Environmental Sciences
The School of Environmental Sciences offers program of study leading to MSc, MES, and PhD degrees. Graduate Studies in the Environmental Sciences programs are designed to train people to work independently and imaginatively with a high level of technical skill and scientific acumen. It is expected that the graduates of the SES program will provide leadership in research and training in academic, government, and industrial sectors of society and who will participate in the formulation and implementation of constructive national and international science policy.
The PhD program has three fields of specialization:
- Earth and Atmospheric Sciences;
- Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity; and
- Plant and Environmental Health.
- Earth and Atmospheric Sciences – Research areas include: soil biology and soil physics, environmental geology, geobiology, soil chemistry, geochemistry, micrometeorology and ecohydrology, soil health and land resource management
- Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity – Research areas include: toxicology, pest management, management of agroecosystems, microbiology, forest systems, agroforestry, climate change biology, ecology, and entomology
- Plant & Environmental Health – Research areas include: plant biology, plant pathology, epidemiology, soil-plant interactions, biotechnology, molecular biology, forest systems, agroforestry, and climate change biology
Administrative Staff
Interim Director, School of Environmental Sciences
Paul Sibley (1106 Bovey Bldg., Ext. 52103)
psibley@uoguelph.ca
Associate Director, Graduate Studies, School of Environmental Sciences (MES/PhD)
Asim Biswas (135 Alexander Hall, Ext. 54249)
biswas@uoguelph.ca
Associate Director, Graduate Studies, School of Environmental Sciences (MSc)
Marc Habash (3238 Bovey Bldg., Ext. 52748)
mhabash@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Assistant
(261 Alexander Hall, Ext. 52514)
ses.gradsec@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Faculty
This list may include Regular Graduate Faculty, Associated Graduate Faculty and/or Graduate Faculty from other universities.
Genevieve Ali
B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD Université du Montréal - Associate Professor
Associated Graduate Faculty
Madhur Anand
B.Sc., PhD Western Ontario - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Emmanuelle Arnaud
BA McMaster, M.Sc. British Columbia, PhD McMaster - Associate Professor and Assistant Dean (Graduate Programs), Ontario Agricultural College
Graduate Faculty
Asim Biswas
B.Sc. Bidhan Chandra, M.Sc. Bangalore, PhD Saskatchewan - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Kimberley Bolton
BSc, PhD Guelph - MES Program Advisor, Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph
Associated Graduate Faculty
Rosemarjie Buitenhuis
B.Sc., M.Sc. Leiden, PhD Laval - Research Scientist, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
Associated Graduate Faculty
Susan Chiblow
BSc Lake Superior State, MA Royal Road, PhD York - Assistant Professor
Associated Graduate Faculty
Catherine Dieleman
B.Sc., M.Sc. McMaster, PhD Western - Assistant Professor
Associated Graduate Faculty
Michael A. Dixon
B.Sc., M.Sc. Mount Allison, PhD Edinburgh - Professor Emeritus, Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph
Associated Graduate Faculty
Kari Dunfield
B.Sc. Calgary, M.Sc., PhD Saskatchewan - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Deena Errampalli
M.Sc. Banaras, MBA, Osmania, PhD Oklahoma - Research Scientist, AAFC, Vineland
Les J. Evans
B.Sc. Southampton, PhD Wales - University Professor Emeritus
Associated Graduate Faculty
Tara Gariepy
B.Sc. Concordia, M.Sc. Simon Fraser, PhD Saskatchewan - Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Adam Gillespie
B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD Guelph - Assistant Professor
Graduate Faculty
Brandon Gilroyed
B.Sc. Alberta, PhD Calgary - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Susan Glasauer
B.Sc., M.Sc. California, PhD Munich - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Paul H. Goodwin
BS Villanova, M.Sc. Minnesota, PhD UC Davis - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Jacqueline Goordial
B.Sc. Toronto-Scarborough, M.Sc., PhD McGill - Assistant Professor
Associated Graduate Faculty
Robert Gordon
B.Sc., M.Sc. McGill, PhD Guelph - President, University of Windsor
Associated Graduate Faculty
Thomas Graham
B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD Wageningen - Assistant Professor
Graduate Faculty
