Workshops, Courses and Events

The Medical and Natural Science Libraries offer diverse courses on scientific writing, literature searching, evidence synthesis, and academic work.

Scientific Writing

Scientific Writing Team

FALL 2026 - SCIENTIFIC WRITING COURSES

The courses will start on September 15 and run until mid-October. They will be taught online via Zoom on Tuesday afternoons.

Click to see program (PDF)

Organize Your Scientific Paper: Note-taking and Outlining for Success

15 September 2026, 13:00–16:00 

Tutor: Jonathan Sarfin, PhD 

This course introduces the scientific writing course series and covers the organizational skills you need to write as you do science: knowledge management, developing a workflow, finding and tracking literature, and taking and organizing notes. The course also covers outlining, an essential skill for writing while you do science and one that writers trained in formal English writing use as the basis for constructing their papers. You will come out of this course with a clear organizational plan and the skills to execute it. 

 

Improve Your Scientific Writing in English & Critical AI Skills – I: Focus on Plain Language

22 September 2026, 13:00–16:30

Tutor: Sampoorna Rappaz, PhD 

In this course you will learn how to write easy-to-understand, concise, and clear scientific papers and summaries for non-specialist readers by applying the principles of plain-language writing. You will learn how to use simple words and craft effective sentences to convey the context and significance of your research. You will learn how to and how not to use AI tools to improve your writing. The tips, tools, and guidelines shared in the course will help you communicate your research effectively to a broader audience. 

 

Improve Your Scientific Writing in English & Critical AI Skills – II: Focus on the Paragraph

29 September 2026, 13:00–16:00 

Tutor: Sampoorna Rappaz, PhD 

This course focuses on writing proper paragraphs, which are the building blocks of English argumentation. It also describes how and when to use (and why not to use) AI as a writing tool. Many other languages, like German, can express complex ideas and multiple relationships within a single sentence, but good English writing requires thinking and writing in shorter sentences within a disciplined paragraph structure. This is not a simple grammar course—you will earn advanced techniques for writing and organizing excellent paragraphs into a strong and persuasive argument. 

 

Writing the Methods and Results Sections of a Scientific Paper 

6 October 2026, 13:00–16:00

Tutor: Sampoorna Rappaz, PhD 

This course offers a set of evidence-based rules for writing clear and consistent Methods and Results sections, creating structure and relieving anxiety about the scientific writing process. You will learn skills and become acquainted with tools that enable you to start writing your Methods section early in your research process, and to incrementally build Results sections that match your methods. You will benefit most from this course if you are a researcher or clinician who must write articles, reports, or grant applications, whether you are working on or planning a research project. 

 

Writing the Narrative Sections of a Scientific Paper: The Introduction and Discussion

13 October 2026, 13:00–16:30 

Tutor: Sampoorna Rappaz, PhD 

This course guides you through the process of writing the narrative sections—the Introduction and the Discussion—of a scientific paper, paragraph by paragraph. You’ll learn what goes into an Introduction and a Discussion and what does not, when to start writing these sections, and how to trim them to meet your word count. You’ll learn what literature to cite in these sections and why, and how to craft an engaging and compelling narrative arc. You’ll also learn how to write ethically and how to use AI responsibly for scientific writing.

Click on picture to see flyer

2.1 Organizing and Writing Your Master’s Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the process

6 November 2026, 8:30 - 12:00

Tutor: Dr. Jonathan Sarfin

Modul 2.1: Organizing and Writing Your Master’s Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the process (KSL Nr. 456772)
This course will guide you through the process of writing your Master’s thesis, whether it is a stand-alone thesis or a scientific article for a scholarly journal. The course is example based, so you do not need to have started your thesis or paper.

  • Collecting, organizing, and preparing research data for publication
  • Note-taking- Using reporting guidelines form the EQUATOR Network
  • Proper paragraphing for scientific writing in English- Outlining the thesis
  • Functions of each section of a scientific paper (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
  • What is the message of a paper - Tailoring your paper to your message
  • Formatting your paper for different purposes (thesis, target journal, presentation)
  • Abstracts
  • Citations
  • Using AI tools responsibly

Language: english
Target audience: Students 3rd to 6th year
Registration: https://ksl.unibe.ch - KSL number 456772
Flyer with more information

 

2.1 Organizing and Writing Your Master’s Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the process

13 November 2026, 8:30 - 12:00

Tutor: Dr. Jonathan Sarfin

Modul 2.1: Organizing and Writing Your Master’s Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the process (KSL Nr. 456772)
This course will guide you through the process of writing your Master’s thesis, whether it is a stand-alone thesis or a scientific article for a scholarly journal. The course is example based, so you do not need to have started your thesis or paper.

