Who Are You? And Why are you Here?

1. You feel lost, and want directions on which way to go.

2. You want a treasure map, so you can get the gold quick.

3. You want a bigger toolbox of skills.

4. You want to be able to torture the data more effectively.

5. You want to get hold of an ideas generator.

I want to learn to be more analytical,

and to be better able to create

and communicate new knowledge……….

It is all about change

You need to change the way you think about your research

You need to change the way you carry out your research

You need to change the way you describe your research

Satellite photo of Ceylon from 1935 showing forest cover

Population Increase and Forest Cover

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Science = knowledge

1. Generate knowledge (primary, secondary, synthetic)

2. Validate/verification of knowledge (own or others)

3. Disseminate knowledge

4. Use of knowledge

Things it is nice to knowThings we need to know

Who cares about research?

Funders of research

Implementers of research

Users of research

Problem you are investigating

Approach you use

Results

CERN

CERN

Experiments at CERN present compelling evidence for the existence of a new state of matter 20 times denser than nuclear matter, in which quarks, instead of being bound up into more complex particles such as protons and neutrons, are able to roam freely. Such a state, the “quark-gluon plasma”, must have existed just a few microseconds after the Big Bang, before the formation of particles of matter.

I wonder what happens if I flick that switch?

All I know is that it worked yesterday. I just can’t remember if I fired the electrons around clockwise or anti-clockwise?

Left a bit

Right a bit

No, no, down a bit

Okay, fire…

This is the last remaining sample of space dust we have.If it does not work this time, there goes my MSc.

Now back to your laboratory

1. Problem definition (donor relevance, user relevance, literature review)

2. Hypotheses to test (not assumptions, testable)

3. Research design (scheduling, methods, experimental layout)

4. Data collection (80% in thesis)

5. Analysis (null results are as good as breakthroughs)

6. Conclusions, follow-up studies required, application opportunities

Relating Research to National, Regional and Global Contexts

1. Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)

2. Modernisation of Agriculture Plans (MAPs)

3. Sub-Regional Organisation Priorities (ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD, SACCAR)

4. Sub-sahara Challenge Programme (SSA CP)

5. Comprehensive Assessment Agriculture Development Plan (NEPAD)

6. Global Plan Action (GPA) for PGRFA

7. Global Forum Agricultural Research (GFAR)

8. Rio Conventions (UNFCC, CBD, UNCCD, UNFF)

9. CGIAR International Public Goods (IPGs)

10.Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Institutional Alzheimers

What the donor wants What my supervisor wants