Writing for the Biological Sciences

Throughout their careers, scientists are expected to communicate their ideas and report their results in writing to the scientific community. Researchers who can make themselves understood tend to get funded, get published, and have more successful careers. PhD graduates who decide to go into STEM fields outside academic research often find scientific communication skills among the most sought after in industry, foundation work, and other areas. In this course, we will explore the choices a writer can make to achieve clarity of thought and clear prose style while communicating complex scientific ideas to other scientists. To that end, we will read examples of scientific writing from the recent literature, consider the strategies used by successful writers, and workshop student writing. All the writing you do in this course will be geared toward producing your written Qualifying Exam in Biological Sciences. By the end of the semester, you will have a complete, revised draft of your written Qualifying Exam.