Get $10 off this class with coupon code ATWOOHKFLP10 until Jul 31, 2023. Includes all of my eight-week courses, semester-long classes, and summer camps. 

Did you ever wonder how researchers approach a problem in the environment?  Take for example an animal such as the Amazon River Dolphin, which according to current research studies, populations have been declining over the last decade. If you were a researcher, how would you approach this problem?  Who would you ask for help? What steps would you take?  

In this class, students will have an opportunity to design a "hypothetical" research project on an area in the environment that they are most passionate about. Every week, students will share their findings with other students and discuss some of the challenges they are facing with their chosen projects. Students will have the opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with other students each week and I will provide guidance on the discussion boards to help them to find the information they are looking for. At the end of the class, students will be able to write a sample proposal from the information they have collected.

Week 1: Discussion of topics
Week 2: Choosing your topic and identifying your issue of concern
Week 3: Outlining where to start in solving the problem
Week 4: Establishing the kind of data you would need to address the problem and the resources (e.g.What kind of analysis would you need? e.g. hair follicle samples, trace metal data, etc...) Where would you go to do this analysis? e.g. Woods Hole Oceanographic, Scripps University, etc..
Week 5: Who would do this work? Would you need to contract others?
Week 6: Predicting a budget for the work you would like to accomplish.  e.g. How much would the analysis cost? What would you need for supplies?  What about travel costs?
Week 7: Initial proposal write up
Week 8: What agencies would you look to for funding? e.g. National Science Foundation
Week 9: Identifying others that may help with the problem
Week 10: Finalizing your proposal

Students will be given three recordings throughout the duration of the class and will communicate with the instructor via the classroom board and email. I will be available to help gather research and structure the proposal throughout the extent of the class. After students have established their topic and point of interest, we will work to gather information and put together a proposal based on research, funding, and analysis. Every week I will post an update on the classroom board about what the students are assigned to do each week and I will communicate with the students about their research through email, but I will be reachable continually throughout the duration of the class for assistance.