Ernesto Guzman
DVM Mexico, M.Sc., PhD UC Davis - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Marc Habash
B.Sc. Toronto, M.Sc. Western, PhD Guelph - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Beverley Hale
B.Sc., M.Sc. Toronto, PhD Guelph - Professor and Associate Vice President Research (Agri-Food Partnership)
Graduate Faculty
Rebecca Hallett
B.Sc. Toronto, MPM, PhD Simon Fraser - Professor and Associate Dean (Research & Graduate Studies), Ontario Agricultural College
Graduate Faculty
Richard J. Heck
BSA, M.Sc., PhD Saskatchewan - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Thomas Hsiang
B.Sc., M.Sc. British Columbia, PhD Washington - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Shelley L. Hunt
B.Sc., PhD Guelph - Retired Professor
Associated Graduate Faculty
Peter G. Kevan
B.Sc. McGill, PhD Alberta - University Professor Emeritus
Associated Graduate Faculty
Loren Knopper
B.Sc. Guelph, M.Sc. New Orleans, PhD Ottawa - Principal, Environmental Services, Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Associated Graduate Faculty
Scott Krayenhoff
B.Sc. , M.Sc. Lethbridge, PhD British Columbia - Assistant Professor
Graduate Faculty
Roselyne Labbe
B.Sc. Western Ontario, M.Sc. Laval, PhD Western Ontario - Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Associated Graduate Faculty
John D. Lauzon
B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD Guelph - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Hung Lee
B.Sc. British Columbia, PhD McGill - Professor Emeritus
Associated Graduate Faculty
James Longstaffe
B.Sc. Western, M.Sc. Dalhousie, PhD Toronto - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Steven A. Marshall
B.Sc. Guelph, M.Sc. Carleton, PhD Guelph - University Professor Emeritus
Associated Graduate Faculty
Nadia Mykytczuk
B.Sc. Carleton, PhD Laurentian - Associate Professor, Laurentian University
Associated Graduate Faculty
Joseph Northrup
B.Sc. Bates, M.Sc. Alberta, PhD Colorado - Research Scientist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Associated Graduate Faculty
Gard Otis
B.Sc. Duke, PhD Kansas - Professor Emeritus
Associated Graduate Faculty
Gary Parkin
B.Sc., M.Sc. Western, PhD Guelph - Retired Faculty
Associated Graduate Faculty
Jesse Popp
B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD Laurentian - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Ryan Prosser
BEd Wollongong, B.Sc., PhD Guelph - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Nigel Raine
BA, PhD Oxford - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Justin Renkema
B.Sc. Redeemer, M.Sc. Guelph, Ph.D. Dalhousie - Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Associated Graduate Faculty
Neil Rooney
B.Sc., M.Sc. Western Ontario - Assistant Professor
Graduate Faculty
Jonathan M. Schmidt
B.Sc., PhD Toronto - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
Cynthia D. Scott-Dupree
B.Sc. Brandon, MPM, PhD Simon Fraser - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Paul K. Sibley
B.Sc., M.Sc. Guelph, PhD Waterloo - Professor and Interim Director
Graduate Faculty
Jocelyn Smith
B.Sc. M.Sc., PhD Guelph - Research Scientist, Ridgetown College, University of Guelph
Associated Graduate Faculty
Colby Steelman
B.Sc., PhD Waterloo - Lecturer, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo
Associated Graduate Faculty
Dirk Steinke
B.Sc., M.Sc. Konstanz, PhD Goethe - Associate Director, Centre for Biodiversity, University of Guelph
Associated Graduate Faculty
Naresh Thevathasan
B.Sc. Eastern, PhD Guelph, D.Sc. Honorary Kwame - Manager, Agroforestry Research and Development, Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph
Associated Graduate Faculty
Laura Van Eerd
M.Sc., PhD Guelph - Professor
Graduate Faculty
R. Paul Voroney
B.Sc. Calgary, M.Sc., PhD Saskatchewan - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Claudia Wagner-Riddle
B.Sc., M.Sc. Sao Paulo, PhD Guelph - Professor
Graduate Faculty
Owen Wally
B.Sc., M.Sc. Manitoba, PhD Simon Fraser - Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Associated Graduate Faculty
Jon S. Warland
B.Sc. Cornell, M.Sc. British Columbia, PhD Guelph - Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Academic), Ontario Agricultural College
Graduate Faculty
Susan Weir
B.Sc., PhD Guelph - Senior Microbiologist, Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Associated Graduate Faculty
Andrew Young
B.Sc., M.Sc. Guelph, PhD Carleton - Assistant Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph
Associated Graduate Faculty
Youbin Zheng
