ENS5900 Research thesis in environment and sustainability

This unit uses the experience of conducting research activity to provide an opportunity for students to apply theoretical knowledge gained during the Masters course and to develop skills in experimental or other study design, project planning and management, and analysis and interpretation of results.

This experience is highly academic.

The academic communication of your findings is crucial, following the expectations and conventions of the disciplinary area. This is an important aspect of research. The unit will provide the opportunity to further develop expertise in the professional oral and written analysis and presentation of academic research.

Your primary guide during the research experience is the academic supervisor or supervisors. You are however expected to lead the research.

There are also primer workshops included in the unit. These aim to primarily create a sense of community and support among the unit cohort and to provide some background information as a springboard into important conversations between the student and supervisor.

Each week, you will, with guidance from your supervisor, be expected to lead, manage and generate your independent research.

The expected workload is 288 hours per semester (or double this for the intensive single semester ENS5900 model). This workload may include identifying a research objective, undertaking training, reading and building a literature review, question structuring, study design, ethics applications, risk assessments, pilot studies, project management, experimental set up, laboratory or field work, data collection and handling, data analysis and interpretation, as well as thesis formulation and construction.

Your thesis will involve many stages, and not all will go smoothly, so it’s important to plan carefully. This includes being disciplined and managing your time well but also looking after you.

Please consult with your supervisor at least every two weeks and proactively enrol in appropriate School, Faculty, Library and myDevelopment training to suit your specific project and skills set.

You are expected to complete two modules/workshops/sessions relevant to your project and as agreed upon by your supervisor. These may be from myDevelopment, your School, Department, Institute or Faculty, the Library, or beyond.

This is expected, and checked at the point of thesis submission.

Your supervisor may recommend or require you to undertake training in areas such as statistical analysis, survey design, OHSE, professional writing, or human or animal ethics.

Please view the modules available via the Library, your School/Institute and Faculty, or myDevelopment and identify appropriate options with your supervisor.

In myDevelopment, graduate research students will be able to:

- browse for professional development activities as part of their program
- register, deregister or join a waitlist for an activity
- view activities they are registered for and those completed
- generate a training record of completed activities to present to their unit coordinator, supervisors or future employers