Methods in Water Science and Technology (MLJ690)

Content

Three modules will be undertaken:

1) Introduction to the philosophy of science and experimental thinking. Historical and modern aspect of the philosophy of science will be introduced including paradigms, scientific laws and theories, hypothesis and testing hypothesis, models and model thinking, induction and intuition, observations and experiments. Furthermore, theory and methods for experimental design will be introduced, and complemented with repetition/introduction of practical statistics for the experimentalist (error estimation, error propagation, data rejection, statistical hypothesis testing, etc.).

In module 2) students will learn how to seek relevant scientific information, and how to critically evaluate the quality of that information, Furthermore, reading and writing the scientific way is discussed. Introduction to ways of scientific communication is presented, and applications and rules for citations introduced. Practical training on application of scientific databases will be given, using the university library resources and applied on the individual student's master topic. In cooperation with the agreed master thesis advisor, students will define a core syllabus consisting of 6 to 12 articles to be studied. Each student will then write a review article on the core syllabus subject.

In module 3) students and the appointed advisor will single out a method or technique to be applied as part of the master thesis work and students will individually study, establish and validate the method. A method report is to be submitted that will include a thorough description of the theory behind the method, materials and methods used to establish and test the method, reporting results from testing, calibration and validation, and discuss limits of applications and conclusions for the application of that method in the master thesis project.

Learning outcome

• Have a scientific and experimental basis to start thesis preparations, know how to search the literature within his/her research area, and be able to write a scientific report on his/her work.
• Understand and be able to reflect upon the philosophy of science, scientific methods within natural science and technology, scientific communication and methodological planning, experimental design and scientific evaluation and reporting.
• Identify, search and interpret scientific information, including plan and perform structured database searches, correctly apply references and perform critical review evaluation of scientific/pseudoscientific material.

Required prerequisite knowledge

Exam

Method of work

Open for

Course assessment

Literature