B.Sc., M.Sc. Southwest Agricultural, M.Phil., PhD Newcastle - Associate Professor
Graduate Faculty
MES Program
Admission Requirements
The School’s admission standard for the MES program is the same as the University and requires a four-year, honours science degree with a minimum B- (70-72%) average during the final two years (4 semesters) of full time undergraduate study. Meeting the minimum requirement (B-) does not guarantee entrance; depending on other criteria (e.g., letters of reference, standardized test scores, academic background relevant to the area to which the applicant has applied, degree of work experience in related fields of study) students may be considered for admission with provisional status. Students on provisional status must obtain a “B” average (70%) in at least two graduate courses during their first semester of study to continue in the program.
Program Requirements
The MES (coursework Master’s) degree enables students to study the most recent theoretical and technical advances in the environmental sciences through multidisciplinary teaching and research. There are two options to the MES in Environmental Sciences: by coursework + research project and by coursework-only. The MES will promote critical thinking and enhance oral and written communication skills so that graduates can excel in industry, government and other sectors of civil society (e.g., environmental risk assessors/managers, political advisors on policy/law issues in government, senior positions in national and international agencies, etc.).
Course Work and Major Research Project (MRP)
Candidates must complete a minimum of 4.0 credits:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENVS*6500 | Environmental Sciences Research Project | 1.00 |
ENVS*6501 | Integrating Science and Policy in Environmental Science | 0.50 |
ENVS*6502 | Seminar in Environmental Science | 0.50 |
Two additional credits from Environmental Sciences courses | 2.00 |
The research project may be completed at the University or as part of a placement with an approved non-academic agency. The project may include analysis of a data set (derived from lab, field, or computer simulation) related to the specialization chosen by the student including analyses and interpretations of relevant data (the student may or may not be involved in collecting the data), or major, critical literature review. The outcome of the research project will be a written report and a seminar presented to the department.
Course Work
Candidates must complete a minimum of 4.0 credits
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENVS*6501 | Integrating Science and Policy in Environmental Science | 0.50 |
ENVS*6502 | Seminar in Environmental Science | 0.50 |
Three additional credits from Environmental Sciences courses | 3.00 |
Students in either option may select courses from other departments on campus but are advised that access may be restricted and permission may be required by course instructors. A maximum of 1.0 credits may be taken from senior undergraduate courses, with permission of the Graduate Coordinator.
MSc Program
Admission Requirements
The School’s admission standard for the MSc program is the same as the University and requires a four-year, honours science degree with a minimum B- (70-72%) average during the final two years (4 semesters) of full time undergraduate study. Meeting the minimum requirement (B-) does not guarantee entrance; depending on other criteria (e.g., letters of reference, standardized test scores, academic background relevant to the area to which the applicant has applied, degree of work experience in related fields of study) students may be considered for admission with provisional status. Students on provisional status must obtain a “B” average (73%) with no individual grade lower than 70% in at least two graduate courses during their first two semesters of study to continue in the program. Provisional students will be funded at the same level as regular students.
Program Requirements
The objective of the MSc program is to develop and train graduate students that possess a high level of knowledge about the field of environmental science, expertise in specific aspects of environmental science (their thesis research focus), training in laboratory and field techniques, and excellence in writing and oral communication. With these skills, MSc students will possess a strong foundation on which they can be highly successful in science-related positions in government, industry, and consulting, or carry out high quality research at the PhD level.
