Project - general instructions

Aim: The aim of the project is for students to gain a deeper knowledge into one specific area of solid waste management. Additionally, the student will gain experience in preparing a conference proceeding in the form of an extended abstract and present the results at a poster session.

Selecting project groups: Students will be able to form their own groups (max 2 students per group)

Project synopsis: You are required to develop your own aims and objectives for a project which is related to one of the themes of a waste management conference attached to this PM (Appendix 1). Please note that the topic should be about solid waste (not waste water or polluted air). Write a project synopsis (idea and description) connected to the chosen theme. The project synopsis requires the following aspects:

  • Aims
  • Objectives
  • System Boundaries
  • Relevance
  • Methodology
  • References (of a preliminary literature review)

The project idea has to be accepted by the supervisor before starting the actual work.

Course requirement – Submission and acceptance of project description

Draft (clarified info 19/1): is the Extended abstract (nearly finalised and results included) that is not graded but used for feedback. Deadline 4/3

The extended abstract: An extended abstract is a short report that provides a summary of the work you have done. In this abstract, every part of the work needs to be presented, including:

  • Brief introduction establish the problem area
  • Aim and objectives, which should include a motivation/relevance for the aim and objectives
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • References

Length of the extended abstract is 4 pages (including references)

You must use the Template provided Download Template provided (do not change this template in any way). The idea of using an extended abstract instead of a full report is to train you to summarize your research. A extended abstract is usually required if you want to send in a suggested contribution for a conference and the “rules” of this abstract are very strict.

Some examples of what an Extended abstract could look like (authors are deleted): Example 1, Download Example 1, Example 2 Download Example 2

More info about Extended abstracts in general can be found in Abstract writing . Links to an external site.(Please note that this reading is about both Abstracts and Extended abstracts which are two different things)

Course requirement – Final Abstract Submission

Adviser support

  • Each group is entitled to 2 x 1 hour supervision meetings with their supervisors during the course.
  • It is the responsibility of the group to organise these meetings. I suggest during your first meeting you set times for the subsequent meetings.

Course requirement – Each student is required to attend each supervision

Poster and Poster Session

In addition to the extended abstract, the results of the project will also be presented at a poster session.

Poster: The poster is a visual presentation of your project. The poster should be size A2-A1. You are responsible for printing your own posters. (You can print the poster as several A4 or A3 and then combine them to a A1-A2). You will present this poster at a "conference" session

The following aspects must be included:

  • Title of project
  • Your name
  • Introduction
  • Aim and objectives
  • Methodology
  • Results
  • Conclusions

Below you find some links to help you start thinking about how to prepare a good poster:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLuMRqcZhrI Links to an external site.  (watch both parts, very good info!)

http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/dept/Tips/present/posters.htm Links to an external site.   
http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/posterpres.html Links to an external site.
http://www.personal.psu.edu/drs18/postershow/judges.html Links to an external site.

Poster Session: At the poster session group members will take turns in in presenting your poster (prepare a "pitch talk" - maximum 1 min). The posters will be evaluated through peer evaluation which will be handed out at the seminar. This peer evaluation will be part of the grading. 

Aspects of the grading schedule will include:

  • Clear aim and relevance
  • Creates interest
  • Clear results
  • Well structured
  • Looks good

Course requirement – You must produce a poster, attend the poster session and peer assess other students posters (as many as possible)

Grading (3.0 hp, A-F)

The Project is graded A-F. FX is a failed grade with the possibility to pass by completing a supplementary task. After reassessment of this task, the group can only receive the grade E. The reassessment has to be delivered and passed before 4th of June 2022.

The project group work will be graded on a scale from 0-10 credits. The evaluation focus on four areas:

  1. Formal quality and readability (1-2 credits; minimum of 1 credit required to pass)
  2. Factual content (1-2 credits; minimum of 1 credit required to pass)
  3. Analytical content and quality (1-3 credits; minimum of 1 credit required to pass)
  4. Poster (1-3 credits; minimum of 1 credit required to pass)

The total score (max 10 credits) will be multiplied by 2 for a total maximum of 20 credits and where a minimum of 8 credits and at least 1 credit in each of the evaluation areas above are required for grade E.

