Environmental Research Methods: Application in Assessing Biodiversity Values of Ecosystems
Proponent: Philippine Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE)
Date/Duration: September 23-25, 2015 (3 days)
Venue: UPLB, College, Laguna
Target/ Number of Participants: Environmental researchers of PNEE member-institutions (3 participants from each member-institution: one biological science researcher, one physical science researcher, and one social science researcher)
Registration fee : P5,000.00/participant (covers – training kit, accommodation (Check in : September 23 am; Check out : September 25 pm) food (September 23 : Breakfast, Lunch, dinner and 2 snacks(AM/PM); September 24 : Breakfast, Lunch, dinner and 2 snacks(AM/PM); September 25 : Breakfast, Lunch, and 2 snacks(AM/PM); and field exposure.
Rationale: PNEE regularly holds the annual conference wherein scientific papers and posters are presented by the researchers of member-institutions. Some of the papers submitted are of high quality but most are wanting in terms of methodology, content and presentation. Conducting research on environmental problems and their solutions is complicated because of their wide scope that covers the biophysical and social aspects. Although each of the environmental sciences has its own analytical tools (methods/techniques of data analysis), the researchers’ analyses depend, to a large extent, on the nature of the data collected and assumptions from which the data are derived. The researchers face a number of problems related to what to research for, how to conduct the research, the procedures to follow, and so on.
The training-workshop is designed to help address the problems faced by most PNEE researchers, in terms of what should be considered when they start to think of a research topic, methods of data collection, what is expected before and during data analysis and report writing.
Objectives: The purpose of the training-workshop is to enhance the skills and capacities of PNEE member-institutions on the methodology of environmental (interdisciplinary) research, with a particular focus on biodiversity values of ecosystems. Specifically, the objectives are:
a. To review the concepts of environmental research as an interdisciplinary activity, and
b. To formulate a research design focusing on the assessment of biodiversity values of ecosystems as a common, collaborative research activity to be implemented by the participants (representatives of PNEE member-institutions).
Methodology: The first part of the training-workshop is a review and discussion the concepts of environmental research as an interdisciplinary science. The discussion will be led by invited resource persons from the PNEE member-institutions. The second part is the formulation of a research topic to be implemented by the participants when they go back to their home institutions. A training syllabus will be developed by the training team.