All Bren PhD students must complete the following interdisciplinary seminar courses prior to graduation.
ESM 512: Research Ethics and Conduct
This course introduces the ethical principles that apply to scientists to incoming PhD students of the Bren School. We will discuss key concepts and cases in research conduct and research ethics including: (1) Brief history and basic terms and concepts in ethics; (2) Plagiarism and authorship; (3) Falsification and fabrication; (4) Peer-review process; (5) Human subjects & bioethics; (6) Conflict of interest; (7) Policies and protocols to prevent research misconduct; and (8) Miscellaneous ethical issues in the academic environment. We will also review historical cases of research misconduct, and we will analyze recent retraction cases.
ESM 513: Environmental Research Design
Introduces disciplinary traditions of knowledge creation and explores how these traditions motivate different approaches to research design. Students develop a series of short research proposals on environmental topics to hone their ability to frame effective research questions, and match those questions to appropriate research designs. By giving interdisciplinary environmental scholars a deeper understanding of other disciplines, the class empowers students to engage in more effective interdisciplinary collaboration and communication.
ESM 514: Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research
This course provides the opportunity to engage with the potential and challenges of cross- and multi-disciplinary research collaboration. Students will engage with practical and strategic elements of conducting research. The class is organized around eight issues and challenges that arise during the research process, from formulating a research question to forming a team of collaborators and fundraising to navigating the peer review process. Through activities, discussions and examples, the class will help demystify different stages of the research process and provide practical tools to help students succeed in the transition from consumers to producers of knowledge.