Developing Skills in Scientific Writing -

Who the course is for

Biomedical students and professionals.

Presentation

Biomedical professionals need to be able to communicate their research proposals and findings effectively in writing. However, most professionals receive little specific training in scientific writing. Many have mistaken views about what good writing is and how to achieve it. Writing in a language that is not your mother tongue makes it even more difficult to ensure that a text is well organized, coherent, and easily understood. Although most professionals quickly learn to read English-language texts in their special areas of interest, most fail to develop the skills they need to write successful grant applications and articles.

All scientists can learn to write competently. Writing skills can be learned, improved, and refined. Skills are based on knowledge, but knowledge alone is not enough. Developing skills requires putting knowledge into practice.

Aims

This training seminar aims to help students improve their skills in writing scientific English. This course focuses on providing practical considerations when writing biomedical material for publishing. Students will learn the principles underlying effective written communication in science and put them into practice in a relaxed atmosphere of open discussion and feedback.

Professional outings

This training seminar completes the competencies for healthcare and research professionals.

Syllabus

Developing Skills in Scientific Writing
Day #1

08:45 Welcome and handing over of course material

09:00 - 09:15 Introduction

09:15 - 10:40 Guiding principles: Defining the characteristics of good writing

10:40 - 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 - 12:15
- Saying what you really mean: Word choice, grammar, and punctuation [Group 1: John Giba]
- Typical mistakes due to the influence of Spanish [Group 2: Anna Alguersuari]
12:15 - 13:30
- Saying what you really mean: Word choice, grammar, and punctuation [Group 2: John Giba]
- Typical mistakes due to the influence of Spanish [Group 1: Anna Alguersuari]
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch break

14:30 - 15:45
- Common pitfalls: Easily confused words, Latin plurals, UK vs. US, using numbers [Group 1: John Giba]
- The big picture: Titles, abstracts, and summary statements [Group 2: Anna Alguersuari]
15:45 - 17:00
- Common pitfalls: Easily confused words, Latin plurals, UK vs. US, using numbers [Group 2: John Giba]
- The big picture: Titles, abstracts, and summary statements [Group 1: Anna Alguersuari]
Day #2

09:00 - 09:10 Warm-up

09:10 - 10:40
- Keeping it short and simple (KISS): Word choice, abstract nouns vs. concrete verbs, passive vs. active voice, making every word count [Group 1: Anna Alguersuari]
- Keeping the thread: eliminating discontinuity: Parallel structure, abbreviations, consistent terminology, transitions [Group 2: John Giba]
10:40 - 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 - 12:30
- Keeping it short and simple (KISS): Word choice, abstract nouns vs. concrete verbs, passive vs. active voice, making every word count [Group 2: Anna Alguersuari]
- Keeping the thread: eliminating discontinuity: Parallel structure, abbreviations, consistent terminology, transitions [Group 1: John Giba]
12:30 - 13:30 Getting published: Submissions, resubmissions, responding to reviews

13:30 - 14:30 Lunch break

14:30 - 15:30 The writing process: Tips to get your paper written

15:30 - 16:30 Checking what you've learned: Exercises to review major points

16:30 - 16:45 Course evaluation and handing over of certificates

Qualification

Specialization Course in Developing Skills in Scientific Writing by the University of Girona*

*It does not include the rate of issue of the title.

Management

John Giba

Born and educated (BSc, University of Pittsburgh, 1984) in the U.S.A., John has taught English in Spain since 1985. He helps scientists and healthcare practitioners prepare papers for international journals and oral presentations for congresses. He has given presentations and workshops in several courses in biomedical English. He designed and taught a module in scientific English for various Master’s degree programmes offered through the medical schools of the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He has co-authored three books about scientific communication: Surgical English (2010), Inglés Médico y Sanitario (2010), and Preparing and Delivering Scientific Presentations (2011). His book Developing Skills in Scientific Writing is available free of charge from the Esteve Foundation.

Coordination

Fèlix Bosch Llonch

Medical Doctor and PhD in Pharmacology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). He also holds a post-graduate degree in Pharmaceutical Medicine from the UAB, and in Pharmacology from the University of Barcelona (UB). He has 17 years of teaching experience as an associate lecturer in the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, UPF). He is currently a director at the Dr Antoni Esteve Foundation.

Teaching staff

Anna Alguersuari

After graduating from high school in the U.S.A. (Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 1996), Anna earned an MD from the University of Barcelona (H. Clínic, 1998 2004) and completed her residency in radiology at the UDIAT Diagnostic Center at the Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí in Sabadell. She went on to do a fellowship in interventional radiology in Belgium (Ziekelhuis Oost-Limburg, 2009) and returned to accept a position in the Vascular and Interventional Radiology Unit at the Parc Taulí. As a member of the Board of the Radiology Trainees Forum, under the umbrella of the European Society of Radiology, she coordinated the translation of radiological cases in Spanish into English. She recently served on the faculty of an international hands-on workshop in embolization held in Zaragoza in 2010-2011. She currently works for the Quirón group at the Hospital General de Catalunya.
John Giba

Born and educated (BSc, University of Pittsburgh, 1984) in the U.S.A., John has taught English in Spain since 1985. He helps scientists and healthcare practitioners prepare papers for international journals and oral presentations for congresses. He has given presentations and workshops in several courses in biomedical English. He designed and taught a module in scientific English for various Master’s degree programmes offered through the medical schools of the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He has co-authored three books about scientific communication: Surgical English (2010), Inglés Médico y Sanitario (2010), and Preparing and Delivering Scientific Presentations (2011). His book Developing Skills in Scientific Writing is available free of charge from the Esteve Foundation.

*The management team reserves all rights to make changes if any teacher can’t teach a subject, always ensuring the same quality and professional category levels.

Financing

Fundación Estatal para la Formación en el Empleo – FUNDAE (formerly Fundación Tripartita)

Workers whose enrolment is being paid by a private company, can apply for a subsidy through the Fundación Estatal para la Formación en el Empleo – FUNDAE (formerly Fundación Tripartita)

To apply for this subsidy, the worker must contact their company’s Human Resources department.

For more information, click here.

For further information, please send an email to: economia.fundacioif@udg.edu

Specialization course

Developing Skills in Scientific Writing

Reasons for doing the course

Who the course is for

Presentation

Aims

Professional outings

Syllabus

Day #1

Day #2

Qualification

Management

John Giba

Coordination

Fèlix Bosch Llonch

Teaching staff

Anna Alguersuari

John Giba

Teaching and Assessment

Evaluation system

Financing

Fundación Estatal para la Formación en el Empleo – FUNDAE (formerly Fundación Tripartita)

Promoting entities

Price:

Calendar