James Lockhart Physics & Astronomy Dept. San Francisco State University

1. Communication of Scientific Results in Advanced Labs at San Francisco State UniversityALTC – July 2009 James Lockhart Physics & Astronomy Dept. San Francisco State University

2. SFSU Advanced Lab Format • Traditional: 1-2 courses in advanced experimental physics, taken in senior year • Includes lecture/discussion component on experimental methods and data analysis • Mix of group tutorial and individually-selected experiments • Multi-Format Results Communication • Short “Measurement Reports” • “Journal-style” report • Oral (Powerpoint/Beamer) presentation

3. Goals of Instruction in Scientific Communication • Principal goal is to prepare students to be capable scientific communicators in careers in • Industry • National Labs & Observatories • University Research Staff • MS and Ph.D. Programs • High School Teaching • Management of Technology Companies • Science Museums, Planetaria • Other scientific, medical, and engineering fields

4. Types of Scientific Writing • Academic/Industrial Research • Journal Articles; Conference Proceedings • Research Reports (to sponsor or management) • Funding Proposals • Industrial Development/Engineering/QA • Measurement Reports / Engineering Memos • Equipment/software Manuals • Funding Proposals • Teaching • Books, Tutorials • Lab Manuals • Exams, Homework, Solutions • Student • Lab Reports; Course Papers; Portfolio; Resume • Theses

5. Physics Word Processing Alternatives • Microsoft Word (or Open Office) with Equation Editor ($65) • Prior to Word 2007, “old” equation editor; can purchase MathType enhanced Equation Editor ($50). (Barely) adequate in most cases; saves equations as graphic images. • For Microsoft Word 2007, “old” equation editor and “new” equation editor w/ support for TeX-like "Office Math Markup Language“. • Scientific Word - Specialized scientific word processor; can save output in TeX form. ($500/$160 student)

6. Physics Word Processing Alternatives - 2 • TeX (popular versions: LaTeX; MikTex) - Page formatting language; allows precise text & equation formatting (free) • LyX - WYSIWYG “front end” for LaTex; no need to learn TeX commands; produces TeX and PDF output (free)

7. Components of Physics Writing • Text (including references/bibliography) • Equations • Tables • Plots • Diagrams and other figures • Photos

8. Measurement Report • Students write up results of 3 experiments (1 tutorial, 2 individual) as Measurement Reports • Report follows format common in industry - focus on measurement, little theory • What was measured • How (equipment details, procedure) • Major results (plots, uncertainties) • Goodness-of-Fit specifier when appropriate • Reports are prepared with typeset equations and plots to professional standards • Reports receive careful grading with respect to both content and writing style • Reports with significant deficiencies must be revised and re-submitted

9. Journal-Style Report • Students write up results of one “individual” experiment as Journal Paper • Report follows AIP journal standards • Background and theory presented, as well as • What was measured • How (equipment details, procedure) • Major results (plots, uncertainties) • Goodness-of-Fit specifier when appropriate • Prepared with typeset equations and diagrams and plots to professional standards • Reports receive careful grading with respect to both content and writing style • Reports with significant deficiencies must be revised and re-submitted

10. Plotting Software • MATLAB (site licenses; student version $100) • IDL (site licenses) • Gnuplot (free) • Origin (student version $50 for one year) • Kaliedagraph; Igor Pro • Excel (cannot produce publication-quality plots) • Save plots as .eps files for placing in LaTeX or LyX document; as .wmf or .jpg files to import into MS Word (use MATLAB export function)

11. Diagram Software (Vector Graphics) • Adobe Illustrator/Freehand (CS3 student $200) • Inkscape (free) • www.inkscape.org • Inkscape and Illustrator can export .eps files for easy import into LaTeX or LyX, as well as several other graphics file formats • For photos: • Photoshop • Paintshop Pro • Gimp (free)

12. Oral Presentation • Students do a stand-up 10-minute “APS Talk” presentation on one experiment • Presentation includes • What was measured • Quick summary of background / theory • Setup (equipment, procedure) • Major results (plots, uncertainties) • Goodness-of-Fit specifier when appropriate • Slides prepared with Powerpoint, Beamer • Presentation made to class + instructor • Presentation graded with respect to content and presentation style

13. Presentation Software • Slide Presentation • MS Powerpoint + Equation Editor • TeX or LyX with Beamer document class • Poster Presentation • Large Powerpoint print or TeX/Beamer print • Beamer example (next slide); from Th. Jolicoeur, LPTMS Orsay University

15. Summary • Multi-format approach to communication of measurement results • Industry-style reports • Journal-style report • Oral (Powerpoint) presentation • Preparation for writing in various careers • Industry • National Labs • Graduate Programs • Secondary Teaching