Macaulay Honors College Seminar 3
Brooklyn College
Urban Biodiversity Conservation in the Anthropocene
Dr. Tara Cornelisse, Fall 2014
Course project components, deadlines, and instructions
Project Component:
1) Group Project Topic
2) Group Project Proposal
3) Draft Poster- practice in class
4) Final Poster & Presentation
5) Individual Final Paper
6) Self and team evaluation
Due Date:
September 19
September 23
November 21
December 6th and 7th (at MHC)
December 19
December 19
Grade percentage
5%
20%
15%
5%
Group Project Purpose and Structure:
The purpose of the course project is for you to get hands-on experience with urban
biodiversity and conservation in the Anthropocene by actively investigating urban
biodiversity and its relation to habitat, species conservation, and/or socioeconomic
factors. By completing the research project, you will be developing and honing your
Science Senses as you gain scientific knowledge, data collect and analysis experience,
and communication skills, among others. We use the BioBlitz data collected at Central
Park in 2013 and the New York Botanical Garden in 2014 as the basis of your projects.
To complete your project, you will work in groups of four to:
1. Ask a scientific question about NYC biodiversity
2. Formulate a hypothesis based on your question
3. Conduct data collect and analysis
4. Present your results in a visual (and/or audibly) engaging manner
5. Relate your findings to the broader scientific literature
6. Conclude with recommendations for biodiversity management
7. Cite your primary sources (at least five)
Group Project Topic:
Due on September 19th, Your group’s topic is up to you and we will discuss options in
class, but the topic should be something that is researchable, or, based on a question that
you can answer by collecting and analyzing data. In addition, it should, ideally, make use
of the BioBlitz data. Example topics include:
1. Compare the diversity and/or abundance of (a) specific group(s) found in Central
Park and the Botanical Garden or different parts of the parks
2. Quantify and compare habitats in which different groups of species were found
3. Conduct overall habitat assessments for the different parks or parts of the parks
4. Compare the socioeconomic/poverty level of human populations near the
biodiverse areas of either or both parks
5. Rare species diversity, abundance, and habitat availability
6. Specific species habitat assessments and reports
7. Compare and contrast methods used in BioBlitzes, data quality and resolution
8. Interview your fellow MHC students about and analyze their experiences
Macaulay Honors College Seminar 3
Brooklyn College
Group Project Proposal:
On September 23rd, your group will need to hand-in and present a project proposal where
you have demonstrated that you picked your topic and have a plan to complete your
project. The written proposal should be one page and your in-class presentation should be
1-3 slides. Both should briefly describe:
1. Your group members
2. Your topic in the form of a testable question
3. Your group’s hypothesis
4. Planned methods and timeline
5. Anticipated structure of results
Group Draft Poster:
On October 17, our ITF Jennifer Corby will be guest lecturing and part of her lecture will
be on creating a research poster and finding and citing primary literature. Here is a useful
webpage on making a poster for a scientific conference (what project is modeled after!):
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ugar/undergrad/posterinstructions.html
You will have time to work on your project and/or poster in class on November 14th.
Draft posters (in PowerPoint slide form) will be due in class on November 21st, where
your group will practice presenting your work and get feedback from the rest of the class.
Group Final Poster Presentation:
Final poster presentations will take place at Macaulay Honors College on December 6th
and 7th as part of the culminating Seminar 3 common event. At the poster session, I will
grade your final poster based on the contents, visual, improvements from the draft, and
your oral communication skills. At minimum, the poster should include:
 Title: project title
 Authors: your name, faculty advisor’s name, names of collaborators, and
department
 Introduction (Purpose or Objectives)
 Methods
 Results or Findings- with visuals
 Discussion/Conclusions- with biodiversity relevant recommendations
 References
 Acknowledgments: include any helpers
I will provide you with separate grading rubrics that I will use to evaluate your poster and
presentation at the Macaulay Common event.
Macaulay Honors College Seminar 3
Brooklyn College
Individual Final Paper:
The final paper is due in lieu of a final exam on December 19th , emailed to me
(tara.cornelisse@gmail.com) by 5pm. Although the project will be group-based, the final
paper should be only your individual work.
The paper should be a 5-page (single-spaced, 12pt font, one inch margins) research style
paper on your final project that contains the same sections as the poster, above, plus five
primary sources in addition to (read: NOT) those included in your group’s poster
discussion/conclusions. The idea is that your paper expands on the discussion and
conclusions your poster is able to address and includes your own thoughts for future
research. Again, we will discuss finding and citing primary literature in class on October
17th. I will provide you with a separate grading rubric that I will use to evaluate your final
paper. All grading rubrics will also be put on the website.
Although it is not required, you are welcome to submit a one rough draft to me for my
feedback and editing up to one week before the final paper is due (i.e. by Dec 12th).
Self and Team Evaluation:
When emailing your final paper, also include a self and team evaluation. In a document
separate from your paper, assess your own contribution to the group project in a short
paragraph. In addition, rate each of the other group members on a scale of 1 to 5 for each
of the following characteristics:
 Intellectual contribution to the product
 Ability to work with others as a team member
 Leadership
 Total effort towards ultimate product