study skills

Study skills

The articles here are applicable to people across a range of career stages. See also the Careers category in the Blog. Further resources: Writing up your PhD Giving a good presentation How to enjoy a successful fieldwork expedition Photography for Geoscientists Why I blog (and why you should too) External links: Figures: the art of …

Study skills Read More »

Giving a good presentation

Presentations are the mainstay of academic life, as well as the corporate and business world. Undergraduate students will probably need to give solo or group presentations as part of their coursework. Postgradute students will certainly have to do so. But giving a good presentation is an art, and it takes a lot of practice. I …

Giving a good presentation Read More »

Writing an abstract

Writing an abstract is an important skill, and you will need to do it time and time again, for theses, conferences, posters, grant applications as well as papers. Undergraduate and Masters students may be set a task to write an abstract as part of their degree, and will need to write one for their dissertation. …

Writing an abstract Read More »

How to enjoy a successful fieldwork expedition

Many geoscientists undertake fieldwork as part of their research. Undergraduate, Masters and PhD students may all participate in fieldwork expeditions in far-flung, exotic locations. What things to researchers need to consider before they undertake their first expedition? I have put together this step by step guide, based on my 10 years of research in remote …

How to enjoy a successful fieldwork expedition Read More »

Writing your dissertation

Writing your dissertation in Geography or Geology A significant part of most undergraduate and taught masters degrees is the independent research study. In glaciology, this study may often take the form of fieldwork, perhaps underpinned by remote sensing. There are so many things to research that your dissertation, probably the most significant piece of work …

Writing your dissertation Read More »

Photography for geoscientists

Using photographs in our research As geoscientists, we are trained to observe and record the world around us. We often use but simple tools – a note book, a hammer, a camera, maybe a handheld GPS. With these implements, we can make careful observations and deductions about the evolution of the landscape around us.

Writing your first academic paper

Writing academic papers is important If you are a PhD student in the Geosciences and are wanting to go forward into an academic or research career, then it is imperative that you write papers. The process can seem daunting, but it is excellent training, and seeing your name in print is intensely rewarding. So, here …

Writing your first academic paper Read More »

Research Design

Why should we care about research design? | What makes a strong research proposal? | 10 steps to good research design | Writing your dissertation, thesis or grant application | Further reading | Watch the video You can watch the video of a lecture I gave as part of the APECS Webinar series here: Ten …

Research Design Read More »

Essay questions

Are you a Geography A-Level student, teacher or undergraduate looking for some practise essay questions as part of your exam revision? Try these questions out. Periglaciation What are the main landforms you might expect to form in a periglacial environment? Key idea: difference between Paraglacial (recovering from glaciation; e.g. the mountains of Scotland), Periglacial (in the …

Essay questions Read More »

This site uses cookies. Find out more about this site’s cookies.