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Course project components, deadlines, and instructions

Project Component:	Due Date:	Grade percentage
1) Group Project Topic	September 19	–
2) Group Project Proposal	September 23	5%
3) Draft Poster- practice in class	November 21	–
4) Final Poster & Presentation	December 6th and 7th (at MHC)	20%
5) Individual Final Paper	December 19	15%
6) Self and team evaluation	December 19	5%

 

Group Project Purpose and Structure:

The purpose of the course project is for you to get hands-on experience with urban biodiversity and conservation in the Anthropocene by actively investigating urban biodiversity and its relation to habitat, species conservation, and/or socioeconomic factors. By completing the research project, you will be developing and honing your Science Senses as you gain scientific knowledge, data collect and analysis experience, and communication skills, among others. We use the BioBlitz data collected at Central Park in 2013 and the New York Botanical Garden in 2014 as the basis of your projects.

To complete your project, you will work in groups of four to:

1. Ask a scientific question about NYC biodiversity
2. Formulate a hypothesis based on your question
3. Conduct data collect and analysis
4. Present your results in a visual (and/or audibly) engaging manner
5. Relate your findings to the broader scientific literature
6. Conclude with recommendations for biodiversity management
7. Cite your primary sources (at least five)

Group Project Topic:

Due on September 19^th, Your group’s topic is up to you and we will discuss options in class, but the topic should be something that is researchable, or, based on a question that you can answer by collecting and analyzing data. In addition, it should, ideally, make use of the BioBlitz data. Example topics include:

1. Compare the diversity and/or abundance of (a) specific group(s) found in Central Park and the Botanical Garden or different parts of the parks
2. Quantify and compare habitats in which different groups of species were found
3. Conduct overall habitat assessments for the different parks or parts of the parks
4. Compare the socioeconomic/poverty level of human populations near the biodiverse areas of either or both parks
5. Rare species diversity, abundance, and habitat availability
6. Specific species habitat assessments and reports
7. Compare and contrast methods used in BioBlitzes, data quality and resolution
8. Interview your fellow MHC students about and analyze their experiences

Group Project Proposal:

On September 23^rd, your group will need to hand-in and present a project proposal where you have demonstrated that you picked your topic and have a plan to complete your project. The written proposal should be one page and your in-class presentation should be 1-3 slides. Both should briefly describe:

1. Your group members
2. Your topic in the form of a testable question
3. Your group’s hypothesis
4. Planned methods and timeline
5. Anticipated structure of results

Group Draft Poster:

On October 17, our ITF Jennifer Corby will be guest lecturing and part of her lecture will be on creating a research poster and finding and citing primary literature. Here is a useful webpage on making a poster for a scientific conference (what project is modeled after!): http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ugar/undergrad/posterinstructions.html

You will have time to work on your project and/or poster in class on November 14^th. Draft posters (in PowerPoint slide form) will be due in class on November 21^st, where your group will practice presenting your work and get feedback from the rest of the class.

Group Final Poster Presentation:

Final poster presentations will take place at Macaulay Honors College on December 6^th and 7^th as part of the culminating Seminar 3 common event. At the poster session, I will grade your final poster based on the contents, visual, improvements from the draft, and your oral communication skills. At minimum, the poster should include:

• Title: project title
• Authors
• Introduction (Purpose or Objectives)
• Methods
• Results or Findings- with visuals
• Discussion/Conclusions- with biodiversity relevant recommendations
• References
• Acknowledgments: include any helpers

I will provide you with separate grading rubrics that I will use to evaluate your poster and presentation at the Macaulay Common event.

Individual Final Paper:

The final paper is due in lieu of a final exam on December 19^th , emailed to me (tara.cornelisse@gmail.com) by 5pm. Although the project will be group-based, the final paper should be only your individual work.

The paper should be a 5-page (single-spaced, 12pt font, one inch margins) research style paper on your final project that contains the same sections as the poster, above, plus five primary sources in addition to (read: NOT) those included in your group’s poster discussion/conclusions. The idea is that your paper expands on the discussion and conclusions your poster is able to address and includes your own thoughts for future research. Again, we will discuss finding and citing primary literature in class on October 17^th. I will provide you with a separate grading rubric that I will use to evaluate your final paper. All grading rubrics will also be put on the website.

Although it is not required, you are welcome to submit a one rough draft to me for my feedback and editing up to one week before the final paper is due (i.e. by Dec 12th).

Self and Team Evaluation:

When emailing your final paper, also include a self and team evaluation. In a document separate from your paper, assess your own contribution to the group project in a short paragraph. In addition, rate each of the other group members on a scale of 1 to 5 for each of the following characteristics:

• Intellectual contribution to the product
• Ability to work with others as a team member
• Leadership
• Total effort towards ultimate product