Soils 514/515 - Environmental Biophysics (Graduate Level)
Details on Independent Research Projects
Spring 2008
Students taking Environmental Biophysics at the 500 level need to complete and present the results of an independent research project. The project should give you intimate knowledge of a set of equipment, modeling approach, etc. related to 'Environmental Biophysics'.
Most students are enrolled in both 514 and 515 simultaneously. In this case, the two projects can be combined into one, such that the 515 part consists of collecting data while the 514 part consists of working with that data and interpreting it in the bigger picture. If you are taking only 514 you will be working with existing data obtained from another source. You are encouraged to consult with your peers, instructors, advisors, etc., however, the project should be an individual effort. We will use arranged class meetings as forums for exchanging ideas and progress.
By conducting an independent research project, you will gain familiarity with one or more specific instruments or techniques, including:
· The principles of use,
· How to use it/them, and
· The limitations of the instrument/technique.
The projects should be simple in design, but if well done may result in some real progress in our general knowledge, or should at least result in intimate knowledge/experience on your part. In some cases, past projects have eventually resulted in published manuscripts!
Requirements:
Proposal: You will turn in a proposal that outlines your plan for your research project. The proposal should include some discussion of the state of the current knowledge, reason for the research, and the question you are trying to answer. The proposal should be no more than one page long. Please include a rough idea of the methods you will use to answer your question, which should incorporate instrumentation and biophysical models where applicable. Obviously, extensive research is not possible in the limited time of the semester. Try to limit the scope of your proposal to things that are readily quantifiable using instruments that we currently have, and will not take a lot of time for setup (or growth, in the case of plants). A thorough job on a small project is better than a poor job on a grand project.
Proposals are due
Friday, March 7th.
Report: You will turn in a journal-quality written paper summarizing your project, including:
- The purpose, including a summary of the current
state of knowledge (background literature),
- Description of what you did (materials and methods)
- Your Results
- Discussion of the results and conclusions/implications.
For style conventions, we will use the Publications Handbook and Style
Manual used by the American Society of Agronomy.
The written report is due by the end of the day on Friday, April 25th.
Note: If the written reports are turned in
by Friday, April 18th, we will review and return them with helpful
suggestions.
Grades for the projects within the context of 514 and 515 are discussed in the syllabi for Soils 414 and Soils 415, respectively
Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences
Washington State University
Pullman,
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