Research Skills Workshop
The Grassland Society of Southern Africa is proud to host a Research Skills Workshop. During this two-day event, successful academics, researchers, and scientists will make presentations on key aspects of research. A wide range of topics will be covered, from the philosophy of the importance of science through to making successful public presentations.
Additionally, there will be a session during which delegates can share their ideas on successful research habits with the audience.
An interactive tutorial will follow the workshop, where delegates will work on their own computers, describing ways to manage data and create documents professionally and efficiently.
The first day focuses on the principles of research, while the second day focuses on the practice of research. All delegates are encouraged to attend both days of the workshop, but can attend either of the days if preferred.
Research Skills Workshop Invitation
Preliminary Schedule
| DAY ONE | |
| 08:00-09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00-09:15 | Welcome and Introduction |
| 09:15-10:15 | Opening Address: David Spurrett:: What Science is and why it matters? |
| 10:15-10:45 | Tea |
| 10:45-11:30 | Dave Ward: What are you looking at? The importance of the research question |
| 11:30-12:15 | Mark Hardy: Establishing ecological and agricultural field trials |
| 12:15-13:00 | Craig Morris: Navigating through the sticky tangle of statistical tests |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00-14:45 | Terry Everson: Community involvelment in research - problems, opportunities and successes |
| 14:45-15:30 | Luthando Dziba: Networking, management and collaboration in research institutions |
| 15:30-16:00 | Tea and open discussions |
| DAY TWO | |
| 08:00-09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00-09:30 | Trevor Hill: Getting it out there - overcoming the publishing obstacle |
| 09:30-10:00 | Frikkie Calitz: Using MS Excel as a basis for statistical analysis |
| 10:00-10:30 | Tea |
| 10:30-11:00 | Justin du Toit: Choas to order - managing research data effectively |
| 11:00-11:30 | Terry Olckers: Presenting effectively with PowerPoint |
| 11:30-12:00 | Adrian Shrader: 11 seconds - presenting posters effectively |
| 12:00-12:50 | Workshop: delegates' tips of effective presentations |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00-15:00 | Interactive tutorial: Managing data in Excel and using MS Word effectively (delegates supply their own computers) |
| 15:00-15:30 | Tea |
| 15:30-16:15 | Tutorial continues |
Who should attend?
The workshop will be of benefit to scientists, researchers, teachers, managers, technicians and students, especially those involved in agriculture, rangeland science, biology, ecology, and applied sciences.
Rates
| Both Days | Single Day | |
| Early Bird (before 1 October 2008) | R2850.00 | R1700.00 |
| Normal | R3135.00 | R1870.00 |
Cancellation fee: 75% refund before 1 Oct 2008, 50% before 1 Nov 2008, none thereafter. Rates include registration, teas and lunches, and dinner on the first night. Accommodation is not included.
Payments to be made to Nedbank Cheque Account 1341011299 Cascades Branch 134325. Please fax proof of payment to 0866227576 or email to admin@grassland.org.za.
Venue
The workshop will be held at Lythwood Lodge (www.lythwood.com) in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. This venue provides a very comfortable and self-contained environment that supports learning and knowledge-sharing by being distanced from external disruptions.
The venue is approximately 4 hours from JHB, 1 hour from PMB, and 2 hours from Durban.
Accommodation is available at Lythwood Lodge, and from a range of B&B’s in the vicinity. The GSSA has arranged reduced accommodation rates with the Lodge – delegates can contact them directly for details (0332344666 or 0824112709). Please visit www.midlandsmeander.co.za for other accommodation.
To Register
Click here to register online.
Contact Details
Helen King 082 468 6611 or Freyni du Toit 083 256 7202
Speakers
Prof David Spurrett
Prof David Spurrett is the Head of the School of Philosophy and Ethics, and Programme Director for Cognitive Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he received the Distinguished Teacher’s Award, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award. He also received the President’s Award from the National Research Foundation. He has been a visiting research fellow at King’s College, London, and a visiting Scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge, and he collaborates with researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His main research interest is the philosophy of science and human decision making. He has numerous scientific publications, and has co-authored several books.
