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A range of research projects will be offered by UCL-GEE, ZSL and NHM. Under supervision, students will carry out original analytical work. They will then write a dissertation critically analysing and presenting their results. Students will also be expected to prepare and defend an oral presentation of their work. Work to find a project and supervisor, and to settle on a topic, will begin in terms 1 and2 (e.g., opportunities to meet potential supervisors on the compulsory module Applied biodiversity conservation).

Student will gain practical experience of research methods, designing an investigation, analysing the results, writing-up results in the style of a scientific paper, and oral presentation of the study. To allow students to gain a supervised, hands-on, experience of biodiversity research. To enhance student skills in data collection, handling and analysis, and placing individual results within a wider theoretical framework. To give students experience of real experimentation and the methodology needed to deal with practical problems. To equip students with the ability to present their results and conclusions in a written report and an oral presentation.

Students will be given the opportunity to learn how to: design experiments to test particular hypotheses, analyse experimental results using modern statistical techniques, write up research in the style of an article for an established scientific journal, convey their research results to others in an oral presentation, survey the literature in their chosen area of research, and organize their time in order to carry out and analyse their experiments, and make written and oral reports within a 22-week period, potentially use current laboratory and field research techniques and equipment, work as part of a team with research staff ranging from PhD students through to project supervisors.

The student will gain diverse transferable skills. These will vary to some degree among different projects but are likely to include: use of databases; statistical analysis and other analytical techniques; word processing; the production of a major written report and oral presentation; independent learning and working in a team with variable ability and seniority.