This is the third workshop on science writing hosted by IISER Thiruvananthapuam.

Each time, it has been a different experience for us. Each time, it has become better than earlier. By the third day, the participants were hooked.

Laughter and joy alternating with extreme seriousness. Frivolity and productivity hand in hand.

In this workshop also, we did not give the schedule to the participants. This gave a lot of flexibility in terms of sequencing the content. We could respond to the needs of the participants rather than be constrained by the schedule.

Planning and scheduling are important. But sticking to the plan the schedule is equivalent to being inconsiderate to the participants’ needs. So we discussed issues related to designing posters, writing scientific reviews and grant applications…

While fulfilling the needs of the participants, the mandate of generating the manpower to report science done in India was also fulfilled. In 12 days, we generated more than twenty reasonably good science news reports and a science feature. Thus Vigyan Prasar too, gains from this investment in the future science communicators.

The host, IISER TVM also gains. There are five PhD scholars who are now more confident in writing scientific papers. In fact, we are sure that horizontal communication between PhD scholars there would help diffuse the attitudes, knowledge and skills to more people.

Interestingly, one of the participants from IISER TVM had participated in a five-and-half day workshop organised by Current Science earlier, paying a registration fee of Rs 10000. She invested another 12 days for this workshop. Time and money spent was worth it for her.