Ecological Research Skills

Uitgebreide vaknaam	Ecological Research Skills
Leerdoelen	At the end of this course the student is able to: 1.Formulate timely hypotheses relevant to an ecological research problem; 2.Synthesize a theoretical background relevant to the hypotheses and context of the research problem; 3.Perform ecological research during which data is collected and statistically analysed; 4.Compose a scientific manuscript based on the performed research project; 5.Present and defend scientific research based on the performed research project.
Omschrijving	Aims: The main aim of the course is to provide students with the necessary skills and tools that enable them to perform independent ecological research. To this end, the students will during the brief period of 6 weeks encounter all critical steps that are relevant for doing ecological and evolutionary research, including: -formulating a relevant and timely hypothesis and efficiently finding literature on background and context; -collecting, and managing data in the field, partly at the University of Groningen field station on Schiermonnikoog; -statistically analyzing data using R and GIS (QGIS) -structuring and writing a full scientific manuscript -presenting on the research they performed; The key aspects of these different phases will be discussed, and critical skills will be acquired by the students. Therefore, these 6 weeks form a ‘crash course’ for the whole scientific process where the students learn to put many aspects that they learned during their bachelor phase into true practice.
Uren per week
Onderwijsvorm	Hoorcollege (LC), Practisch werk (PRC) (learning goals are achieved by interactive (computer) practicals, individual feedback on assignments, field work, self-study and research projects with individual supervision.))
Toetsvorm	Presentatie (P), Verslag (R) (The final grade for the course is based on the grade for the manuscript produced throughout the course based on own research during the course (50%), and a grade for the presentation of the 2-week mini-project (50%).)
Vaksoort	master
Coördinator	prof. dr. H. Olff
Docent(en)	prof. dr. H. Olff
Verplichte literatuur	Titel Auteur ISBN Prijs Primary scientific literature Online material (reading material on methods and manuscript writing, powerpoint presentations) provided on the Nester online course site Software packaged used in data analyses (e.g. R, ArcGIS, etc.)
Entreevoorwaarden	The course unit does not assume prior knowledge acquired from other courses other than a bachelor degree in biology, with and ecological or evolutionary specialisation.
Opmerkingen	Register for this course by sending an email to: academicadvisor.mscbio@rug.nl The course unit is compulsory for the MSc track Ecology and Conservation, a track within this master Ecology and Evolution. The course is an elective for students from the master Marine Biology, given sufficient space. Due to overlap, students are not allowed to make both Ecological Research Skills and Behaviour, Ecology, and Evolution part of their master programme of 120 ECTS.
Opgenomen in	Opleiding Jaar Periode Type MSc Ecology and Evolution: Ecology and Conservation  ( Track Ecology and Conservation) - semester I a verplicht MSc Marine Biology: Research  (Compulsory master courses) - semester I a keuze