Part 3, You will hear a student called Olivia discussing a campus sustainability project with the course coordinator, Dr. Harris.
Dr. Harris: Hello Olivia, thanks for coming in. I wanted to have a quick chat about the sustainability project you and your group proposed last week. Overall, it’s a promising idea, but there are a few areas I think we should clarify before you move forward.
Olivia: Hi Dr. Harris. Yes, I was hoping we could talk about it. We weren’t completely sure if our focus was narrow enough.
Dr. Harris: That’s a good place to start. At the moment, your proposal covers energy use, waste management, and student behaviour across the entire campus. While all of those are relevant, it might be too broad for a single semester project.
Olivia: Right, I see what you mean. We thought covering more areas would make it stronger, but it might actually make it harder to analyse properly.
Dr. Harris: Exactly. Depth is more important than breadth here. For example, you could concentrate solely on waste reduction in student accommodation and still produce a very solid piece of research.
Olivia: That sounds manageable. If we did that, would you prefer a focus on recycling habits or food waste?
Dr. Harris: Food waste would be particularly interesting, especially if you can link it to existing policies on campus. There’s already some data available, which would save you time.
Olivia: That’s good to know. Speaking of data, we were planning to design an online questionnaire. Do you think that’s sufficient, or should we include interviews as well?
Dr. Harris: A questionnaire is fine, as long as the questions are well designed. Interviews can add depth, but they’re time-consuming. Given your timeframe, I’d recommend sticking with one main method and doing it properly.
Olivia: Okay, we’ll focus on the survey then. And in terms of sample size, is there a minimum number of responses we should aim for?
Dr. Harris: There isn’t a fixed number, but you should justify whatever sample size you choose. Explain why it’s realistic and how it still allows you to draw meaningful conclusions.
Olivia: Got it. We’ll make sure to explain that clearly in the methodology section.
Dr. Harris: Good. Now, let’s talk about the written report. You’re required to submit 4,000 words, excluding references and appendices. Have you started thinking about how to structure it?
Olivia: Yes, roughly. We were thinking of starting with an introduction and literature review, then moving on to methods, results, and discussion.
Dr. Harris: That structure works well. Just remember that the discussion section should do more than repeat the results. You need to interpret them and relate them back to the literature you reviewed earlier.
Olivia: Right, so we should be comparing our findings with previous studies?
Dr. Harris: Exactly. That’s where you demonstrate critical thinking. Also, don’t forget to include a limitations section. Every project has limitations, and acknowledging them actually strengthens your work.
Olivia: Okay, that makes sense. Now, about the presentation—we’re presenting in Week 10, aren’t we?
Dr. Harris: Yes, Week 10, during your usual seminar time. Each group will have fifteen minutes, followed by five minutes for questions.
Olivia: And should the presentation cover the entire project, or just the main findings?
Dr. Harris: Focus on the rationale, the method, and the key findings. You won’t have time to go into every detail, so choose what’s most important.
Olivia: Understood. Do we need to submit the slides before the presentation?
Dr. Harris: Yes, please upload them to the learning platform at least three days in advance. That gives us time to check for any technical issues.
Olivia: Alright. One more thing—I wanted to ask about assessment. Is this project marked as a group, or individually?
Dr. Harris: It’s a combination. The written report receives a group mark, but the presentation includes an individual component based on how clearly each person contributes.
Olivia: That’s fair. We’ll make sure everyone has a clear role.
Dr. Harris: Good idea. Finally, have you thought about how this project links to your future studies or career plans?
Olivia: Actually, yes. I’m interested in working in environmental policy, so learning how to evaluate sustainability initiatives is really useful for me.
Dr. Harris: That’s excellent. Make that connection explicit in your conclusion—it shows awareness beyond the assignment itself.
Olivia: I will. Thanks so much for your guidance. This has really helped clarify things.
Dr. Harris: You’re welcome, Olivia. I’m looking forward to seeing how the project develops. Let’s touch base again in a couple of weeks.
Olivia: Sounds good. See you then.
