Faculty director: J. B. Yavitt, chair

The research honors program in natural resources involves original, independent research that generates novel findings in applied ecology and resource policy and management. Students learn how to design and carry out research under the direct supervision and guidance of a faculty member or senior research associate in the department. Most students in the program begin their research before the start of the senior year, often in the summer after their junior year. Students may enroll and receive credit in independent study (NTRES 4991 Honors Research in Natural Resources) during their honors research. The research findings are presented in a written thesis that is reviewed by two experts in the field. Many theses have been published in leading journals in the disciplinary area of the research. Although the format is not prescribed, the thesis usually consists of a short introduction, relevant materials and methods, a concise presentation of the meaningful data, a discussion, and the student’s interpretation of the conclusions. Students also give an oral presentation of their research findings in a special symposium hosted by the department in early May.

Students should adhere to the following schedule.

1. File an informal application with the faculty director. The application includes a project description and advisor information.

1. Register for NTRES 4991 before the add deadline (fall and spring).
   
   
2. Sixth week of fall semester: Submit formal application to faculty director (16 Fernow Hall).
   
   
3. March 31: Thesis should be close to completion.
   
   
4. April 15: Submit two copies of the thesis to the faculty director for ad hoc reviews.
   
   
5. May 4: Pick up ad hoc reviewers’ comments from the faculty director.
   
   
6. May 15: Submit two copies of the final thesis: one for the college, one for the program director.
   
   
7. Week of May 25: Students will be notified of the decision, and the faculty director will recommend that each approved student graduate with “Distinction in Research.”
   
   
8. Students may volunteer to submit electronically to the honors committee chair a copy of their final approved thesis (in pdf or Word format) for Mann Library. Mann Library has given CALS the opportunity to have theses available to the public electronically if this does not interfere with other plans, such as patenting or publishing in another journal. A permission form to allow the thesis to be made available online at Mann Library can be obtained from the honors committee chair.
   
   
9. In addition, students are required to submit electronically to the honors committee chair their thesis title, research advisor’s name, and abstract (in Word format). During each summer, the CALS Research Honors Abstracts publication is published (on the web beginning 2009) as a compilation of research honors thesis abstracts.