EFFECTIVE SCIENTIFIC WRITING, PUBLISHING AND COMMUNICATION COURSE

1. EFFECTIVE SCIENTIFIC WRITING, PUBLISHING AND COMMUNICATION COURSE • Rationale • The cornerstone of the philosophy of science is based on the fundamental assumption that original research must be published • Scientists have an unwritten contract with their contemporaries and those whose work will follow, to provide observations honestly obtained, recorded and published • Science is a fundamentally social activity, which implies that it depends on good communication Course Objective The goal of the course is to provide hands-on training for scientists and researchers in the academia, research institutes and relevant government agencies in scientific writing and science communication Course Logistics Venue: University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) Date:23 - 25 June, 2010 Time:9.00am Daily Organizers: AAU Food Developer Initiative, NIFST, UNAAB Application Requirements:CV & Motivation letter Application Deadline:Friday 4 June, 2010 Course Contacts:Prof. L. O. Sanni ( lateef_2@yahoo.com ) Dr. (Mrs.) Moji Edema (moedemao@yahoo.co.uk) Amoo-Onidundu ‘Lanre (nifstoffice@yahoo.com) 08034481602 • Justification • Less than 2% of scientific publications in the world come from Africa • Africa lags behind in development partly due to poor science communication • African scientists lack nurturing and training in scientific writing skills • African research institutions hardly provide training in science communication • Cost:N30,000 for NIFST Members & N40,000 for Non Members • Expected Participants • Postgraduate Students • Young Scientists/Lecturers • Professionals working in Industries, Parastatals & Research Institutes • NGOs • Modules • Module 1. Writing scientific manuscripts for publishing • a) Title preparation b) Author listing • c) Abstract preparation d) Effective presentation of results • e) Stating acknowledgments f) Citing references • Module 2. Other forms of science communication • a) Reviews b) Book chapters • c) Thesis d) Grant proposals • e) Opinions (editorials, book reviews, letter to the editor) • f) Conference communication (oral, poster, report) • Module 3. Writing policy publications • a) Policy processes b) Policy research • c) Writing policy briefs and reports d) Agricultural policy in Africa • e) Working with media • Module 4. Ethics in scientific publishing • a) Submitting manuscripts for publication (where to submit and how) • b) Review processes (dealing with editors, peer review, correcting proofs) • c) Rights and permissions • d) Other ethical issues (plagiarism, fabrication, conflict of interest etc) • Module 5. Project Management • Module 5. Social competence and personal branding • a) Preparation of recommendation letters • b) Professional Bio and Curriculum Vitae • c) Writing across cultures (including how and when to use abbreviations) • d) Elements of public speaking (use and misuse of English etc) • e) Social etiquette • Course Outcomes • Insight into leading and conducting innovative research • Acquisition of skills to actively communicate research findings especially for policy development • Better attitude to motivate team work for multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary research • Social competence necessary to cope with cultural diversities • Resource Persons • Prof. OlusolaOyewole, African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia • Dr. LinleyChiwona-Karltun, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden • Dr. YonaBaguma, National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda • Dr. Moji Edema, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria • Prof. M. O. Iwe, Editor in Chief, Nigerian Food Journal • Prof. O. Osinowo, Director, IFSERA, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria Without publication, science is dead – Gerard Piel