Module feedback

1. Students work in groups during all seminars and the computing practical. Academic staff meet with each group during each of these sessions to provide informal feedback on the project design and planning process, and data analysis.

2. Drop-in sessions are scheduled in advance of the data collection process to allow students to receive feedback and guidance on their final research plan.

3. Detailed skills-based written feedback is provided on the oral presentation.

4. Detailed skills-based written feedback is provided on the report.

Indicative reading

There are no key texts for this module as students develop their own projects on specific topics. Reading lists are developed during the module with guidance from academic staff.

It is advisable that students read the Heslington East Environmental Site Management Plan in advance of the module to familiarise themselves with the study site. This is available at https://www.york.ac.uk/media/campusdevelopment/documents/heseast/Environmental%20Site%20Management%20Plan%20approved%20Aug08.pdf