GUIDELINES FOR THE PSSST THESIS GRANT
GENERAL
The Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology, Inc. (PSSST) thesis grant amounting to twenty thousand pesos (Php20,000.00) is open to all undergraduate students in different SUCs whose major field of specialization is soil science. Graduating students with soil science as major field of specialization can submit a concept note or capsule research proposal for evaluation by the PSSST Board. Once it is approved, a detailed thesis proposal shall be required for submission. The thesis proposal must be a requirement for graduation and endorsed by the Advisory Committee and the Dean of the university/college. Three hard copies and an electronic copy should be submitted according to approved schedule to the Chairman of the Thesis Grant Committee. Four slots are available each year. Each university offering soil science as a major field of specialization in the BSA program is entitled to one slot per year. However, it can be increased to more than one, subject to availability of funds. To ensure rapid evaluation of the thesis proposal, it is essential that it must conform to the instructions below: Preparation of the Proposal Should not be more than 30 pages using an A4 paper Spacing, Font Size Type the proposal in Microsoft Word Document in double space and with 12-point Arial font. Order and Contents Title Author/Address Introduction Materials and Methods Literature Cited (APA format) Pagination Number all pages of the proposal consecutively at the right hand bottom corner of each page Units and Symbols Use recommended SI units and symbols Abbreviations and Acronyms Spell out abbreviations and acronyms the first time they are used Evaluation Concept note/capsule research proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the National Soil and Water Research Agenda. Detailed thesis proposal submitted will be reviewed by the Thesis Grant Committee as stipulated in the criteria for evaluation. The committee shall recommend to the PSSST Board if the proposal needs revision or rejected. Proposals that need revision are returned to the authors. Approval A decision to approve the proposal for the thesis grant is made during the BOT meeting. Upon approval, a letter will be sent to the university/college addressed to the President indicating the name of the grantee and documents required for submission to facilitate release of funds. |
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIESSoil and Water Resources researchable areas based on the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) Soil and Water Resources Research and Development Road Map 2016-2022.
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CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
A. Technical Aspect 1. Technical Merit of the Proposal 10 · Objectives · Adequacy · Clarity · Attainability a. Adequacy of Literature Review 10 · Current state of the art used · Exhaustiveness of prior research or related technologies b. Analytical Framework and methodology 10 · Appropriateness of research design/statistical tools used · Relevance of variables · Adequacy of data collection method 2. Contribution to new knowledge 30 · Significance of expected output 3. Potential impact · Extent of clients to be benefited 20 B. Entrepreneurial Value 10 C. IPR Potential 5 · Copyright/trade secret/utility model D. Others a. Gender Sensitivity 2 b. Compliance to existing laws 3 Crops/Animal/Environmental Research |
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE THESIS GRANTEE/ADVISER
1. Establish, implement, or conduct the experiment as per approved thesis proposal; 2. Ensure that all data are gathered as per approved thesis proposal and in conformity with standard scientific procedures; 3. Provide the Board through the Secretary a mid-term report (immediately after the first semester) stating the progress of the thesis work; 4. Ensure the completion of the thesis within one year after receiving the grant or before the annual meeting of the Society which is usually scheduled in May; 5. Prepare a terminal report with two formats; one following the school/university required standard format and another in the form of a scientific paper, e.g. PASJ (Philippine Agricultural Scientist Journal) format. Both should be soft-bound and should be submitted to the PSSST Board; and 6. Present the thesis in a scientific paper format as an automatic entry during the oral paper presentation in the nearest scheduled annual meeting of the Society; the presentation should be done by the thesis grantee. |