  • Collecting, organizing, and preparing research data for publication
  • Note-taking- Using reporting guidelines form the EQUATOR Network
  • Proper paragraphing for scientific writing in English- Outlining the thesis
  • Functions of each section of a scientific paper (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
  • What is the message of a paper - Tailoring your paper to your message
  • Formatting your paper for different purposes (thesis, target journal, presentation)
  • Abstracts
  • Citations
  • Using AI tools responsibly

Language: english
Target audience: Students 3rd to 6th year
Registration: https://ksl.unibe.ch - KSL number 456772
Flyer with more information

 

2.2 Master’s / Doctor‘s Thesis Writing Workshop

16 November 2026, 13:00 - 16:30

Tutor: Dr. Sampoorna Rappaz

Modul 2.2: Master’s / Doctor‘s Thesis Writing Workshop (KSL Nr. 475330 )
As a follow-up to Module 2.1, this course is for students who are already working on their Master‘s thesis or Doctor‘s dissertation and who, ideally, have partial manuscript drafts. Drafts must be submitted to the tutor two weeks prior to the course date. The tutor will work with students individually and in small groups to improve the manuscript and plan its completion. Students who complete the course will leave with a more complete manuscript and clear strategy for finishing the work that remains.

Preparation: 2 weeks before the workshop starts participants have to send part of manuscript of the Master's thesis, dissertation or publication to sampoorna.rappaz@unibe.ch

Language: english
Target audience: PhD students, Master's students 3rd to 6th year
Registration: https://ksl.unibe.ch - KSL number 475330
Flyer with more information

Literature Searching

Overview
Date Course
9 November 2026, 13:00 - 16:30 Basics in Scientific Literature Search
20 November 2026, 08:30 - 12:00 Advanced Scientific Literature Search

Introduction

Basics in Scientific Literature Search

9 November 2026, 13:00 - 16:30

1.1 Scientific literature search - Introduction (KSL Nr. 456770)
This module consists of: Scientific Literature Search and Advanced Searching. Scientific Literature Search introduces essential principles of searching for your thesis/dissertation.
Topics include:

  • AI tools and responsible use- Preparing a search plan
  • How to format your research question for a database search
  • Designing a structured search for your thesis/dissertation
  • With a focus on how to use PubMed.

Language: English
Target audience: Students 3rd to 6th year
Registration: https://ksl.unibe.ch - KSL number 456770
Flyer with more information

 

Continuation

Advanced Scientific Literature Search

20 November 2026, 08:30 - 12:00

1.2 Advanced search (KSL Nr. 456830)
Advanced Searching covers advanced literature search techniques for research questions.
Topics include:

  • Creating complex search strategies
  • Translating controlled vocabulary terms
  • Applying supplemental search methods
  • Documenting and reporting your search methods
  • With a focus on searching Embase (Elsevier)

Please bring along a well defined research question and 2 highly relevant articles.

Language: English
Target audience: Students 3rd to 6th year
Registration: https://ksl.unibe.ch - KSL number 456770
Flyer with more information

Team Literature Searching

Scientific Working

Overview
Date Course
11 November 2026, 08:30 - 12:30 Reading Between the Lines: Telling Quality Papers from Fakes in the Age of AI and Paper Mills
12 & 26 November 2026, 09:00 - 12:00 The Paper Trail: Detecting Fraud and AI in Scientific Publications
23 November 2026, 13:00 - 16:30 Writing Your Theses with Open Science. Where to Find, How to Trust and How to Access High-Quality Research Data and Research Articles
8 December 2026, 13:00 - 17:00 Using AI responsibly for searching, reading, and writing: Critical thinking and sustainable best practices

Detect High Quality Papers

Reading Between the Lines: Telling Quality Papers from Fakes in the Age of AI and Paper Mills, Fall 2026

