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MARI403 Critical Thinking for Environmental Scientists

Evaluation and presentation of environmental information to ensure robust and effective decision making in the environmental sector, including quality and integrity of scientific data, integration of data with political and cultural approaches, objectivism versus advocacy, and convincing presentation of complex findings.

This literature-based seminar paper is designed to provide exposure to the best practice for science writing and presentation of scientific results in marine science by examining current articles in the marine literature. The paper will provide a vehicle for keeping up-to-date with the literature and with new methods by carefully examining the newest research articles across a broad range of subject matter in marine science. We will read and discuss recent articles from a group of the highest-impact marine journals, representing the best current marine research.

Paper title Critical Thinking for Environmental Scientists
Paper code MARI403
Subject Marine Science
EFTS 0.1667
Points 20 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) $1,655.16
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.

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Notes
Open to any fourth-year student undertaking an environmentally related qualification.
Contact

steve.wing@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Professor Stephen Wing

Textbooks

Textbooks are not required for this paper.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Critical thinking.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

By the end of the paper students will be able to:

  • Dissect a high-quality research article into component parts and understand logic for problem solving
  • Understand the uses and limitations of a broad range of statistical tools in ecology and environmental studies
  • Develop a research question and break it down into a series of statistical hypotheses
  • Critically evaluate the scientific literature
  • Give a concise, professional scientific talk

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Timetable

Semester 1

Location
Dunedin
Teaching method
This paper is taught On Campus
Learning management system
Blackboard

Lecture

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
A1 Monday 14:00-16:50 9-14, 18-22