  • 18-20 credits – A
  • 16-17 credits – B
  • 13-15 credits – C
  • 11-12 credits – D
  • 8-10 credits – E
  • <8 credits – FX, F
  1. Formal requirements and readability

To achieve 1 credit the abstract must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • Include all aspects outlined in the section “The extended abstract” above.
  • Is readable, i.e., not too difficult to follow and not containing too many language errors
  • Is written in a way so that it is clear what parts of the abstract are the writers’ own thoughts, and what parts are taken from other sources, what those sources are, where they can be found

To achieve 2 credits, in addition to the requirements for 1 credit, the abstract must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • Is well-written and easy to follow
  • Has a balance between different parts of the abstract
  • References are used in a way that would be acceptable in a scientific context (i.e., an academic journal)
  1. Factual content (aspects to be treated in the abstract)

To achieve 1 credit the report must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • Limited factual content and use of references

To achieve 2 credits:

  • A critical position towards different sources of information
  • Statements are arguments are justified by references
  1. Analytical content and quality

To achieve 1 credit the report must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • Limited analysis performed
  • Attempts to answer the aim and objectives

To achieve 2 credits:

  • A content of higher quality than required for 1 credit, but of lower quality required to achieve 3 credits

To achieve 3 credits, in addition to the requirements for 2 credits, the report must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • Clear, concise, achievable and measurable aims and objectives have been developed
  • A detailed analysis which is justified by references to supporting literature
  • Conclusions are justified by the analysis and discussion
  1. Poster

Grading of the poster will be done by peer-assessment.

Aspects of the grading schedule will include:

  • Clear aim and relevance
  • Creates interest
  • Clear results
  • Well structured
  • Looks good

To achieve 1 credit the report must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • ≥ 50% of peer students grading of ‘OK’ in each category

To achieve 2 credits the report must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • ≥ 50% of peer students grading of ‘good’ in each category

To achieve 3 credits the report must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • ≥ 50% of peer students grading of ‘very good’ in each category

Appendix 1:
Project themes from the IWWG waste management conference in Sardinia 2013

A. Waste policy and legislation

International, national and regional guidelines; regulation and planning requirements; role of scientific and technical organizations; carbon tax.

B. Waste management strategies

Integrated waste management; national strategies; future perspectives, waste as a resource; public and private partnership.

C. Public concern and education

Public involvement and relationship; NGO`s activities; mediation; education; communication; training in waste management and operation.

D. Waste management assessment and decision tools

Life cycle analysis; risk assessment; environmental impact assessment; EMAS; quality control procedures; cost benefit analysis; multicriteria analysis; auditing; BAT-Best Available Technologies.

E. Waste characterization

Standardization; analytical procedures, sampling, production variations vs time and geographical areas.

F. Waste collection

Cost optimization; collection on demand; separate collection; case studies; subsurface systems; pneumatic collection; ergonomics of waste collection.

G. Waste minimisation and recycling

Waste avoidance; waste logistics and recycling; new recycling technologies; material quality after recycling; packaging material; electronic waste; construction and demolition waste; batteries; end of life vehicle; market waste.

H. Biological treatment

New developments in composting and anaerobic digestion; emissions from processing facilities; product quality; degradation and fate of emerging pollutants during biological treatment; biological treatment of special biowaste; challenges in using microbiology knowledge to explain biological process; assessment of indicators for evaluating product quality and humification.

I. Thermal treatment

Technologies and experiences; new technologies; production and use of RDF; emission control; treatment of residues; beneficial use of combustion ash.

J. Mechanical biological treatment prior to landfilling

Mechanical pretreatment (separation, shredding, RDF-production, etc.); technology and experience; new technology, testing and landfill acceptance; off gas treatment; emission control.

K. Sanitary landfilling

Sustainable landfill concepts for mechanically biologically pretreated municipal waste and special waste; processes and emissions; leachate and gas management; landfill design and construction; barrier design and performance; technologies for mitigation of landfill gas emission; waste mechanics; landfill operation; administrative and financial aspects; landfilling under specific conditions (tropics, islands, mountains, etc.); aftercare and reuse; waste disposal as final sinks for harmful substances; landfill remediation; case studies.

M. Integrated wastewater and solid waste management

Decentralized systems; closed substance cycles; future perspectives; cases.

N. Waste management and climate change

Minimisation of greenhouse gases from waste management activities and landfills, waste - CDM projects, minimisation of energy consuption, landfills as geological sinks for carbon and other elements

O. Waste management in developing and low income countries

Appropriate technologies, experiences, international cooperation, financing, education.

P. Special sessions

BAT - Best Available Technologies; IPPC regulations; fate of nanomaterials during waste management.