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How can you handle unexpected changes in field research plans?

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Field research is an essential part of environmental consulting, but it can also be unpredictable and challenging. You may encounter bad weather, equipment failure, access issues, or unexpected findings that require you to adapt your plans on the fly. How can you handle these changes without compromising your data quality, safety, or budget? Here are some tips to help you prepare for and cope with unexpected changes in field research plans.

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Henrietta Osei-Tutu? TheSanitationAdvocate?

Co-Founder|Creating Sustainable Waste Management Systems|Environmental Engineer|Driving Innovation in Solid Waste…
Patrick Ross

Ecologist and Tropical Conservationist

1 Plan ahead

The best way to deal with unexpected changes is to anticipate them as much as possible and have contingency plans ready. Before you go to the field, do your homework on the site conditions, the potential risks, the legal and ethical requirements, and the stakeholders involved. Identify the critical objectives and tasks of your research, and prioritize them according to their importance and urgency. Prepare backup equipment, data storage, and communication methods, and make sure you have enough resources and time to complete your work. Review your plans with your team, your client, and your supervisor, and agree on how to handle any deviations or issues that may arise.

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Landry Ngaimeni Ngogpa, MSc

BCH Board member of the UNCBD|Water and Forest Engineer | Founder | Environmental Scientist | Climate Justice Advocate |Country Contact Point COY17
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Adaptability is crucial in field research. Quickly reassess objectives, prioritize key tasks, and collaborate with team members to devise a flexible plan that accommodates unexpected changes while maintaining research goals.

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2 Be flexible

Even with careful planning, you may still encounter situations that force you to change your plans. When that happens, don't panic or get frustrated. Instead, be flexible and adaptable, and look for creative solutions that can help you achieve your goals. For example, if you can't access a certain location due to weather or permission issues, you may be able to find an alternative site that has similar characteristics or use remote sensing techniques to collect data. If you encounter unexpected findings that contradict your hypotheses or raise new questions, you may be able to adjust your methods or scope to explore them further or document them for future research.

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Patrick Ross

Ecologist and Tropical Conservationist
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One thing that often separates the experienced service operators with the inexperienced is how they plan for possible change. By having pre-decided decisions in place for major deviations they are able to adjust quickly.

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3 Communicate effectively

Communication is key to managing unexpected changes in field research plans. You need to keep your team, your client, and your supervisor informed of any changes, challenges, or opportunities that you encounter, and explain how they affect your work. You also need to listen to their feedback, suggestions, or concerns, and address them promptly and respectfully. Communication can help you avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or delays, and ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.

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Henrietta Osei-Tutu? TheSanitationAdvocate?

Co-Founder|Creating Sustainable Waste Management Systems|Environmental Engineer|Driving Innovation in Solid Waste Management|International Development|Sustainable Procurement
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Communication with all stakeholders is crucial especially when research is happening within a community or interferes with or is related to direct human activities. The content/depth of messages and communication channels have to be discussed and agreed with Client or formal authorizers to ensure message going out is uniform. A typical example was encountered by our team when residents encroached on a dumpsite to be decommissioned during design of decommission works. This was unimaginable and unexpected, calling for a rigorous engagement process to resettle these people and their structures as well as educating them on need for decommissioning.

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4 Document everything

Documentation is crucial for any field research project, but especially for those that experience unexpected changes. You need to document everything that you do, see, measure, or observe in the field, and record any changes or deviations from your original plans. You also need to document the reasons, impacts, and outcomes of those changes, and how you dealt with them. Documentation can help you maintain data quality, integrity, and reliability, and support your analysis, interpretation, and reporting. It can also help you learn from your experience, identify best practices, and improve your future field research plans.

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Patrick Ross

Ecologist and Tropical Conservationist
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I believe it is critical to become the "note-taker". I try to always carry a small note pad or digital notes so that I can constantly write down information that may be useful later on. I frequently support and lead biodiversity baselines and assessments. Common notes for these include: species sightings, habitat characteristics, and environmental conditions, supplemented by photographs of key findings.

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5 Evaluate and improve

After you finish your field research, you should evaluate your performance and identify what went well and what didn't. You should also solicit feedback from your team, your client, and your supervisor, and acknowledge their contributions and challenges. You should then use this information to improve your field research skills, methods, and plans, and to share your lessons learned with your colleagues and peers. Evaluation and improvement can help you enhance your professional development, reputation, and value as an environmental consultant.

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Patrick Anthony Calalo

Forester and Environmental Planner
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Field research is most challenging due to the externalities present, which in most cases, cannot be controlled by the researcher. Thus, it is important that after consistent documentation, the whole study is evaluated using evidence-based information gathered. The advancement of science through improvements in the whole field research regime would only be realised by applying adaptive management. Future field research relative to what has been done, documented and evaluated can then possibly prosper at a more concise and consistent pace than its predecessor. However, the researcher/s should also be reminded that this is not a one-time agenda. Progressing towards more efficient field research will definitely take time and experience.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you handle unexpected changes in field research plans?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Plan ahead

2 Be flexible

3 Communicate effectively

4 Document everything

5 Evaluate and improve

6 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Consulting

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How can you handle unexpected changes in field research plans?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Plan ahead

2 Be flexible

3 Communicate effectively

4 Document everything

5 Evaluate and improve

6 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Consulting

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