Free course on how to write and publish scientific papers

 I've been writing this blog for about 8 years now and over time the target audience I've written for has changed.  This spring I was teaching classes for summer students, post-docs, and new scientists on how to conduct literature searches using the databases and citation management software available at the research centre where I worked.  I'm not sure if anyone from my classes still looks at these posts.  However, maybe some do and maybe some of my other readers are interested in this topic because they may either do their own research or help others to do scientific literature searching and writing papers.

So, about a week ago I tried out a new free course on Coursera called How to write and publish a scientific paper.  The instructors describe the course as being one that is created by PhD students for PhD students.  However, the language, pace of instruction, and hands-on exercises make the course suitable for any students and librarians who might be interested in learning about this process or refining their skill level.

The course was created by students at Ecole Polytechnique in France.  The link that I provide below is for the English version of the course but there is also a French version.  While most of the students have a fairly thick French accent and the accent is different than the French accent we are accustomed to hearing in Canada, all of the videos also have an easy to access transcript making it easy to understand the lectures until a person becomes accustomed to the accent of the presenters.

I am currently several modules into the course.  There is one suggestion that I have for anyone who is interested in taking the course.  The presenters suggest using Google Scholar for literature searches.  While it is possible to retrieve good quality scientific literature using the method they suggest, I personally recommend that anyone who took my classes on how to use Scopus and the Ovid databases, that they continue to use that approach to finding scientific literature.  However, if you are out of school and don't yet work for an employer who gives you access to better scientific literature databases such as Scopus or Web of Science, you might need to use Google Scholar.  That being said, Saskatchewan residents have access to EBSCOs Academic Search Complete through their public or regional library.  This is also a good source of scientific literature.

Here is the URL for the class:

ttps://www.coursera.org/learn/how-to-write-a-scientific-paper/home/welcome


Note that while this course is free, Coursera offers a premium version of the course for a cost.  Typically the premium version allows you to submit graded assignments and get an official certificate of completion at the end of the class.  It's not necessary to pay for the premium version to learn the content taught in the class.

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