|
Research and Professional Ethicsin Water Resources and Environmental SciencesWRS/CE 85812007 Syllabus |
| General Class Information |
| Texts |
| Course Objectives and Description |
| Format and Evaluation |
| Grading |
| Disabilities |
| Course Outline |
| Electronic Interactions |
| WRS/CE 8581 Research and Professional Ethics in Water Resources and Environmental Science (0.5 credit) | |
| 4:30-5:45PM Tuesday - through 6 March | |
| Instructor: Dr. Raymond Newman | 120 Hodson Hall |
| e-mail: RNewman@umn.edu | Phone: 612-625-5704 |
| class e-mail: RMNClass@umn.edu | For announcements discussion, etc. |
| Web CT: http://vista2.umn.edu/ | |
| Office Hours: | 10:30 -11:30 MWF |
| Other times by appointment or chance (which is good - phone first to be sure) |
1. There is one required (i.e., heavily relied upon) text:
Committee On Science, Engineering, and Public Policy. 1995. On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research, Second Edition. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. You can read free online at: http://www.nap.edu/books/0309051967/html/index.html Loan copies will be available from me. If you wish to obtain a personal hardcopy or pdf (or combination hard copy and pdf) you may purchase these from the National Academy Press at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/4917.html: purchase pdf for $6.50, paperback for $7.20 plus $4.50 shipping and both for $9.50 plus $4.50 shipping.
In the past we have used: Whitbeck, C. 1998. Ethics in Engineering Practice and Research. Cambridge University Press, NY. If you want a more comprehensive text, this is useful and can be purchased online from various booksellers. Info at: http://onlineethics.org/bib/eepr.html
2. A copy of each will be on reserve in the Entomology, Fisheries
and Wildlife library. It is strongly suggested that you obtain a personal
copy of On Being a Scientist.
3. Additional links to case studies will be made on the class website.
Copyright protected material will be in the secure Slideshow page.
Username is: WRS8581. The password will be announced in class.
4. Readings are indicated below with the schedule and will be updated on
the Readings Page. The readings may be updated
one week prior and will be announced in class (see also Announcments page)
and posted on the web - Check the Readings Page regularly.
Readings will be on reserve in Entomology, Fisheries & Wildlife Library, Hodson Hall or available online at this site.
Course Objective & Description:
The course objective is to provide ethics training for graduate students in water resources science and environmental engineering or other relevant graduate programs. Topics such as societal responsibility, plagiarism, scientific recording-keeping, data ownership, intellectual property rights, authorship, peer review, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, mentorship, professional relationships, collaborative practice and research, management, fraud, reporting misconduct will be covered. Completion of this course will fulfill the Graduate School’s requirements for graduate ethics and responsible conduct of research training.
The course is graded on an S/N basis. Attendance at 7 of the 8 sessions is a minimum requirement for passing this course; attendance will be taken weekly. There will be required reading to be completed before class every week (see below). Additional materials for review or discussion will be handed out in class (examples are materials from the UMN code of conduct, case studies, additional reading material) or made available on the class website. Active participation in class discussions is expected. Each week, students will be required to participate in a discussion on the class WebCT discussion site. The particular assignment or discussion topics to be addressed will be provided in class and on the Announcements web page. Students are expected to participate in the discussion prior to the next class. For 1 or 2 sessions (e.g., first week), a brief (0.5 to 1 page) reaction paper on a topic that we discussed or developing and analyzing a case study on an ethical issue, will be required in lieu of online discussion. Successfully passing this course will fulfill the ethics training requirement for graduate students in Water Resources Science and Civil Engineering.
Academic Integrity:
Academic integrity is essential to a positive teaching and learning environment.
All students enrolled in University courses are expected to complete coursework
responsibilities with fairness and honesty. Failure to do so by seeking unfair
advantage over others or misrepresenting someone else's work as your own, can
result in disciplinary action. The University Student Conduct Code can be found
at: http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/StudentConductCode.html
Disabilities and Inclusiveness:
An array of topics is covered in the class and students are expected to be respectful of the opinions and views of others. Enlightened discourse is encouraged but be aware that not everyone views the world through the same lens and the key to successful management is to consider and embrace a diversity of views. Students with disabilities that may hinder their ability to fully participate in the course or achieve their potential should contact me and may also wish to contact Disability Services in 180 McNamara Alumni Center on 200 Oak Street (612 626-1333 ) for additional assistance.
I have set up a website (http://fwcb.cfans.umn.edu/courses/wrs8581/) and an email address (RMNClass@umn.edu) for class discussion, etc. Papers can be turned in by e-mail rather than paper copy and will be considered handed in at the time of receipt dated by the mailserver. However, these should be properly formatted, spell checked, etc. Assignments, comments on class info and discussion should be sent to the address set up for class: RMNClass@umn.edu. Note that email to this address only goes only to me – general discussion is online at Vista.
Personal requests, late assignment requests or anticipated class absence
can be posted to my personal e-mail address (RNewman@umn.edu):
please use this address only for things that require immediate and personal
attention - all discussion should posted on the WebCT
site.
Web Site:
Web Site:
http://fwcb.cfans.umn.edu/courses/wrs8581/
The class syllabus, schedule information, reading lists and reading assignments
will be on this site. Some handouts and cases will be available in html and
as pdf files. Slideshows and pdfs of the powerpoint presentations (including
class discussion cases) will be online. Handouts of copied graphical material
from other sources will not be on the web - sorry - but the aim is for everything
to be electronic. Check the class site periodically for announcements. Discussions
will take place on the class Web CT/Vista site: http://vista2.umn.edu
"In this class, our use of technology will sometimes make students' names
and U of M Internet IDs visible within the course website, but only to other
students in the same class. Since we are using a secure, password-protected
course website, this will not increase the risk of identity theft or spamming
for anyone in the class. If you have concerns about the visibility of your
Internet ID, please contact me for further information." (From: U of
MN WebCT Instructions
http://webct.umn.edu/instructors/ferpa.shtml). Also,
I have elected to make the sessions available as podcasts. You will thus be
able to download the audio of our sessions (and the powerpoints will be on
the web). However, podcasts are not secure, which means that persons outside
of class might be able to get access. We will discuss any concerns you
have with this in the first class session.
Back to WRS8581 homepage.
URL: http://fwcb.cfans.umn.edu/courses/wrs8581/
Comments to: RNewman@umn.edu
Last updated: 16 January 2007
Copyright: 2005-2007 by Ray Newman, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University
of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Original content and HTML by Ray Newman.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page
author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the
University of Minnesota.