The MSc thesis program requires:
- At least 1.5 graduate course credits, including one mandatory 0.50 credit course (Research Seminar in Environmental Sciences).
- Completion and defense of a thesis on research carried out under the direct supervision of a core faculty member.
The thesis and the oral defense of the thesis are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. An acceptable MSc thesis consists of a defensible account of the student’s research. The project is expected to represent a well-defined research problem, or hypothesis, and should be planned such that the clarity of the underlying rationale, the appropriateness of the technical approach, the research, and the critical evaluation of the results could normally be completed and the thesis defended within six semesters.
PhD Program
Admission Requirements
Admission to the PhD program is generally restricted to students with a recognized MSc degree in a related field obtained with a minimum academic standing of “A-“ (≥80%) in their postgraduate studies. Students who meet the minimum University requirement (73-76%) but not the School requirement (≥80%) may be considered depending on other criteria (e.g., letters of reference, standardized test scores, academic background relevant to the area to which the applicant has applied, degree of work experience in related field of study) for admission with provisional status. Students on provisional status must obtain an “A-“ (≥80%) and no individual mark below 80% average in at least two graduate courses during their first two semesters of study to continue in the program. Provisional students will be funded at the same level as regular students. In exceptional cases, students may enter the PhD program directly from a BSc (Hons) if they have the minimum requirements as defined by the Office of Studies, University of Guelph.
Program Requirements
The objectives of the PhD program are to develop highly competent, independent, creative, and critical scientists. Doctoral students of the SES graduate program will provide leadership as scholars in academic institutions, as managers and officers in the industrial research and development sector, research and policy branches within the government sector and in other social institutions. Research in the PhD program is expected to be original and novel, contribute significantly to the relevant research field, and published in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
The PhD program requires:
- Completion of one mandatory 0.50 credit course (Research Seminar in Environmental Sciences).
- Successful completion of a qualifying exam within five semesters of first registration in the program
- Successful defense of a thesis describing original research, carried out under the direct supervision of a core faculty member.
In the PhD program, the qualifying exam, thesis and the oral defense of the thesis are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. An acceptable PhD thesis consists of an authoritative report of the student’s research. The project is expected to represent a well-defined research problem, or hypothesis, and should be planned such that the research could normally be completed and the thesis defended in nine semesters (12 semesters for those students transferring from the MSc program). The research described in the thesis must represent a significant contribution to knowledge in that field. Emphasis is therefore placed on the quality of the presentation, maturity in scholarship, breadth and depth of the work, and critical judgement. Successful completion of the PhD thesis occurs when the research is judged to be sufficiently meritorious to warrant publication in reputable, peer-reviewed journals in its field. PhD students are normally expected to have published, or have “in-press”, one or more papers in peer-reviewed journals prior to the defense. In cases involving intellectual property, it is recognized that publication may not always be immediately possible. In such cases, a Pass will require that the committee is satisfied that, in their opinion, the work is of sufficient quality and originality that it would meet the standards for peer-reviewed publications.
Collaborative Specializations
International Development Studies
The School of Environmental Sciences participates in the MSc collaborative specialization in International Development Studies. Please consult the International Development Studies listing for a detailed description of this collaborative specialization.
One Health
The School of Environmental Sciences participates in the collaborative specialization in One Health. Master’s and Doctoral students wishing to undertake thesis research or their major research paper/project with an emphasis on one health are eligible to apply to register concurrently in Environmental Sciences and the collaborative specialization. Students should consult the One Health listing for more information.
Toxicology
The School of Environmental Sciences participates in the masters/doctoral collaborative specialization in toxicology. The faculty members' research and teaching expertise includes aspects of toxicology; they may serve as advisors for MSc and PhD students. Please consult the Toxicology listing for a detailed description of the masters/doctoral collaborative specialization.
Courses
Recent literature on temperature, humidity, radiation, wind, gases and particles in crop and forest environments; evapotranspiration and photosynthesis of plant communities; modification of microclimates; applied micrometeorology.