Prof Trevor Hill
Prof Trevor Hill is an associate professor and deputy Head of School in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He graduated from Rhodes University, and has been involved with the Institute of Water Research, Geographical Information Management Systems (GIMS), and Q-Data. He has taught at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), Queens University (Canada), the National University of Ireland, and Ketsaarte University (Thailand). He has published over fifty papers and book chapters, and supervised over thirty MSc and PhD students. He received the University of KwaZulu-Natal Distinguished Teachers Award in 2006. His research interests are in Quaternary Research and Environmental Education.
Prof Dave Ward
Professor Dave Ward is the Chair of Botany at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, his alma mater. He has taught at the University of British Columbia, Ben Gurion University (Associate Professor), and Stellenbosch University where he was the chair of Conservation Ecology. He has been affiliated with Tufts University, Boston, U.S.A., and Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany. His book “The Biology of Deserts” (Oxford University Press) has recently been released, and he has over 130 publications to his name. He is an experimental community biologist, and his principal research interest is bush encroachment.
Dr Luthando Dziba
Dr Luthando Dziba is a senior researcher at the Agricultural Research Council, and the research leader of the National Rangeland Monitoring and Improvement Program funded by the Department of Agriculture. He studied at the University of Fort Hare and Utah State University, and has been affiliated with the University of Edinburgh, Oklahoma State University, and the Macauley Institute. He publishes in the field of rangeland ecology.
Dr Mark Hardy
Dr Mark Hardy is a Senior Specialist Scientist in the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. He has been involved in field-scale agricultural research (grasslands and agronomy) for over thirty years, having worked for the Research Divisions of the Department of Agriculture in Cedara and Elsenburg, and been affiliated with the Agricultural Research Council, the University of Natal (later UKZN), and Stellenbosch University. He has published scientific papers and book chapters, and has also written numerous popular publications.
Dr Terry Olckers
Dr Terry Olckers is a senior lecturer in Entomology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He acquired his PhD from Rhodes University before being employed by the Plant Protection Research Institute of the Agricultural Research Council. He has been affiliated with the Working for Water Programme in South Africa, Landcare Research in New Zealand, and the Federal University of Parana in Brazil. He has given presentations in many countries across the world, and has published over 35 scientific papers on biological control of alien invasive plants.
Dr Terry Everson
Dr Terry Everson is a senior lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with which she has had a long involvement. She has been involved in community land rehabilitation projects in the Upper Thukela catchments for the past 12 years. In 2006 she won the research category of the Women in Water awards for her outstanding contribution in advancing the cause of women in Water, Sanitation and Forestry Sectors.
Dr Adrian Shrader
Dr Adrian Shrader is a lecturer of Wildlife Conservation and Management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal whose main research interest is the foraging ecology of large mammals. He has taught at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and at the University of Pretoria, and has also been affiliated with the University of Illinois, Duke University, and Ben Gurion University. He has a particular interest in presenting complex scientific findings – be they in the written, poster, or oral forms – in a clear and understandable way.
Mr Craig Morris
Craig Morris is a senior researcher at the Agricultural Research Council and a honorary senior lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, with research interests in applied ecology (grassland & wildlife science) and the management and sharing of agricultural and natural resource management information. His 40 or so scientific publications range from studies of community patterns of inland aquatic microfauna through to landscape patterns of mountain macroflora, but have mostly focussed on applied issues related to the management of mesic grassland for livestock production and biodiversity conservation.
Mr Frikkie Calitz
Frikkie Calitz is a Senior Biometrician at the Biometry Unit of the Agricultural Research Council in Stellenbosch, and holds an MSc in Biometry. He has been affiliated with the ARC since 1973, first as a researcher and then, after 1983, as a biometrician providing statistical support to researchers (experiment design, statistical analysis and interpretation). He also advises to private companies and post-graduate students (Consumer Sciences, Food Sciences, Plant Pathology, Botany, Soil Science, Horticulture, and Genetics) of the University of Stellenbosch and the University of the Western Cape. He presents annual statistical courses at various universities in the Western Cape.
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