99573 - SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL WRITING

Learning outcomes

This course will teach a number of soft skills required to be ready for the prepration of the Thesis and to communicate scientific content to a broad audience. In this course it will be though how to write a technical document, a scientific article and project proposals.

Course contents

Scientific project writing and communication is nowadays an almost daily activity, which is required at every level and grade of one's scientific career. Project writing has become part of the scientific daily working routine, while the effective and concise conveyance of scientific results, both in written and oral form, is essential to convey the results of one's work in a way that makes an impact in an environment of information overload. All this must be declined from a teamwork perspective: today's problems are complex; hence, solutions need to be achieved by combining knowledge and skills from different people.

 

Aim and structure

This course aims to develop scientific and technical writing skills, as well as public speaking ability, through an interactive and team-based approach. The above-mentioned topics are tackled into three different hands-on modules from which each student must choose at least two:

- Module 1, Technical Writing (mandatory): this module is devoted to developing writing skills specifically targeted for technical documents, scientific reports and project proposals. Strategies to structure the contents and organise the writing in a collaborative manner will be discussed and applied to the writing of a real project proposal, responding to a real call of the EU programme.

Responsible: Dr Carlo Cintolesi - Researcher. Organisation: 6 meetings for 18 hours of lessons.

- Module 2, Science Communications (optional): in this module, a professional journalist specialised in science dissemination offers interactive meetings with practical activities on the following topics: historical and theoretical overview; communication models; scientific journalism; and how to present science in public.

Responsible: Dr Marco Boscolo - Science Journalist. Organisation: 4 meetings for 16 hours of lessons.

- Module 3, Storytelling in Science (optional): participating in this module, the student will learn how to structure, prepare and realise a presentation on a scientific topic for the general public, using the tools offered by the theatre to generate a sense of curiosity and wonder.

Responsible: Dr Andrea Brunello - Theater Artistic Director. Organisation: 4 meetings for 16 hours of lessons.

 

General Objectives

At the end of the course, the student will acquire soft professional skills working in disciplinary themes in physical sciences. Specifically, he/she will gain abilities in: (i) writing a scientific project; (ii) scientific communication and journalism; (iii) science outreach.

 

How to choose the module

Please send an email to prof. Tobias Cramer (tobias.cramer@unibo.it).

 

Timetable

The class timetable for module 1 will be agreed with the students according to their teaching commitments. Six meetings of 3 hours each are foreseen.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching material is provided during the course via a shared folder.

Teaching methods

Lectures and interactive classroom activities. Individual or group work at home to produce the outcomes required by the selected modules.

Assessment methods

Attendance is required (no less than 75%)

Module 1 - evaluation of a research project developed during the course.

Module 2 and 3 - each laboratory activity aims at producing a specific outcome, that must be submitted and validated by the responsible of the module.

Teaching tools

Presentations, research articles, working material (tutorials, group working sheets, research questionnaires).

Links to further information

https://www.unibo.it/it/studiare/dottorati-master-specializzazioni-e-altra-formazione/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2024/452421

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Cintolesi

See the website of Tobias Cramer

See the website of Marco Boscolo