debosiks-blog

[debosiks-blog]

`S C I E N T I F I C W R I T I N G´

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Potential PhD student at lunch meeting: What is the one thing you were not prepared for about being a Scientist?

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Me: Writing! I did not expect to write (isn't "type" more apt?) as much as I am.

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Seminar speaker & veteran scientist: (Right). Writing is a key part of being a scientist. You can work super hard in the lab, come up with the most astounding scientific idea but if you cannot clearly write your ideas down, you haven't done anything & your ideas don't mean Jack. You have to be able to write your ideas in a grant & your research in a manuscript accurately and clearly so that the reviewers of your grant and/or manuscript can understand the message you're trying to convey. I am not talking about your writing fiction novels but about clear and concise scientific writing.

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He proceeded to recommend

E.B. White's Element of Style.

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Bottomline, to be a successful scientist, you need to be a great scientific writer. It's an invaluable skill.