syllabus advanced ocean policy research mbc ·...

SEA Semester®: Marine Biodiversity & Conservation

www.sea.edu Advanced Ocean Policy Research -‐ 1

Advanced Ocean Policy Research CAS NS 460 (4 credits) Course Catalog Description (max. 40 words): Advanced policy research focusing on a topic of current importance (may include fisheries, biodiversity, marine spatial planning, and cultural heritage). Emphasis on theoretical concepts, research methods, and communication skills. Requires critical review paper, original research, final report and presentation. Instructor(s): Sea Education Association Policy Faculty Location: SEA campus in Woods Hole, MA and ashore during port stops. Prerequisites: Admission to SEA Semester. Junior standing or consent of instructor. Course Philosophy and Approach: This course is part of the suite of required courses in the SEA Semester: Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (MBC) program. Collectively, the MBC courses provide the context, tools, and opportunity for students to make authentic contributions to the international effort to protect the Sargasso Sea ecosystem. This skill and research-‐based course complements the Ocean Science and Public Policy course and centers on “real-‐world” problem based learning.

Students grapple with nebulous problems across many disciplinary, political, cultural, and stakeholder boundaries. They learn to take on challenges that have no universally “right” outcomes. With SEA faculty and visiting experts as mentors, students employ a ‘consultant group’ model and work collaboratively to determine project dimensions, identify conservation goals, collect and analyze relevant data, and design policy strategies for a contemporary challenge associated with marine conservation in the western and central North Atlantic region.

Tangible management recommendations will be shared in a polished final report and 40-‐minute presentation with professional experts, stakeholders, and authorities during a capstone Symposium.

This course consists of 12 lecture sessions (20 hours combined), 4 laboratory sessions (5.5 hours combined), 1 field trip (1 hour), 8 research mentoring sessions (11 hours combined), 16 guided policy work sessions (79 hours combined), and 2 formal presentation sessions (7 hours combined). Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .

1. identify and employ traditional steps in place based marine conservation planning. 2. create and interpret effective GIS maps relevant to marine conservation. 3. develop deep content expertise in policy subtopics associated with the research project.



4. read, critically evaluate and clearly summarize in writing using concise non-‐jargon language important policy information.

5. produce concise, accurate, and user-‐friendly policy documents. 6. present complex material to diverse audiences and successfully respond to their

questions and comments.

Evaluation: Individual Policy Research Portfolio 40% Group Conservation Plan 30% Symposium Conservation Plan Presentation 20% Teamwork 10% Assignments: Policy Research Portfolio: Students will conduct individual policy research that will contribute to the development of the group conservation plan. The research portfolio consists of an annotated bibliography and a 1750 – 2000 technical policy note/brief. Using GIS tools and concepts students will develop an analytical map that illustrates the geographic dimensions of their policy research.

Conservation Plan: This document is a highly polished comprehensive policy report and recommendations to the Sargasso Sea Commission or other relevant groups. The culminating product is based on the individual work and the research group’s collective knowledge and experience acquired during the program. The final report will follow UNFAO guidelines for effective reports.

Symposium Conservation Plan Presentation: Research groups develop and deliver 35-‐40 minute oral presentations capturing the highlights of their Conservation Plan. The students will present to a group of invited conservation science and policy experts as well as others who are attending the MBC capstone symposium. Presentations will follow guidelines specified during the semester. Student grades will be based on a combination of individual and group performance.

Teamwork: The ability to work effectively as the member of a team is essential to success in public policy. Teamwork grades will be based on a combination of instructor observation and confidential written peer evaluation. Expectations and Requirements:

• Punctual attendance is required at every class meeting. • Active participation in class discussion is expected. • Late assignment submissions are not accepted. • The policy on academic accuracy, quoted below, will be strictly followed in this class.

The papers that you submit in this course are expected to be your original work. You must take care to distinguish your own ideas and knowledge from wording or substantive information that you derive from one of your sources. The term “sources” includes not only published primary and secondary material, but also information and opinions gained directly from other people and text that you cut and paste from any site on the Internet.



The responsibility for learning the proper forms of citation lies with you. Quotations must be placed properly within quotation marks and must be cited fully. In addition, all paraphrased material must be acknowledged completely. Whenever ideas or facts are derived from your reading and research, the sources must be indicated. (Harvard Handbook for Students, 305)

• Considerations for use of internet sources: As you browse websites, assess their usefulness very critically. Who posted the information and why? Can you trust them to be correct? Authoritative? Unbiased? (It’s okay to use a biased source as long as you incorporate it knowingly and transparently into your own work.) Keep track of good sources that might be useful for subsequent assignments, and annotate in your bibliography any sites you cite. Your annotation should include the name of the author or organization originating any material that you reference. If you can’t identify the source, don’t use it!

Required Readings: Majchrzak A and M Markus. 2013. Methods for Policy Research: Taking Socially Responsible

Action. Sage Publications. St. Martin K and M Hall-‐Arber. 2008. The Missing Layer: Geo-‐technologies, Communities, and

Implications for Marine Spatial Planning. Marine Policy 32: 779-‐786. United Nations FAO. nd. Writing Effective Reports.



Course Calendar: Topic Readings/Assignments Due Week 1 (7 hrs) Science and Policy Research Orientation GIS Lab 1 Introduction to Conservation Planning

Majchrzak and Marcus Chapter 1

GIS Figure 1 Due Annotated Bibliography Entry 1 Due

Week 2 (9 hrs) Introduction to Policy Research GIS Lab 2 GIS Lab 3 Policy Research Group Meetings Marine Spatial Planning

Majchrzak and Marcus Chapters 3, 4

GIS Figure 2 Due GIS Figure 3 Due Policy Research Annotations Due St. Martin and Hall-‐Arbor

Week 3 (9 hrs) Constructing a Policy Brief Policy Group Meetings GIS Lab 4 Policy Work Session

FAO, preparing policy briefs 4.1

GIS Final Challenge Due Policy Research Annotations Due

Week 4 (12 hrs) Policy Group Meetings Policy Work Session MSP Map Presentation and Discussion

Individual GIS Policy Maps Due MSP Mapping Presentations Individual Policy Brief Due

Week 7 (Bermuda port stop, 2.5 hrs) Blue Halo Conservation Zone Discussion

• Chris Flook (Pew) Field Trip -‐ Bermuda Radio Control Room Tour

Week 10 (21 hrs) Review of Policy Research Designing an Effective Policy Document Policy Research Work Sessions Policy Group Mentoring Meetings

Review FAO, preparing policy briefs

Week 11 (35 hrs) Policy Research Work Sessions: Manuscript Prep. Policy Group Mentoring Meetings

Draft Group Conservation Plan Due

Week 12 (28 hrs) Communications Workshop: Oral Presentations and Public Meetings Policy Research Work Sessions: Presentation Policy Group Mentoring Meetings Symposium

Final Conservation Plan Due Final Conservation Presentations

syllabus advanced ocean policy research mbc ·...

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