Puu-0.4200Research Project on Renewable Materials

Monika Österberg

Learning objectives

• You are able to make a feasible plan for your laboratory work.

• You are able to fulfil the planned experiments individually within the allocated time

• You are able to report the obtained results both in writing and orally.

• You are able to evaluate the reliability of your results • .You will get insight into current research work at

the School and modern research tools.

Timetable

09.09.2014 Introductory lecture

23.09.2014 Deadline for first meeting with your supervisor

09.09- 4.11. Practical laboratory work, remember to keep a diary

4.11.2014 Lecture on reporting and presentation

11.11.2014 Deadline for written report

25.11.2014 Seminar (allocate 5h for the seminar, we decide the datenow) Suggestion 25.11 at 9-14

Observe: ~80h of practical work in 8 weeks = >10h/week

In laboratory work you need at least 4h, preferably a whole day to proceed with one step (you cannot be attending lectures at the same time)

Project plan

• What is a plan?

• Your role vs. supervisors role– Supervisor gives the problem + some relevant literature– You read the literature and suggest how to solve the problem– What experiments, exact conditions, how many parallel

measurements are needed, …– Together with your supervisor you revise the plan

• Learning target: You understand how, by making a good plan, you can estimate how large a matrix of experiments can be performed within a given time and on the other hand what needs to be taken into account to answer a specific question.

The experimental work• You can start work when you have discussed with your

supervisor – but you are not allowed to be in the laboratory outside normal

working hours – Often the supervisor needs to be available when you are working

• Minimum 3 meetings with supervisor – in practice much more• Safety!• Your work is part of research project of one PhD student

– Do your best and be honest – your results are important– Follow the timetable– It might not succeed– Allocate enough time for the experiments!

• You get familiar with the research at the department• You learn good laboratory practicies

– Safety, cleanliness, accuracy, detailed diary

• You understand some of the challenges with research

Learning targets of the experimental work

The report

• Discuss with your supervisor about the results• Write a report according to the instructions in Noppa

– Send the report to both your supervisor and me– Supervisor comments – you correct, I comment – you correct

• Learning target:– Learn how to critically evaluate experimental data– Learn how to report your results

Guidelines for preparing oral presentations of project work• Allocate 15 min for your presentation and another 10

min is reserved for questions• Send the presentation in advance to supervisor and me

Monika Österberg

General layout: Your presentation should contain

• Title slide• Outline - usually good to outline what you will present

but not necessary• Objective – vital!• Background – Please try to explain why this work was

done and why it is important/interesting• Experimental – What did you do?• Results – What did you find?• Conclusions – Do not only summarize your results, try

to draw general conclusions

Results more in detail

• Remember that your audience might not be familiar with the techniques you have been using

• Explain what can be understood from a graph you are showing

• If you are showing some values – tell the audience if they are “good” or “bad”. Did you reach your objective?

Instructions for audience

• Listen carefully and think about questions during the presentation

• After presentation: ask questions!

Student – Supervisor pairs:

• Questions: monika.osterberg@aalto.fi, phone: 0505497218, room 323

After your first discussion please send me the title of the work.