Course Syllabus

Instructor: Andy Parsekian (aparseki@uwyo.edu, room GE133B)

Office hours: TBD; by appointment.

Course summary:

This seminar provides an opportunity to discuss, evaluate, and synthesize research related to near-surface geophysics/hydrogeophysics/environmental geophysics.  We will read and discuss papers, and make presentations on our own research. If there is interest, we may also design other related exercises such as a data analysis “cook off” (everyone gets the same dataset, and we compare the processed results).  This course is an opportunity for student-researchers and faculty to discuss cutting-edge development in the field of near-surface geophysics.  The scope of this course is broadly defined and discussion topics may range from geophysical method development to environmental/ hydrological/engineering applications.  Field, lab, or modeling examples are welcome. Class time revolves around student engagement.  Each participant will bring content related to their own research to discuss, and in turn the whole group will benefit from analyzing research that is perhaps outside of their primary expertise. 

This is a good opportunity if you are looking for opportunities to practice oral presentation skills to a ‘friendly’ audience. This is also an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the research that your peers are doing in the department.

Objectives:

• Read and discuss key peer-reviewed research papers
• Present updates, results, and progress on students’ own research

Class format: Each week there will be one instructor-assigned paper to set the theme, plus material suggested by the Discussion Leader.  This may be another paper, different reading material, data analysis, videos etc – whatever the Discussion Leader deems appropriate to supplement their topic.  Before each class, all participants must submit no fewer than three (3) questions or comments to WyoCourses related to the assigned material. For each week I have picked a general theme - each Discussion Leader should choose a theme that is of interest to them or somehow related to their work.

General expectations:

Each student will be expected to participate in discussions, suggest papers for the class to read and evaluate, and make short oral presentations to the class on their own research.  On a rotating basis throughout the semester, each person in the class will prepare to lead a discussion for one class meeting. All other members of the class are expected to prepare for each discussion (if required by the leader) and contribute to the discussion. Each participant is expected to: i) lead >1 discussion and ii) actively participate in all discussions that they attend.

Discussion Leader Examples:

All participants are encouraged to be creative with how they lead their discussions, so there are no explicit rules.  Even if you haven’t made much progress on your own thesis project, there are still options for you to lead a discussion. Here are a few examples that have worked well in the past:

• Present a talk on your research topic (e.g., 10-15 min) culminated with motivating questions for a follow-on discussion
• Bring a research “problem” you are working on (or stuck on) and enlist the help of the group to get ideas on how to solve the problem.
• Review a research paper that you find interesting. Assign the class to read it in advance of the meeting time.
• Practice a talk you will be giving at a conference.
• Provide an example dataset and ask everyone to process it with a specific objective in mind. (suggest at least 2 weeks advance notice)

Grading:

This class is graded Pass/Fail. Failing grade will be awarded if an enrolled student does not attend at least 75% of the meetings.

Classroom Behavior Policy: Our classroom fosters a positive learning environment (e.g., civility and respectful discussion). At all times, treat your presence in the classroom and your enrollment in this course as you would a job.  Act professionally, arrive on time, pay attention, complete your work in a timely and professional manner, and treat all deadlines seriously.  You will be respectful towards you classmates and instructor.  Spirited debate and disagreement are to be expected in any classroom and all views will be heard fully, but at all times we will behave civilly and with respect towards one another. Personal attacks, offensive language, name-calling, and dismissive gestures are not warranted in a learning atmosphere.  As the instructor, I have the right to dismiss you from the classroom, study sessions, electronic forums, and other areas where disruptive behavior occurs. Electronic devices such as mobile phones should be (left at home, set to silent, turned off).  Laptops are allowed for note-taking purposes.  No video or audio recording during class is allowed to protect the privacy of your fellow students.

Classroom Statement on Diversity: The University of Wyoming values an educational environment that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The diversity that students and faculty bring to class, including age, country of origin, culture, disability, economic class, ethnicity, gender identity, immigration status, linguistic, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, worldview, and other social and cultural diversity is valued, respected, and considered a resource for learning.

Disability Support: The University of Wyoming is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students.   If you have a disability, including but not limited to  physical, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities, and would like to request accommodations in this course due to your disability, , please register with  and provide documentation of your disability as soon as possible to Disability Support Services (DSS), Room 128 Knight Hall. You may also contact DSS at (307) 766-3073 or udss@uwyo.edu. It is in the student’s best interest to request accommodations within the first week of classes, understanding that accommodations are not retroactive.  Visit the DSS website for more information at: www.uwyo.edu/udss

Academic Dishonesty Policies:  Please reference UW Regulation 2-114. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class.  Cases of academic dishonesty will be treated in accordance with UW Regulation 2-114.  The penalties for academic dishonesty can include, at my discretion, an “F” on an exam, an “F” on the class component exercise, and/or an “F” in the entire course.  Academic dishonesty means anything that represents someone else’s ideas as your own without attribution.  It is intellectual theft – stealing - and includes (but is not limited to) unapproved assistance on examinations, plagiarism (use of any amount of another person’s writings, blog posts, publications, and other materials without attributing that material to that person with citations), or fabrication of referenced information.  Facilitation of another person’s academic dishonesty is also considered academic dishonesty and will be treated identically.

Duty to Report:  UW faculty are committed to supporting students and upholding the University’s non-discrimination policy. Under Title IX, discrimination based upon sex and gender is prohibited. If you experience an incident of sex- or gender-based discrimination, we encourage you to report it. While you may talk to a faculty member, understand that as a "Responsible Employee" of the University, the faculty member MUST report information you share about the incident to the university’s Title IX Coordinator (you may choose whether you or anyone involved is identified by name). If you would like to speak with someone who may be able to afford you privacy or confidentiality, there are people who can meet with you. Faculty can help direct you or you may find info about UW policy and resources at http://www.uwyo.edu/reportit

You do not have to go through the experience alone. Assistance and resources are available, and you are not required to make a formal complaint or participate in an investigation to access them. 

Substantive changes to syllabus:  All deadlines, requirements, and course structure is subject to change if deemed necessary by the instructor.  Students will be notified verbally in class, on our WyoCourses page announcement, and via email of these changes.This syllabus is a guide. Circumstances may alter the reading and/or test schedules. You are required to check WyoCourses and your email at least once a week.

Daily or weekly schedule of topics, activities, and graded work: 

Scheduled will be determined in the first week of the semester and will depend on the number of participants in the class.

Student Resources:

Example: CAMPUS RESOURCES

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES: udss@uwyo.edu, 766-3073, 128 Knight Hall, www.uwyo.edu/udss

COUNSELING CENTER: uccstaff@uwyo.edu, 766-2187, 766-8989 (After hours), 341 Knight Hall, www.uwyo.edu/ucc

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS: 766-4286, 312 Old Main, www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs

DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE: dos@uwyo.edu, 766-3296, 128 Knight Hall, www.uwyo.edu/dos

UW POLICE DEPARTMENT: uwpd@uwyo.edu, 766-5179, 1426 E Flint St, www.uwyo.edu/uwpd

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT WEBSITE: www.uwyo.edu/dos/conduct

paper_schedule.pdf