When syllabi are already packed with traditional scientific training topics, how can you encourage your department’s faculty to prepare students for a variety of work environments?
By helping faculty take advantage of built-in opportunities.
Take, for example, the field of science writing and editing. There are a number of ways faculty can help students strengthen skills that are indispensable for science communication, other beyond-the-bench jobs, and academic jobs. Faculty can:
- Explain how elements of students’ work could be improved instead of rewriting pieces for them.
- Have students help review manuscripts (with the journal’s permission) and ask editors for feedback on the quality of those reviews.
- Attend and participate in departmental journal clubs.
- Teach students to criticize diplomatically and distinguish nuances between important and less important flaws.
- Motivate interested students to do extra writing: journal club articles for journals, review articles, highlights of departmental research for university publications, web copy, and more.
For more teaching resources, visit SfN's Educational Resources in Neuroscience (ERIN) database.
Adapted from a presentation by Teresa Esch, PhD.
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