Independent project at the Department of Soil and Environment

Last changed: 09 December 2022
Round circles laid out on a roof with vegetation, photo.

At the Department of Soil and Environment you can take independent courses in the following subjects: Soil Science, Environmental Science and Biology.

Working procedure

Report

Templates

The Department of Soil and Environment has no common guidelines for the headings, fonts and text size in reports of the independent work, but feel free to use the template available on SLU University Library page.

Abstract

The report should begin with an English abstract. Read about what an abstract should include on SLU University Library pages.

Popular science summary

After the abstract, the popular science summary follows. Read about what distinguishes a popular science summary from an abstract on SLU University Library pages. Place the popular science summary after the abstract.

Table of contents and page numbering

The table of contents follows after the abstract and the popular science summary. This means that abstract and the popular science summary should not be mentioned in the table of contents. Let the page numbering start on the page containing the Introduction. Let page numbers be centered on the pages because some blank pages might be added. The report is prepared for two-sided copying. 

Reference management

Learn about reference management on SLU University Library pages. Please use the Harvard system. 

Document size

The document size should not exceed 5 MB. 

When the report is complete

When the report is reviewed for plagiarism by "Urkund" and approved by the supervisor and the examiner, the supervisor sends the text as a PDF file in A4 size, to the course secretariat.

If you have a photo at the front of the report, email mark-kurssekretariat@slu.se the name of the photographer and the year the photo was taken. Note that the keywords cannot not be identical to words included in the title.

Publication

After the student's result of the course is reported in LADOK the report is deposited in Epsilon (SLU's digital archive of dissertations, student projects, etc.) by the department. You will find your report published there after a few days.

Oral presentation

The presentation can be carried out whenever it suits everyone involved, except between Christmas and New Year holidays and during the month of July when the examination should not be done according to examination regulations at SLU

On May 28–29, 2019, presentation seminars will take place in Marken (B3051) in the MVM-house, third floor. Time table and procedures are shown in this document.

The presentations are arranged for independent projects registered at the department of Soil and Environment. However, an opponent registered at another department is welcome to attend, if the Soil and the Environment student state it in his or her application for the seminar. And if you change services in opposition, presentations of work performed by other departments are also welcome. However, the work carried out at Soil and the Environment has first priority if the presentation schedule becomes full. 

Structure of the seminars

1. Introduction ca 5 minutes (the supervisor introduces the student, the examiner and the opponent)
2. Presentation ca 20-30 minutes
3. Opposition ca 15 minutes
4. Questions/discussions ca 15 minutes (questions from the examiner and the audience)
5. Break 15 min (before the next seminar) when the opponent will get feedback. The break can also be used for the examiner and the student to go through the report together.

Opposition

The course includes oral opposition on another student's report. 

Participation in seminars

At the bachelor level, it is compulsory to attend at least two other students' presentations.

"The form to report presence at another student's presentation of the independent work" is submitted to the supervisor.

Published reports

 

Three report covers, photo.

Department of Soil and Environment
2009-

Former Department of Soil Sciences
2002-2008

Former Department of Forest Soils
2001-2007

Information for supervisors and examiners

Proposals for new independent projects

Send proposals for new independent projects to the director of studies at the department (Katharina Meurer). Use the Word template and enter suggestions for title of the project, number of credits, level, subject, programme if applicable, start time, short description of project and supervisor's name and contact information. The department's list of proposals is found at Available projects.

Implementation of independent projects – guidelines for supervisors and examiners

Guidelines and responsibility

  • An examiner for the independent project is appointed by the director of studies and selected from an examiner group at the department. All examiners must have completed “Course in grading and assessment” at SLU.
  • Inform yourself and the student about who is responsible for what during the project – further information in "Guide for students, supervisors and examiners", found at the NJ-faculty web page (Documents and guides)
  • Study the syllabus for the course and make sure the project corresponds to the goals of the course and inform yourself about the guidelines for the oral presentation, opposition etc.
  • Go through the grading criteria together with the student - you find them under Documents and guides at the  NJ-faculty web page
  • Inform yourself regarding of the requirements for passing grade.

Read more about the report and oral presentation under the different tabs on this website.

Administrative routines and forms

The administrative routines for the independent projects are found here. It is important that all supervisors and examiners follow these routines to facilitate the work for the director of studies and course secretariat and to ensure that all matters are handled correctly.

The forms “Registration form”, “Workplan” and "Form for supervisor and examiner to report result to the LADOK administrator" are found at the NJ-faculty web page (Documents and guides).

Announcement of the oral presentation

At the joint seminars organized at the department, the director of studies are responsible for the program, room booking, and advertising in the department's calendar on the intranet and will inform everyone at the department by email.

At individual seminars, the supervisor is responsible for advertising in the department's calendar on the Intranet and to inform everyone at the department by email.

Advertising should be done a week before the presentation and should include the student's name, title of the project, time and location of the seminar, supervisor, examiner and opponent.

Date of the common oral presentation sessions and suggestions for layout and timing, etc. are available under the tab Oral presentation.

Plagiarism review

The supervisor is responsible for reviewing the student's report for plagiarism in Urkund which is done by sending the report to the supervisor's e-mail address in Urkund. If you do not have an Urkund address or if you have forgotten your user information -  contact Urkund's support, see information on the Urkund web page.

Digital publication of the report

When the student's final report is approved by the supervisor and the examiner it should  be published in Epsilon, the digital archive for publications at SLU. Further information in the document for administrative routines.

Questions?

For questions regarding the implementation of independent project – contact the director of studies Katharina Meurer.

For administrative issues – contact Josefine Agrell at the course secretariat.

Facts: