IISER Thiruvananthapuram, 7 to 19 January 2019
This workshop is open to PhD scholars and Post Docs in any branch of science, aspiring to contribute scientific content in English and other languages of India.
The workshop, catalysed by Vigyan Prasar, will be organised in the research-rich environment of the IISER at Thiruvananthapuram,
The objective of the workshop is to improve the quality and quantity of reports and features with scientific content in print and online media, by strategically empowering those who are interested.
The workshop will have lectures, presentations, discussions, role-play,demonstrations, hands-on practice, feedback, mentoring and highly interactive sessions. The focus will be on work done as individuals and in teams. The number of participants in the workshops will be limited to enhance interpersonal and inter-group interactions.
During the 12 days, participants will learn to plan, schedule, do research, write, edit, rewrite and lay out reports, feature articles, and columns with visual materials designed to attract the eye, mind and heart of different target groups. In the process of doing, participants will learn the tools, tricks and tips needed to engage the public with written text, photographs and pictures. By the end of the workshop, a dummy science magazine will be produced by the participants.
Minimum requirements for participation: ability to understand and speak English, the language of the workshop; ability to write using word processors; prior experience with internet browsers and search engines; demonstrable ability to write will be an advantage.
Application form available at https://goo.gl/forms/riRsyhj1wbbucBuy1
Last date for receipt of application: 15th December 2018.
Announcement of the selected candidates: 16th December 2018.
No registration fee.
Free boarding and lodging for selected candidates.
Reimbursement of the cost of travel by 2nd AC train fare for deserving candidates.
8th Workshop for Current Science
The 7th workshop on Science Writing held from 24th to 29th was a turning point. My feeling that it should be a little longer was confirmed by the feedback from the participants. The two-week workshops that we conduct for Vigyan Prasar consistently gave better results, though the participants for those workshops were primarily PhD scholars and Post Docs, not scientists and science faculty as in the workshops for Current Science.
So this time, the workshop will be of eight days. Perhaps just adequate to drill home the basic precepts of writing and of science.
Though I was keen on the increase in the number of days, I was anxious about any increase in registration fee. Was I glad when I heard that there will be no change!
The second major shift in the workshop is the recognition of the work done by Gita, from behind the scenes. So Gita will also be a resource person in the 8th workshop.
And the third – the workshop will be held in IISc. The research ecosystem around the venue will invigorate the participants. The inputs that one can muster up in the evenings and perhaps for dinner will be a great addition.
So, besides S K Satheesh, Shobhana Narasimhan, Sanjay Pai, Karthik Ramaswamy and others, there will be new inputs next time. Yateendra Joshi, for example, has already agreed to come.
And the most important part of all – I have a little more time for the pre-workshop online interactions.
science and media workshops 