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ENV550a Natural Science Research: From Idea to Proposal
ENV550a Natural Science Research: From Idea to Proposal
In Fall 2024, I was instructor of record for ENV550a Natural Science Research: From Idea to Proposal at the Yale School of the Environment.
Course Objectives: Introduce the key skills required to develop a scientific research project and apply these skills to write the research proposal required of all Masters of Environmental Science (MESc) and Masters of Forest Science (MFS) students.
Course Description: The course guides students through the process of developing an individualized research project in close partnership with their faculty advisor. We focus on writing a research proposal, which prepares students to apply for competitive research funding and is required of all MESc/MFS students. In doing so, we cover critical reading of the literature, narrowing a broad topic of interest to a feasible research project, proposal writing, and a high-level introduction to the philosophy of science. Students engage in peer review throughout the course and present their completed proposals to the class at the end of the semester.
Image created by DALL-E (2024).
Image created by DALL-E (2024).
Learning Goals: By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Find, evaluate, and synthesize scientific literature on a research topic.
Identify the original source of an idea in a scientific article, follow citation trails, and correctly paraphrase and cite sources in their writing.
Narrow a broad research topic or idea to a feasible research project.
Develop and articulate specific research questions and meaningful hypotheses.
Write a fundable research proposal.
Engage in constructive peer review.
Student evaluations
Student evaluations
"Rachel is an incredibly helpful and friendly instructor for a course of this sort. I found her to be a perfect resource for project development tasks of this sort. She was always bright, friendly, caring, well-informed, and helpful."
"Rachel took time out of her busy schedule to meet and talk with students and advise them, which is BY FAR THE MOST HELPFUL PORTION OF THIS COURSE."
"Rachel is one of the best instructors I have had. She had been so considerable, supportive, and highly knowledgeable on the subject matter."
"Rachel's lectures were very well organized and effective in explaining the conceptual knowledge. Her feedback on assignments was also very clear and constructive."
Image created by DALL-E (2024).
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