Location:
Interactive online course
Future courses in Wallingford, Bangor, Edinburgh and Lancaster, subject to demand.
Cost:
Students £249
Professionals £299
Save £50! A limited number of early bird discount tickets are available and must go by 28 November.
Date:
26 February 2025
Sign up online here now to secure your place! (credit and debit cards accepted)
Short course description:
This dynamic and interactive course will introduce you to essential methodologies in Evidence Synthesis, Evidence Review, Systematic Reviews, and Rapid Evidence Assessment. We have designed this course for researchers and professionals in environmental science, including policymakers. The course will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to conduct an Evidence Review tailored to your area of interest. You'll gain hands-on experience through a Quick Scoping Review (QSR) exercise. We will cover everything from formulating research questions with clients, conducting systematic searches, and extracting data, to final reporting.
We also delve into diverse synthesis methodologies and their application across different evidence contexts. this will include policy research, evidence synthesis, mapping, and meta-analysis.
In addition to mastering Evidence Synthesis methodologies, you will learn how to:
- Interpret scientific data to shape policy and business goals
- Collaborate across disciplinary boundaries and with expert groups
- Analyze and mine large datasets and databases
- Understand the requirements and expectations of policymakers
- Evaluate the value of objective vs subjective analysis
Learning outcome:
By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge, skills and confidence to carry out a Quick Scoping Review. You will have an understanding of best practice in Evidence Synthesis. This will enable you to write a commissioning specification, assess tender documents for Evidence Synthesis work and to assess the quality of Evidence Synthesis reports.
Course objectives:
- Gain a deep understanding of evidence review principles, distinguishing traditional reviews from evidence reviews
- gain practical skills for all stages of the review process, from setting research questions to conducting transparent, systematic searches
- Become proficient in developing research questions that address real-world policy or business needs
- Learn best practices for managing and analyzing data that can influence science-policy or business decisions
- Enhance your ability to produce impactful, high-quality evidence reviews that scientists and policymakers alike will value
- Build transferable skills for a wide range of research and professional contexts within environmental science
Target audience:
- PhD students and Early Career Researchers with an interest in Environmental Sciences
- Researchers in industry
- Statutory organisations
- Environmental Consultants
- Nature Conservation - Voluntary sector
Level:
Beginner – you do not need any previous knowledge or skills on Evidence Synthesis
Places:
A maximum of 20 per event to ensure a quality learning experience
Hardware and software requirements:
For the in-person course, you will need a laptop or tablet.
For the interactive online course, we recommend a second external screen (not essential). Having a webcam is desirable (but not essential). If you plan to participate from an open-plan office or noisy environment, please wear headphones with a built-in microphone.
We will deliver the interactive online course using Microsoft Teams.
Course leaders:
Mike Perring, Plant Scientist and Ecologist, UKCEH
Michael Hutchins, Water Quality Modeller, UKCEH
Sarah Roberts, Ecotoxicological Data Analyst, UKCEH
Ingo Schüder, Commercial Training Manager, UKCEH
Prof Michael Acreman, UKCEH fellow
Course delivery:
Training will be interactive and focus on skills development to provide the learners with insights into the value of Evidence Reviews (ER) and how to conduct an ER. We will tailor courses so that attendees can apply these skills to their own research.
We encourage you to conduct your own full Evidence Review exercise in your own time once you completed the training.
We will encourage you to evaluate your learning and to give us feedback throughout the training.
Previous course participants said:
The in-person course in July 2023 had 100% positive feedback.
"Trainers were very engaging, knowledgeable and helpful.“ (Bethany Doo, Defra, July 2023)
I really enjoyed all elements of the workshop and specifically how interactive it was" (Civil Service Fast Stream learner, May 2023)
"Charlie and Ingo were fantastic teachers. The setup worked well and resulted in a good level of interactivity" (Civil Service Fast Stream learner, May 2023)
"Knowledgeable presenters who communicated clearly and effectively.” (Amanda Porter, Defra, March 2023)
“Trainers were fantastic, really dynamic and engaging people and made the day fun and interesting.” (learner, March 2023)
"I appreciated the hands-on practical with the different stakeholder perspectives. I also liked the way the material was clearly communicated by James and Charlie." (Dr. Chidiebere Ofoegbu Leicester University February 2023)
"I really enjoyed the course. Cannot think of anything to improve" (course participant February 2023)
"Highly enjoyable training course that was informative and 'super' relevant to my role. It has clarified quite a few things with regards to how research is collated and evaluated in the civil service, which does differ to the private sector. It is a definite addition to my 'tools' and I am looking forward to using them in the current project ideas I have." (course participant November 2022)
"I liked the whole day - it was enjoyable. It really made me think about the research question and how it can be refined to make the research itself more applicable." (course participant November 2022)
"The group work in the second half of the course was a great way to get to grips with the skillset (Bethan McGregor, Defra, 29 March 2022)
"I particularly enjoyed the group exercises and the continual engagement throughout the workshop (Joshua Leigh, Defra, 29 March 2022)
"Both the morning and afternoon sessions were helpful, was great to have a theoretical and practical element to the course." (Scott Lampon, Shift Insight, 15 February 2022)
"Really good - I appreciated the ability of the trainers to come in and out of the breakout rooms" (Bethany Green, Scientific Officer, Office of Chief Scientific Adviser, Defra, 30 March 2020)
"Mixture of teaching and doing practical exercises very good. Found emphasis on floods very useful (Dr. Hannah Reid, Defra, 22 March 2022)
“Brilliant course. I am now very confident on the components of an evidence review. The practical activity in the afternoon was brilliant - really good to put the skills into practice.” (PhD student from King's College London)
"A really brilliant course - helped me to understand and practice the "what, why and how" of evidence reviews!"
Relevant links and key publications:
- Defra's Evidence Strategy
- The Production of Quick Scoping Reviews and Rapid Evidence Assessments A How-to Guide (Joint Water Evidence Group, April 2014)
-
Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation (part of Bangor University)