The independent Project/Report gives each member of the class an opportunity to: (1) go beyond the course material and explore a particular topic or subject area that has been or will be covered in class, (2) explore a topic or subject that will NOT be covered in class, (3) assemble and perform a classroom demonstration of a phenomenon in atmospheric electricity, (4) construct one or more sensors for atmospheric measurements, or (5) reduce and analyze existing experimental data. The report will give you experience in writing and editing technical papers, and you may also be invited to give a short (15 minute) presentation on your work in class. You are free to focus on any scientific or technical aspect of atmospheric electricity that you are interested in, and experimental studies are particularly encouraged.
The evaluation of your Project/Report represents a significant fraction (20%) of your final grade. You should submit a title and a one-page plan for your project to your instructors by Tuesday, February 1, 2007, and a final 8 to 10 page report (including any figures and references) no later than Thursday, April 19, 2007. You will be evaluated on your choice of topic and plan as well as on the overall quality of your Project/Report. Your plan should include a statement of why you think the topic is important and at least 5 references or other sources that you plan to use in your work. The final Report should represent your best effort in technical writing, and you will be graded on the organization and the clarity of the English as well as the content.
Examples of possible projects include: construction and evaluation of a sensor that is (or could be) used in research; a detailed investigation of one or more atmospheric electrical phenomena; a review/critique of a book or the technical literature on a particular topic, Etc. BE CREATIVE, and feel free to build on your own interests, but please do NOT report on a sponsored research project. The Project/Report should represent your own best effort this semester and should NOT duplicate any other work that you may have done in the past.