Home » Current Science
Category Archives: Current Science
Online workshop on science writing
This is the fourth online workshop on science writing organised by Current Science for the benefit of science faculty, researchers and scientists working in India. A PhD or at least two papers published in peer reviewed papers is the minimum requirement for applying
It starts on June 25 and ends on September 25 2023. Google Meet sessions of about 60 to 90 minutes each on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and, on working days, e-mail discussions on issues related to science in India, individual exercises and activities…
Though the online workshop has been redesigned, you can get a rough idea of the workshop from a report written by a participant in the last workshop.
Here is the announcement of the workshop published on the 10 May issue of the journal.
Here is the link to the application form.
Last date for applying: 10th June 2023
Second Online Workshop, Current Science
Current Science has announced the second online workshop on science writing. It is meant for Indian citizens with a PhD in any branch of science or having published at least two papers in a peer-reviewed journal. Scientists, science faculty and researchers are invited to apply.
The workshop has two components: 1) 90 minute sessions at 2:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday using Google Meet platform and 2) online email interactions during week days using Google Group platform.
In the email group, we will discuss the social, economic, political, cultural and historical dimensions of doing science in India. The participants are expected to respond to provocative questions and discuss one issue per week. The discussions will be asynchronous. So allocation of a few minutes per day is at the convenience of the participants.
The Google Meet requires synchrony: 2:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. This is where the participants will be exposed to various issues related to writing science. There are various types of manuscripts that are accepted by journals. Besides manuscripts of research papers and reviews, news and perspectives, research accounts and historical notes which are to be published, researchers often have to write research grants, project proposals and project reports. Since the principles behind good writing remain the same, different aspects will be given stress in different sessions. In other words, the contents of the sessions are interlinked and missing a session makes it difficult for the participants later.
There will be demonstrations, exercises, games and role play during the workshop. And most importantly, there is work to be done during the workshop. After all, writing is a skill. And without practice, no skill is acquired. To improve writing skills, there will be feedback and mentoring.
The workshop starts on March 5 and ends on July 5, 2022.
The first 12 workshops organised by Current Science had a registration fee of 10,000 rupees. The online workshops have a reduced registration fee of 5,000 rupees. Plus you don’t have to take leave, travel and be away from home and workplace for the duration of the workshop.
While the pandemic is continuing to disrupt life and work, prepare yourself to be a good scientist.
And stay safe.
Here is the link to the application form: https://forms.gle/XSJofQmtkAjhsNAV7
Workshop on Science Writing in C V Raman’s birth place
Bharthidasan University, Thiruchirappalli, will be hosting a Current Science workshop on science writing from 10 to 17 February 2020.
Trishirapuram, Trishirappalli, Trichinopoly, Trichy, Thiruchirappalli, Thiruchi. The dominant classes adapted names to their tongue and the local people made necessary adjustments to the masters of the times. It is no more the town of three heads (trishira) of the 3rd century BC, but a buzzling tire II city in the centre of the state of Tamil Nadu.
People interested in science know of this town as the birth place of C V Raman, the place where Abdul Kalam studied.
Bharatidasan University, named after the famous Tamil poet of the 20th Century, was established in 1982, almost three decades after Kalam’s educational stint in St Joseph’s College. But grew quickly and now has more than a hundred affiliate colleges, including St Joseph’s.
Current Science, the multidisciplinary journal set up by C V Raman, Maghanath Saha, Birbal Sahni, S S Bhatnagar and others will be organising a workshop on science writing in the university.
The workshop is meant for improving the quality and quantity of scientific publications by Indian researchers, scientists and science faculty. Any Indian who has published at least two scientific papers can apply.
The workshop builds skills for writing scientific papers, reviews, grant applications and project reports as well as skills needed to write for non-specialists. Since hands-on work by participants is involved, only 14 candidates will be selected for the workshop.
Here is the link to the application form: https://forms.gle/viZMSuHLfHBrPJFB8
7th Workshop for Current Science
Participants engaged in activity that leads to clarification of message and identification of target groups
Current Science organised another successful workshop in Bangalore from 24th to 29th September 2019.
After the recent experiments in training MA Journalism students and MSc Physics students, I am more convinced than ever that training PhDs in science will have greater impact on science communication in the country. You will see the samples of writing by the newly trained people in the column, Science Last Fortnight, 25th October issue of Current Science.
Discussions spill over into coffee breaks
Excerpts from feedback:
“The workshop has thought me to write. I feel easier now as I know how I should write. I have clarity about target audience, structure of the article and presentation.”
“The workshop has taught me to look at my script from an editors’ and reviewers’ point of view. This made me to be a critical evaluator of my own writing.”
“Although I am an author of 60 research papers, this is the first time I have got a formal training on writing science. First, it gave me ideas on how to structure my article. Second, it helped me to write in simple sentences. Third, it helped me to organise my schedule and to give sufficient time in my schedule to write. Fourth, it helped me to give a primer on science writing to my students.”
The Next Workshop on Science Writing
The 7th workshop under the aegis of Current Science will be held from the 24th to the 29th of September 2018 in Bengaluru. The workshop is residential and intensive. Extensive online interactions before and after the workshop contribute to develop the science writing skills of participants.
A registration fee of Rs 10,000/- is charged to cover the costs of food and accommodation, besides the workshop expenses.
Current Science is open to the idea of organising such workshops in other cities. The second such workshop, for instance, was conducted in the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore. Research institutions in other parts of India may write to Current Science offering to host such workshops.
Details of the content, output and outcome of such workshops can be accessed from other pages of this site.
The application form for the 7th workshop can be accessed here.
science and media workshops 