A lecture and seminar course on recent advances in the study of plant-microbe interactions. Topics included are the biochemical, physiological and genetic aspects of plant defenses and the interaction of plants with pathogenic and mutualistic bacteria, fungi and viruses. Offered in conjunction with PBIO*4000. Extra work is required of graduate students.
Exchanges of mass, momentum and energy between the surface and the atmosphere will be studied in the context of larger-scale meteorology. Diffusion and turbulence in and above plant canopies will be examined from theoretical and practical perspectives. Topics include time-series analysis, micrometeorological measurement theory, and basic principles of atmospheric science.
Theoretical and practical aspects of electronic circuits, sensors, and equipment used in meteorological research.
Current topics in selected areas of environmental microbial technology. An emphasis will be placed on the physiology and genetics of microorganisms useful in environmental biotechnology. The course involves extensive use of current journal articles. An undergraduate degree in microbiology or related discipline is recommended prior to registering in this course.
Students will explore topics within atmospheric science such as climatology, animal biometeorology, air pollution meteorology, and hydrometeorology. Normally, an independent course of study will be developed with a faculty advisor and one or more students in the semester prior to enrollment. Occasionally, the course will be offered as a lecture/seminar in a particular area, to be advertised in the semester prior to offering. Typically, students will produce a major paper or scientific report.
The soil as a physical system with special regard to soil water movement and the diffusion and dispersion of chemical substances. Numerical techniques and computer solutions will be developed.
Pedology considers the morphology, survey, geography, characterization and analysis, development, classification, and interpretation of soil. This course focuses on the quantification of pedology, employing modern digital instrumentation, computational capacity and analytical strategies. Students explore how such multi-scale, spatial-temporal information is used in critical zone modeling. Students should have at least an introductory soil, ecology or physical geography course. Students with only an introductory level soil course are encouraged to audit ENVS*4390.
Weekly discussions and seminars dealing with current topics in systematic entomology.
(1) Soil organic matter characterization, (2) dynamics of soil organic matter, (0.5) nutrient cycling.
Thermodynamics of soil solutions; solution-solid phase equilibria; reaction kinetics; computer modelling of solute-mineral interactions.
Emphasis will be placed on soil N transformations and processes, and N sources for crops; field experimentation methods; environmental issues.
Concepts and practical aspects of collecting, synthesizing and interpreting data from spatially and temporally variable and/or correlated fields. Hands-on experience in describing spatial structure of large data sets (supplied by student or instructor) using available software.
This course will examine the application of statistical techniques to analyzing multivariate environmental data. Methods will include Ordination (e.g., Principal Components Analysis, NDMS), Multivariate Regression (e.g., Partial Least Squares Regression), and Structural Equation Modelling. Emphasis will be placed on peer and collaborative learning through discussion, and comparative application of analyses to multivariate environmental data. Students should have at least one undergraduate course in statistics.
Students will explore topics within ecosystem science such as terrestrial ecology, forest science, aquatic systems and environmental biology. Normally, an independent course of study will be developed with a faculty advisor and one or more students in the semester prior to enrollment. Occasionally, the course will be offered as a lecture/seminar in a particular area, to be advertised in the semester prior to offering. Typically, students will produce a major paper or scientific report.
This course discusses environmental remediation/bioremediation topics including, but not limited to, phytoremediation, bioremediation, mycoremediation, and physical and chemical remediation to improve air, water and soil quality. For example, this course may explore the use of plants to take up and accumulate toxins from contaminated soils, use of bacteria to degrade groundwater contaminants, and physical/chemical processes to remove contaminated substrates or break down contaminants in those substrates. Environmental remediation is, by nature, multidisciplinary, involving chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, landscape design, etc. Numerous guest lectures from academic and commercial experts serve to explore this diverse field.
In this two-week lecture-field course, students will learn about historical and current environmental issues affecting the Great Lakes basin from the perspective of multiple stressors and their cumulative impacts. The importance of linking science and policy, and the role important of governments, are emphasized.
A concise, critical review of an area of study related to the field chosen by the student including analyses and interpretation of relevant data. The project will be written in the form of a scientific paper and presented to the department as a seminar.
