Department of Physical, Environmental718-270-6453 and Computer Sciences
PHS 201 Research Methods and Laboratory InstrumentationSummer, 2002
3 lecture hours; 2 credits
Lect: Mon., Tue., Thu. 9:00 – 11;30 a.m., Room 420 C
This course is an introduction to the nature of scientific investigation and the skills needed to develop a research problem. Topics include the scientific process, research design, library and computer resources for literature review, analysis and presentation of data, use of computer for communications and data analysis, and the theory, design and operation of laboratory instrumentation.
Corequisite:CS 241 or CHM 201 or PHY 211
Evaluation:
1. Assignments: Students are expected to complete all of the homework assignments and laboratory assignments and submit them promptly.
2. Attendance: Students are expected to attend all sessions and activities. No more than four (4) absences are allowed.
4. Final Examination: The final examination will cover the entire semester's work. There will be no exemption from the final.
5. Final grade will be determined as follows:
Homework Assignments/Workshops............. 50 percent
Journal...................................................................25 percent
Project/Presentation ..........................................25 percent
Total 100 percent
Required Textbooks:
NASA, NOAA and Library Materials
Week Topics
1 Presentation by research faculty
2 Introduction: types of research, process of research, scholarly vs popular
communications, primary versus secondary sources
3 Library visit: library resources, computer search
4 Tour of PECS research facilities and demonstrations of equipment: AA-MS,
NMR, HPLC, TOC, etc.
5 Workshop 1: Excel and Powerpoint
6 Seminar: NASA scientist (TBA)
7 Workshop 2: Data acquisition, analysis and visualization
8 Workshop 3: Data acquisition, analysis and visualization (continued)
9 Field trip to NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (NYC)
10 Research opportunities with NASA, NOAA, BNL, EPA, etc.
11 Seminar: Brookhaven National Laboratory (TBA)
12 Research case studies: a) Space Science, b) Earth Science, c) Computer Science
d) Environmental Science
13 Workshop 4: preparation of research paper
14 Student presentations of proposed summer research