Senior Research Seminar and Laboratory in Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences majors finish their degree with a yearlong research project. The senior seminar is comprised of ES 196A, ES 196B, and ES 196L. This thesis experience is the capstone of the major. In ES 196, each student investigates an environmental problem or issue of his or her own choosing. In ES 196A and ES 196B, students work closely with the instructors for the course to establish the foundations of their thesis. Additionally, students enroll in 196L each term with a faculty mentor. The faculty mentor serves as a thesis advisor, working one-on-one with the student to guide the student's research.

The thesis seminar is a demanding but rewarding opportunity for students to make use of the skills and knowledge gained in previous coursework by applying them to real environmental problems. Students gain experience in designing and executing independent research and in presenting research results effectively in oral and written form. A good thesis can be a persuasive demonstration of students' capabilities as they apply for graduate school or their first jobs. For many students this project fundamentally determines their professional directions after graduation.

In ES 196, students are expected to:

• Identify a testable question or problem
• Design a protocol for gathering relevant information
• Generate or locate the information specified in the protocol
• Analyze the information and derive an objective conclusion
• Present results in a written thesis and as an oral report

For more information about Environmental Sciences 196A, 196B and 196L, see the ES 196 website. This site includes suggestions for possible thesis topics, information about the structure of the course, descriptions of previous projects, and much more. Bound collections of theses from previous years are available in the CNR Resource Center, 260 Mulford, (510) 643-8162 .

Return to top

Environmental Sciences
University of California, Berkeley
260 Mulford Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-3100
Phone: 510-643-9479
Fax: 510-643-3132
email: es-help@nature.berkeley.edu

Modification Date: 10/02/2006