University Library of Bern UB

Research Support Services

Workshops, Courses and Events

ACADEMIC WRITING

Tutors: Dr. Kali Tal (kali.tal@unibe.ch) and Dr. Sampoorna Rappaz (sampoorna.rappaz@unibe.ch)
Registration for UniBE affiliates: via ILIAS link in course description
Registration for external applicants in Switzerland: registration form
Registration for students from LMIC: https://bit.ly/3HC2ZtA

Policy Academic Writing Service (PDF) | Fees (PDF)

 

SYSTEMATIC SEARCHING

Tutor: Tania Rivero (tania.rivero@unibe.ch)
Registration for UniBE affiliates via link, externals please contact the tutor.

Policy Systematic Literature Searching | Fees (PDF)

Click for brochure

6 February 2024, 13:00-16:00: Organizing Your Scientific Paper: Note-taking and Outlining for Success  (Tutor: Kali Tal, PhD)

This workshop covers the organizational skills you need to write as you do science, beginning with recommendations, tracking literature, taking and organizing notes, and sorting your notes thematically into the appropriate sections of your paper. The course also covers outlining—an esssential skill for writing while you do science and one that English native speakers use as the basis for constructing all their papers. You will come out of this course with a clear organizational plan and the skills to execute it. (3-hours, highly interactive)

 

13 February 2024: 13:00-15:00: Strategic Collaborative Writing for First and Corresponding Authors (Tutor: Kali Tal, PhD)

The average journal article in medicine has over a dozen co-authors. Coordinating work and schedules is an art, and soliciting constructive criticism is a skill. If you are a first and corresponding author who need to successfully manage the collaboration process and meet scheduled deadlines, this workshop is for you.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1372722.html
ILIAS registration: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1372722_rcodeHQ8BdZCrCK&client_id=ilias3_unibe

 

20 February 2024, 13:00-16:00: Writing the Methods and Results Sections of a Scientific Paper  (Tutor: Kali Tal, 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 a medical researcher or clinician who must write articles, reports, or grant applications, whether your are currently working on or planning a research project.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_sess_2631666.html
ILIAS registration: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314731_rcodeqSNbzKbftW&client_id=ilias3_unibe

 

27 February 2024, 13:00-16:00: Qualitative Data Reporting for Beginners (Tutor: Dr. Kali Tal)

This course covers guidelines and best practices for reporting qualitative research in scientific papers, with a focus on medicine and health science research. Whether you are writing qualitative papers or papers that report on both qualitative and quantitative findings, this course will help you organize the process of reporting methods and results and interpreting your findings.

 

5 March 2024, 13:00-16:00: Designing Effective Tables, Figures, and Posters: Basic Graphic Design for Scientists (Tutor: Sampoorna Rappaz, PhD)

Researchers present visual data to make concepts and information easier for their audiences to grasp, but few researchers are taught basic principles of graphic design. This course will quickly familiarize you with best practices in the aesthetics of data presentation, including the use of color, images, animations, and other tips and tricks for making sure that your images get your message across without distracting or confusing your reader. Participants will analyze images of tables, figures and slides, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and learn techniques to improve them. The course is designed for researchers or clinicians who want to more effectively use images and tables to support their text.

 

12 March 2024, 13:00-16:00: Communicate Your Research Effectively: Fundamentals of Writing in Plain English (Tutor: Sampoorna Rappaz, PhD)

Science is only useful when it is understood. When you write in plain language, you will make your research easy to understand; your readers will be able to find the information they need, use what they find, and overall, appreciate the significance of your research. Your readers include not only your peers, but also researchers from other specializations, patients, grant reviewers, ethics committee members, journalists, and the general public.

In this workshop, you’ll learn

  • the principles of plain-language writing,
  • tools and guidelines that can help you write a scientific paper in plain English, and
  • the process of writing public-facing summaries of your research, such as plain-language summaries of scientific papers, lay summaries of clinical trial results, and project summaries of grants.

Even as your readers benefit when you write plainly, it’s you – the scientific communicator – who’ll gain the most. Register for the course and find out why!

 

19 March 2024, 13:00-16:00: Improve Your Scientific Writing in English: Focus on the Paragraph (Tutor: Kali Tal, PhD)

Designed for researchers or clinicians who want to improve their English-language writing skills. This course focuses on writing proper paragraphs, which are the building blocks of English argumentation. 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.

