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A Course: Scientific Writing
A course Scientific Writing helps scientists improve their skills in writing and communicating, particularly in the context of English language publications.
March 1 – 4 2010
Dr Alan Hopkins (University of Exeter)
Getting started. We consider planning, record keeping, interim publications and choosing journals.
The details of writing. The importance of planning and ‘getting it absolutely right’ for each section of the paper (title, abstract, methods section, results section, discussion, references, figures and tables). We consider different examples for each of these sections.
After submission. How an understanding of the editorial process can reduce potential problems.
Future citation. How your paper is to be used in the future and ways to raise its citation index.
Other types of written communication. Review papers, posters and conference abstracts.
Problems of writing in English. A consideration of some common faults encountered in scientific English.
Practical exercises. Course participants will be invited to share examples of their own work for discussion. The tutor will also present examples of scientific writing for discussion. A workbook will form part of the course notes, with some examples of good and bad practice.
For information on Dr Alan Hopkinsi see:
http://centres.exeter.ac.uk/crpr/staff/hopkins/
For publications by Dr Alan Hopkins see:
http://centres.exeter.ac.uk/crpr/staff/hopkins/publications.php
Dr Alan Hopkinsi gives lectures:
At 15.00 on March 1, 2010, venue: Kreutzwaldi 5, ruum 2A13 Grassland management and ruminant production in an era of climate change.
(A consideration of impacts, adaptations and mitigation measures; the role of greenhouse gases and their links with ruminants and farm management; the role of grasslands in storing carbon, and grass as a biofuel to offset fossil energy)
At 15.00 on March 2, 2010, venuue Kreutzwaldi 5, ruum 2A13 Semi-natural grasslands: past, present and future prospects.
(This could be widened to consider other ‘protected sites of ecological interest’ as well as grasslands).
At 15.00 on March 3, 2010, venue: Kreutzwaldi 5, ruum 1B1 The future for legumes and sustainable farming in a hungry world.
(World population is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, bringing issues of food security, water security and energy security. Where do legumes, particularly forages, fit into this scenario?).
Participation in lectures is free. Each lecture lasts for about 90 minutes.