The course EMDV8066 Research Project provides students with the opportunity to to understand the research process, and to participate in it by analysing, presenting and writing up their research results.  Students investigate a topic in environmental management and/or policy, using research processes, in the course.

The topic of the research project is chosen and the research project is designed in semester 1 in EMDV8008 Research Proposal. Most of the literature review for the research project is also undertaken in semester 1 in Research Proposal. The main activities for students  doing EMDV8066 Research Project in semester 2 are collecting and analysing data and other information from their research (data and other information are often collected during the mid-year break), orally presentating and discussing their research results, and preparing a written paper on the results and conclusions from their research project.  

The students' research projects are supervised by the Course Convenor and one or more specific supervisors for each student. Students need to have achieved a distinction grade or better in EMDV8008 Research Proposal and in EMDV8012 Research Methods for Environmental Management in the first semester (or equivalent grades in courses equivalent to Research Proposal and Research Methods in Environmental Management, or be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience equivalent to having completed both these courses with distinction grade or better) to enrol in EMDV8066 Research Project in second semester.

On successful completion of this course, students will have:

1. improved their skills in research design, methods and research methodology
2. enhanced their capacity to collect and analyse data and other information
3. developed advanced skills in preparing and presenting a research paper
4. enhanced their skills in orally communicating the results of their research

The course has three assessment tasks:

1. Draft outline of research paper       10%

1. Oral presentation                             20%

2. Final written research paper            70%

16 hours per week

Students need to have achieved a distinction grade or better in EMDV8008 Research Proposal and in EMDV8012 Research Methods for Environmental Management in the first semester (or equivalent grades in courses equivalent to Research Proposal and Research Methods in Environmental Management, or be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience equivalent to having completed both these courses with distinction grade or better) to enrol in EMDV8066 Research Project in second semester.

There are no prescribed texts for EMDV8066. The course requires students to undertake a literature review (largely completed in Research Proposal). Students are expected to find and access the literature that is relevant to their research topic. Additional reading material may be provided by the Course Convenor.

Students do preliminary reading for EMDV8066 Research Project in EMDV8008 Research Proposal in the first semester.

The course EMDV8066 requires students to undertake a literature review (largely completed in Research Proposal). Students are expected to find and access the literature that is relevant to their research topic. Additional reading material may be provided by the Course Convenor.

The course is taught with a combination of refresher lectures (on research design, analysis, writing papers), guest presentations, small group meetings and writing workshops. The course begins with a refresher lecture on research principles followed by a refresher lecture on data analysis and preparing papers. The course continues through guest presentations into facilitated writing workshops. The latter part of the course focuses on writing workshops, with peer review and discussion of of research findings and draft papers, and student presentations. The final assignment is a research paper describing and discussing the findings of the student's research project.