Fundamentals of Modern Scientific Communication

Fundamentals of Modern Scientific Communication provides undergraduate and graduate students with a comprehensive overview of modern scientific communication and familiarizes them with the various types of presentations, publications and documents they will deal with routinely once they enter the professional world of science.

Major topics include:

• The Scientific Literature - surveys the various types of oral and written communications used by scientists to disseminate new knowledge to other scientists and the rest of the world. Descriptions of major online databases and search engines are provided along with explanations of how to use them for efficient literature searches are provided.
• Conducting Scientific Research - discusses the scientific method and explains how to design, conduct and interpret representative experiments and surveys. Simple examples of confidence intervals, t-tests, ANOVAs, correlation and regression analyses and representative nonparametric tests are provided.
• Reporting Scientific Research - explains how to develop effective oral presentations and written manuscripts or documents dealing with scientific data and topics. Specific guidelines for speaking and writing for scientific audiences are provided.
• Professional Documents - covers the preparation and submission of job application documents (cover letters, CVs and personal statements), grant applications, letters of reference and other unpublished documents that scientists must deal with routinely.

• The critical importance of scientific integrity explains why three types of academic misconduct data fabrication, data falsification and plagiarism can destroy scientific careers very quickly and can land violators in prison.
• Overcoming major obstacles to effective communications describes two of the greatest impediments to communicating effectively with others - fear of speaking in public (glossophobia) and writer's block. A simple technique that will allow you to project yourself however you wish is provided.
• The publication process for scientific literature covers the entire sequence of procedures that manuscripts are subjected to when submitted to editors of refereed journals subtopics include the role of anonymous peer reviews, how to properly respond to reviewer and editorial comments, preparing a revision and proofreading the galley proof prior to publication.
• When NOT to communicate at least temporarily covers certain types of information that could be illegal or extremely detrimental if published at the wrong time. Advice on how to deal with such information is provided.
• Once you have it don't lose it explains how to avoid some common pitfalls that can damage or destroy a scientist's reputation very quickly during the 'golden years' of his or her career in science.