November 11, 2026, 08:30 - 12:30 - online

Tutor: Tanya Karrer

How reliable are scientific publications? Scientific publications enjoy a high level of trust. Yet increasingly, fake research, hallucinated references, paper mills, and manipulated peer reviews are making headlines. Fraudulent research undermines the entire system and can have far-reaching consequences for science, policy, and society at large. In this workshop, we define what constitutes fraudulent research, analyze the factors that drive it, and examine the real-world impact of fake science. Together, we develop a set of criteria for identifying trustworthy publications and evaluate tools that can help us distinguish quality research from questionable output. Goal: You will gain confidence in your own scientific practice and contribute to research that meets the highest standards of integrity. The course is designed as an online workshop. A variety of learning formats alternate throughout the session, including group and individual work, reflection exercises, plenary discussions, short input by the instructor, and playful interludes.

Language: English
Target audience: PhD students (also ENLIGHT)
Registration: Form
Flyer

 

Applied Scientific Integrity

The Paper Trail: Detecting Fraud and AI in Scientific Publications

November 12 & 26, 2026, 09:00 - 12:00

Tutor: Tanya Karrer

Not every published paper deserves your trust. Paper mills produce research on demand, peer review can be manipulated, images can be fabricated, and AI tools may generate references that do not exist. At the same time, the tools available to find and assess scientific literature are changing rapidly - and not always for the better. This workshop takes a hands-on approach to these challenges.
The course combines two in-person sessions with structured self-directed learning. Formats include group work, benchmarking exercises, individual portfolio work, peer pitches, and reflective writing.
Goal: You leave the workshop with a concrete, tested process for assessing the quality of scientific publications in your field — and with greater confidence in your own scientific practice.

Language: English
Target audience: PhD students
Registration and more information: https://ksl.unibe.ch - No 526275

Accessible Research

Writing Your Theses with Open Science. Where to Find, How to Trust and How to Access High-Quality Research Data and Research Articles

23 November 2026, 13:00 - 16:30

Tutors: PD Dr Olga Churakova and Dr. Andrea Hacker

In this module, students will learn where to start when it comes to searching, selecting and (re-)using high-quality research data and scholarly publications. The course offers an overview of Open Science standards and best practices which participants can directly apply to their own work. Students will know how to work with open or restricted data access in their daily work and how to choose trustworthy journal literature, research databases and repositories. They will also be able to deal with legal and ethical issues such as Intellectual Property Rights, Ownership questions, and Copyright, particularly when working on and with GenAI.

Language: English
Target audience: People (PhD and Master's students) who are working on a specific project

Registration: https://ksl.unibe.ch - KSL number 491083.
Flyer with more information

Approaching AI Critically

Using AI responsibly for searching, reading, and writing: Critical thinking and sustainable best practices

December 8, 2026, 13:00 - 17:00 - on site

Tutor: Tania Rivero, Dr. Sampoorna Rappaz

Using AI responsibly for searching, reading, and writing: Critical thinking and sustainable best practices Literature searching, reading, and writing are time-intensive and cognitively demanding tasks, which is why researchers are eager to embrace new AI tools based on large language models (LLMs) that they hope will simplify research and make it more efficient and easier. AI tools show promise, but there is evidence they can stunt researchers’ personal and professional growth. To ensure research practice remains sustainable, researchers must approach AI critically. They must be trained in critical thinking so they can discern the truth about AI capabilities and determine how and when they should integrate AI into their workflow. Participants will learn and apply critical thinking frameworks and explore how they can ethically and efficiently integrate AI technologies into their research workflow for literature searching, critical reading, and scientific writing. They will engage in guided reflections on the broader implications AI use may have on their research communities, scientific knowledge production, and Sustainable Development Goals. Participants will engage in pre-course activities to prepare them for the 4-hour, in-person workshop. The workshop will comprise short lectures and interactive exercises.

Language: English
Target audience: PhD students
Registration: Form
Flyer

Tutors AI Literacy

Tutors Open Science

Events and Coffee Lectures

Coffee Lectures on Demand

Select your topic of interest and we organize your Coffee Lecture

Perfect for your next group meeting or seminar: We provide your Coffee Lecture of interest at your institute.

What to choose from and how to order? Check our menu card.