 

26 March 2024, 13:00-16:00: Introductions and Discussions: Writing the Narrative Sections of a Scientific Paper (Tutor: Kali Tal, PhD)

Many researchers and clinicians find writing the Discussion the most complicated and challenging part of writing a scientific paper. This course offers you clear, evidence-based rules for writing your Discussion, so you are always sure what belongs in this section… and what does not. You will learn the function of each paragraph in a Discussion section. The course is designed for medical researchers or clinicians who must write articles, reports, or who wish to submit grant applications. (Students who have already completed their data analysis will get the most out of this course, but those at an earlier stage may appreciate the information.) This course also guides you through the process of writing an Introduction for a scientific paper, paragraph by paragraph. You’ll learn what goes into an Introduction and what does not, when to start writing it, and how to trim it to meet your word count. You’ll also learn what literature to cite in your Introduction and why, and how to craft a proper narrative arc.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1314675.html

ILIAS registration: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314675_rcodebwqBsay4R4&client_id=ilias3_unibe

 

9 April 2024, 08:30 - 12:00: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten - Organizing and Writing Your Master's Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the Process (2.1)


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
  • options for lab notebooks (from Excel to Evernote)
  • using checklists (equator.org)
  • proper paragraphing for scientific writing in English
  • outlining the scientific paper
  • crafting topic sentences
  • English argumentation
  • 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

Ort: Universität Mittelstrasse (bei Covid-19 online)
Sprache: Englisch
Zielgruppe: Studierende des 3. - 6. Studienjahrs
Tutor: Dr. Kali Tal

Registration via KSL 456772

More information on PDF

 

10 April 2024, 08:30 - 12:00: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten - Scientific Literature Search BASIC (1.1)


This module consists of: Scientific Literature Search and Advanced Searching. Scientific Literature Search introduces essential principles of searching for your thesis/dissertation. Topics include:

  • 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

Ort: Universität Mittelstrasse (bei Covid-19 online)
Sprache: Englisch
Zielgruppe: Studierende des 3. - 6. Studienjahrs
Tutor: Tania Rivero

Registration via KSL 456770

More information on PDF

 

15 April 2024, 08:30 - 12:00: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten - Organizing and Writing Your Master's Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the Process (2.1, Wiederholung)


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
  • options for lab notebooks (from Excel to Evernote)
  • using checklists (equator.org)
  • proper paragraphing for scientific writing in English
  • outlining the scientific paper
  • crafting topic sentences
  • English argumentation
  • 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

Ort: Universität Mittelstrasse (bei Covid-19 online)
Sprache: Englisch
Zielgruppe: Studierende des 3. - 6. Studienjahrs
Tutor: Dr. Kali Tal

Registration via KSL 456772

More information on PDF

 

16 April 2024, 08:30 - 12:00: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten - Scientific Literature Search ADVANCED (1.2)

Advanced Searching covers advanced literature search techniques for research questions. Topics include:

  • Translating controlled vocabulary terms
  • Creating complex search strategies
  • Documenting search strategies
  • With a focus on searching Ovid Embase

Ort: Universität Mittelstrasse (bei Covid-19 online)
Sprache: Englisch
Zielgruppe: Studierende des 3. - 6. Studienjahrs
Tutor: Tania Rivero

Registration via KSL 456830

More information on PDF

 

16 April 2024, 13:00-15:00: Responding to Reviewers: Strategies for (Almost) Painless Revision and Resubmission (Tutor: Kali Tal, PhD)

Preparing your scientific article for submission and responding effectively to reviewer comments are key to getting your article accepted for publication. The course covers the process of minor and major revisions, resolving conflicting recommendations, and how to politely say no to reviewer suggestions. The course will also help you organize the reformatting process for submission to an alternative journal.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1312063.html
ILIAS registration: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1312063_rcodeQZRFpVYUWe&client_id=ilias3_unibe

 

April 22, 08:30 - 12:00: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten - Master's/Doctor's Thesis Writing Workshop (2.2)

This course is open to students who are already working on their Master’s thesis or dissertation and who 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.

Ort: Universität Mittelstrasse (bei Covid-19 online)
Sprache: Englisch
Zielgruppe: Studierende des 3. - 6. Studienjahrs
Tutor: Dr. Kali Tal

Registration via KSL 475330

More information on PDF

 

23 April 2024, 13:00-16:00: Introduction to Grant Writing (Tutor: Kali Tal, PhD)

What do funders want to see in your grant application? This course will help you figure that out and tell your scientific story so that the importance and urgency of your project is vividly clear to funders. It will introduce all aspects of grant writing, from choosing the right grant, writing short and long proposals, and presenting your work to a review board. This is essential information for any medical researcher or clinician who will need to write a grant application and applies to most grants and funding proposals. This is a good introductory workshop for researchers who will also take more advanced workshops targeted to specific grants.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1314809.html
ILIAS registration: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314809_rcode55HcSc2LEv&client_id=ilias3_unibe

 

30 April 2024, 13:00-16:00: Supervising Master's theses and doctoral dissertations: a proven method for ensuring your students’ success

As a faculty member, you may have received little or no training in how to supervise the writing of a Master's thesis or doctoral dissertation, and so you probably learned by trial-and-error. But there is a systematic way to approach supervision. This course will introduce you to tried and tested methods of organizing the writing process so that you can guide your students to produce high-quality manuscripts at a swift pace while working together harmoniously.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1314775.html
ILIAS registration: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314775_rcode3gpmRQxfCM&client_id=ilias3_unibe

Overview of the Academic Writing Courses and the Systematic Searching Courses at the Medical Library of the University of Bern in autumn 2023
Click for PDF