Scientific Writing in the Natural and Engineering Sciences: Towards Organization and Motivation

Veranstaltungsort: AIB 1020/30 (Hochschulring 40)
Beginn: 09. Juli 2025, 09:00 Uhr
Ende: 10. Juli 2025, 17:00 Uhr

This workshop is part of the MAPEX Doctoral Qualification Programme. We aim to support and train doctoral candidates in acquiring transversal skills and developing useful competencies for future leading tasks inside and outside of academia.

Workshop Description

The workshop takes a comprehensive approach to the writing process by offering a broader perspective that goes beyond traditional technical writing skills. Participants will not only focus on technical skills like structuring a scientific article or constructing clear and concise sentences, but they will cover also issues of writing productivity, developing habits and mindset, using tools properly to assist them in writing, exploring self-management techniques for staying motivated throughout the writing process and discussing the role of procrastination and perfectionism in writing. By addressing all of these factors in the workshop, participants can gain a more wellrounded understanding of what it takes to be a successful writer.

Workshop Topics

- Common challenges and misunderstandings in scientific writing

- How to organize the flow of information

- The sections of a scientific article

- The stages of the writing process

- Different types of writers

- Different text types and characteristics

- Techniques and AI-based software/tools to increase writing productivity

- Clear scientific writing

- Teamwork with co-authors and supervisors

- Procrastination and perfectionism in writing

- Motivational tools to increase writing productivity

Workshop Learning Goals:

- Overcome common writer's blocks related to procrastination and perfectionism

- Familiarize yourself with the key structural components of a scientific article

- Identify principles of clarity in a text

- Write part of a journal article or thesis

- Implement specific strategies/tools to increase writing productivity

- Understand the broader perspective of the writing process

Teaching method

This workshop follows a balanced approach, combining input presentations from the trainer, individual learning phases and group exercises. Hand-outs and sample articles from the trainer's own experience will be provided. The trainer will also discuss the role of AI-based tools/software in assisting writers. Additionally, workshop participants can receive a free individual writing coaching session (up to 30 minutes) within 9 months of the workshop.

Target Group

The workshop is especially useful for Ph.D. candidates of Natural, Life, Social Sciences and Engineering faculties at any stage of their Ph.D. Early Postdocs can also take advantage of the workshop since they can improve their writing skills and productivity.

Practical Information

During the workshop, participants can draft part of their current writing project (e.g. a journal article or a thesis, 1-2 pages). Therefore, participants are asked to selectin advance which writing task they want to do during the workshop. Ideally, participants should have started their research project already and be at the stage of writing, in order to take the most advantage from the workshop.

Workshop Instructor

Andrea Sanchini is a trainer in scientific writing and publishing. In July 2017, he completed his own Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences. Since May 2018, he is a certified writing trainer and coach, having completed a training at the Technische Universität Darmstadt. He has more than fifteen years of experience as a researcher in the field of Life Sciences and as such, can fully understand the needs and problems facing scientists and especially Ph.D. candidates. As a scientist, he experienced the challenges of writing and publishing journal articles with limited time and limited funding. While enrolled in an international Ph.D. graduate school in Berlin, he had the chance to receive formal training in scientific writing and publishing. Andrea has worked in Public Health institutions and universities in Italy, France, Germany, and India. He is fluent in English and German and his native language is Italian.