In this article I’ll run through the techniques most commonly used by students, professors and lecturers in the study of climate change and its effects. If I could do all of this from the comfort of my computer, it would make the task seem rather easier. It would just require a little effort.
Take the various university websites and see if there is a link to the Climate Studies & Meteorology class. In the case of individual universities, go to the teaching resources section and click on your course. If there is no link, or if the link doesn’t take you anywhere, then you’ll need to look for a course elsewhere.
If the class hasn’t been taught for some time you’ll have to start at the beginning and investigate the course itself, of course, but also check your professor syllabi and their current online resources. If your research has found nothing relevant, then check your departmental list of courses or consult the relevant departments.
One option is to join a discussion forum and read all the posts. The best results tend to come from people who will take the time to actively participate in the discussion; just like you do in any course or seminar. After all, if someone can’t find the information in the syllabus and the web pages, they’ll turn up searching for answers elsewhere.
Of course, if you’re still unable to find the information you need, try looking for resources in books, journals or online resources. Again, you’ll have to be persistent and open to discussion with people who are experts in their field.
If you’re still not getting anywhere, talk to your course instructor or your professor. Just because they are in a specific department doesn’t mean they aren’t up to date on the latest trends, you’ll be able to point them in the right direction if you’re clear about what you want.
You’ll also have to make sure that you ask them for as much help as you can – after all, that’s what they were put in the position to do! Although you should never feel obligated to give an in-depth interview or detailed description of what you’re trying to achieve, this is what they will be obliged to do.
So, is the whole point of doing the research? Well, it isn’t always easy. Especially if you’re new to the field, but there are some advantages.
The most obvious one is that you’ll get a very good grounding in what you’re trying to learn. This makes it much easier to engage in difficult discussions and gets you into the real science of understanding what is going on in the environment.
Once you’ve had the opportunity to do some independent research on your own, you’ll realise that the environment is an ever-changing place. The long term effects of climate change are, of course, far more obvious than what you’d seen during your coursework, but even at that you can gain a very thorough understanding of how the world works.
