Research Seminar
In the research seminar, members of the department present their ongoing research, which may be planned, active, or nearing conclusion. This exposes students not only to ongoing research at the department, but also to the various stages of the research process. Follow-up questions and small group and plenary discussions provide a chance for all participants to practice communication in an interdisciplinary setting. The research seminar will also expose master's students to the work of potential supervisors and will strengthen the research community in the department.
The research seminar encompasses six in-person sessions from 3:40 to 5:20 p.m. on Thursdays. Eighty minutes are devoted to presentation and discussion, while 20 minutes are reserved for informal exchange among and between faculty and students.
Student Conference
During the student conference in December, students will present a proposal for research of their choosing, developed in collaboration with their advisor and supported by the Academic Writing class. MESP students will begin developing their thesis proposal. Students may choose any topic that fits into one (or more) of the advanced clusters offered by the department:
• Sustainable Management of Socio-Ecological Systems (SES)
• Energy Transitions and Climate Change (ETC)
• Environmental Governance, Politics and Justice (GPJ)
• Resource Management and Pollution Control (RMP)
Students will submit the topic for their proposal by the end of October, including a ranked list of three possible faculty advisors. Based on the topic and this list, advisors will be assigned to students. Advisors will support students in developing a draft research proposal based on the students’ initial topic of interest and may support them in designing a presentation of this proposal for the student conference. Students are expected to proactively arrange meetings with their advisors once assignments have been made. Advisors for the student conference may, but do not have to, also supervise students’ theses. MESP students are highly encouraged to use the student conference to develop their thesis topic and to begin building a relationship with their supervisor. MESPOM students may, of course, also begin to explore a potential thesis topic, but will focus on craft rather than content, given that their thesis topics will be determined in either Lund or Manchester.
Through completing the research seminar and student conference students will…
- understand the methodological tradition of research practices in the environmental sciences,
- distinguish the unique position that current research issues have in the environmental sciences,
- gain experience in the research process from identification of relevant interest to reflections on concluded research,
- become knowledgeable about current research at the department,
- practice expressing their thoughts on others’ research,
- take the first steps in developing independent research,
- develop a proposal for independent research,
- practice presenting to peers and faculty, giving and receiving feedback, and participating in others’ research processes.
The research seminar and student conference are mandatory for MESP and MESPOM students and assessed as pass or fail. In order to pass, students must:
- Attend the research seminar
- Develop and submit a research proposal for the student conference in collaboration with their assigned advisor and with the support of the Academic Writing classes
- Present their research proposal during the student conference