EcoEd+Research+Schedule

Research theme: //Cities and Environmental Sustainability//

Student researchers (grades 4-11) will select a city (anywhere in the world) and explore its environmental history, current environmental footprint and problems, and possible pathways to greater environmental sustainability in the future. Students will use news articles, academic publications, interviews, and data provided by governments, international organizations, and NGOs in their research – learning to locate, analyze, evaluate and use research resources.

Led by their RPI mentor, each student will move through a structured research process, with weekly assignments and due dates as listed below. Each student will produce a set of research memos, an annotated bibliography, a substantial written report (approximately 10-15 pages), a poster, and an oral presentation.

Much of the research and writing will be done as homework (approximately three hours each week). Homework should be posted as a google doc, linked to in the student’s wiki portfolio page. Mentors will post research resources in their student’s wiki portfolio, and will comment on their google docs. The EcoEd wiki is at http://ecoed.wikispaces.com/home. EcoEd will send student researchers an invitation to the wiki and to their google docs.


 * Homework (due previous Tuesday by 8pm; please review mentor’s comments before Thursday research meeting) || Research meeting ||
 * || Thursday, February 24 ||
 * Monday, March 29

Research Memo 1: // Scoping Three Cities //

Writing Memo 1: Author Biosketch || Thursday, March 3 ||
 * Monday, March 7

Research Memo 2: // City History and Environment //

4 Annotations

Writing Memo 2 || Thursday, March 10 ||
 * Monday, March 14

Research Memo 3 // City Environmental Footprints //

4 Annotations

Writing Memo 3 || Thursday, March 17 ||
 * Monday, March 21

Research Memo 4 // City Environmental Problems //

4 Annotations

Writing Memo 4 || Thursday, March 24 ||
 * Monday, March 28

Research Memo 5 // City Sustainability Pathways //

4 Annotations

Writing Memo 5 || Thursday, March 31 ||
 * Monday, April 4

Draft poster, paper and presentation || Thursday, April 7 ||
 * Monday, April 11

Final poster, paper and presentation || Thursday, April 14

Presentation practice || Sunday, April 17 (afternoon): Research Symposium ||  ||
 * Saturday, April 16 (morning): Poster Session