A case-study approach, based on current and historical issues, and involving presentations from faculty, professionals and students, will be used to develop an advanced understanding of current issues in the environmental sciences, including examination of the underlying science and management of the issues, and the effectiveness of associated policies.
This course will provide an interactive and critical forum for studenrts to participate in an advanced discussion and debate on current environmental issues, and to learn about the practical skill set(s) required by various employment sectors in solving these issues.
This course is focused on the role of wetlands in maintaining healthy ecosystems and in controlling contaminant fluxes to water. Lectures complement field and laboratory assessments of wetlands to understand element biogeochemical cycles in these transitional environments. The course includes field trips to Ontario wetlands.
Students will learn concepts, techniques and analysis related to the characterization of soil in the landscape. Focus will be given to soilscapes encountered in southern Ontario. Course involves multiple field excursions to examine the distribution of soils in this region.
Students will learn concepts, techniques and analysis related to the ecological characterization of forests. Focus will be on southern and mid-central Ontario forests and will involve periodic excursions to various locations for the purpose of demonstrating theoretical principles, sampling techniques, in-field measurements, and collecting samples for in-lab assessment.
The biology of pollinators will be discussed in lectures and seminars stressing fundamental and applied aspects. The honey bee will be used as the model system.
In this course students will explore the ecology of pollination with an emphasis on the factors affecting declines in pollinating insects as well as potential mitigation strategies to ensure long-term stability of food production and maintenance of biodiverse wild plant communities. Offered in conjunction with ENVS*4070. Extra work is required of graduate students.
Concepts associated with integrated pest management of insect pests of various plant hosts will be introduced to students in an interactive lecture and laboratory format. Experiential learning and skill development, associated with economic entomology, will also be emphasized. Offered in conjunction with ENVS*4100. Extra work is required of graduate students.
The basis of insecticide bioactivity will be examined, with emphasis on mode of action, structure-activity relationships and analytical methods. Students will choose a specific insecticide or class of insecticides as their primary topic of study for the semester. Students will participate in seminars, prepare a conference poster and complete a research paper.
An exploration of energy flow and distribution in forest ecosystems. Both components will be examined in the context of biomass and productivity, perturbations and resilience. Some aspects of modelling will be covered.
Students will explore topics within soil science such as soil physics, pedology, soil chemistry and microbiology. Normally, an independent course of study will be developed with a faculty advisor and one or more students in the semester prior to enrollment. Occasionally, the course will be offered as a lecture/seminar in a particular area, to be advertised in the semester prior to offering. Typically, students will produce a major paper or scientific report.
This course will examine the geological characteristics and processes that influence groundwater flow systems and contaminant transport and fate in different geological settings. The course will include seminar discussions of readings, guest speakers from industry and government agencies as well as hands-on exercises in class.
Students will explore topics within environmental earth science such as glacial geology, environmental geophysics and hydrogeology. Normally, an independent course of study will be developed with a faculty advisor and one or more students in the semester prior to enrollment. Occasionally, the course will be offered as a lecture/seminar in a particular area, to be advertised in the semester prior to offering. Typically, students will produce a major paper or scientific report.
This course explores the chemical processes that influence organic compounds in the environment. Topics discussed include: the transformation of anthropogenic organic contaminants, the form and function of natural organic matter, and analytical methods including compound specific stable isotope analysis and environmental nuclear magnetic resonance. Offered in conjunction with ENVS*4370. Extra work is required of graduate students.
Students will explore topics within plant and environmental health such as integrated pest management, apiculture and environmental microbiology. Normally, an independent course of study will be developed with a faculty advisor and one or more students in the semester prior to enrollment. Occasionally, the course will be offered as a lecture/seminar in a particular area, to be advertised in the semester prior to offering. Typically, students will produce a major paper or scientific report.
This course provides information and training in scientific presentations for thesis-based Environmental Sciences (ENVS) programs. Students will prepare a written research proposal and make an oral presentation of their proposed studies. Students are expected to complete this course in their second or third semester of study.