These are papers we will be reading and reviewing.

Week 1, August 30

First Class - get to know you meeting. We will read and discuss this short essay on communication of science by a congresswoman (Click here to download) and a second essay by a congressman (Click here to download).

Week 2, September 6

Discussion of the peer-review process and "how to" for reviewing papers. Read and be prepared to discuss these letters about the peer review process and come to class ready to argue for or against anonymity as well as propose ideas on who to deal with gender inequity! 1. Read these comments on whether peer reviewing should be anonymous (download PDF) and 2. Read this comment on publishing peer reviews (download PDF) and 3. Read this piece from Nature about gender bias in peer reviewer selection. (download PDF)

Week 3, September 20

A. Read these two views of how what an abstract should contain and be ready to dicuss whether you agree or disagree with the authors.
The Abstract by Dr. Margaret Procter. download PDF
Down to Earth" Research Advice by Dr J. Mark Tippett. download PDF

B. Read the two abstracts below, one of which I prepared for the small meeting I am attendeding next week in Denmark and the other of which Lee Corbett (once a UVM MS student, back now with us now running the cosmogenic lab) prepared for the 2010 GSA meeting in Denver. Come to class with a series of notes ready to discuss how these two abstracts differ and what information they were designed to communicate.
Using in situ cosmogenic 10Be to understand deglaciation timing and glacial erosion efficiency near Jakobshavn Icefjord, Western Greenland by Corbett et al. download .doc
Cosmogenic isotopes and the interpretation of Greenland’s long-term weathering history by Bierman et al.. download PDF

C. Write an abstract (200 words or less!) about either the project you are working on now or a project you have done in the past. Bring 10 copies to class. We will read, compare and discuss these abstracts in class.

Week 4, September 27, Academic Job Applications, Drew

Reading sent to class by email.

Week 5, October 4, Tatiana, Paper review

A brief summary for everyone:
1) I am looking for help with the general thread of the paper and the flow of the story. We collected a lot of data from the surveys, but it is all over the place. I tried to select data that was most relevant to the field and the journal but might have ended up confusing the audience.
2) We conducted this study in response to the Model Forest Policy that Puerto Rico passed in 2014. However, the policy is on the verge of being dismantled by the current government. I eliminated all references to this policy in the paper and framed it within more general policy application, but the main motivation behind the study is now missing.
3) I know I need more work on how our study fits within current literature in the intro and discussion sections.
Here's the paper click to download .docx

Week 6, October 11 Paul and Mae Kate, GSA Today Paper about Cuba

1) About the journal GSA TODAY including instructions for authors click here to read
2) Here is a rough draft of the paper for you to read and edit. We need lots of help on: Pulling out what’s important, Flow and consistency, Improving graphics to better tell the story, Does all the data need to be here?
Here's the paper click to download .docx

Week 7, October 18 Hannah, Paper for Cryosphere on snow storage

Hannah is looking for help with:
1) What is the most relevant data to include? What data should I not include?
2) Does my introduction feel like it’s missing some key part of the explanation (aside from its references)?
3) Assistance with my results figures?
4) Help with crafting a discussion/choosing which pieces to focus on?
She is writing a Research Article. Research articles report substantial and original scientific results within the journal's scope. Generally, these are expected to be within 12 journal pages, have appropriate figures and/or tables, a maximum of 80 references, and an abstract of 150–250 words.
Here's the paper click to download .docx

Week 8, October 25 Meeting presentations plus progress reports. Adele, Drew, Mae Kate, Chris, Logan

Week 9, November 1 Hilary paper

Journal: Conservation Biology or Ecological Applications
Audience: conservation scientists and practitioners
Topic: must be generally and nationally/globally relevant (which I’m struggling with)
The manuscript is a bit long (sorry!) so focus energy on the first half (intro and methods, with an eye on figures in the results section). The writing is choppy and unreferenced in some areas, especially parts of intro, results and all of the discussion. What I really need help: How can I shorten, strengthen, and reorganize the intro to make it fit for the journals? (general conservation audience) Are the methods clear? What’s the story to tell with my figures and tables? Should some be dropped, simplified, re-worked? Other general oversights that are the result of me being knee-deep in this work and cross-eyed from staring at it for too long.
Here's the paper click to download .docx
Here's the paper click to download .pdf

Week 10. November 8 Condensing existing science for the public domain with Josh Brown

Today we will consider how science can best be presented in the public domain, outside of specialist meetings and so that important findings can be disseminated clearly and rapidly.
1. Go to the website: https://www.axios.com. This is a short-format news site that Josh reports has become quite popular. Head to the science section and read at least 5 different stories published at different times (just keep scrolling down). Pick one that you think works the best for you to share with class and tell us why it works so well – what does the journalist do to make it effective? Print the story and bring 6 copies to class so you can share it. Be ready to discuss what you liked about the summary.
2. Pick a recent (2018) peer-reviewed journal article in your field that you like and “Axios” it. In other words, make a summary that uses the same headings as you see in Axios. Keep your summary to between 200 and 225 words and bring 12 copies of your summary to class so we can all edit live for you (single side, one sheet)

Week 11, November 15 Condensing your science for the public domain with Josh Brown

1. Select a science project on which you have been working and that you want to share with others, including VPR!
2. Produce a “Media Advisory” for reporters. Use the Axios approach we worked on the previous week as a template and focus on these three questions: A) What is the new knowledge you generated, B) Why VPR listeners should care, and C). What is something interesting about how or where you did this study? Keep your advisory to between 200 and 225 words (single side of one sheet) and bring 12 copies of your summary to class.
3. After class, revise your summary based on peer-feedback and send Paul a PDF copy to give to the VPR staff! I need your copy by Monday November 19 so I can pass them on to VPR. Jane will use these as the basis for speaking with us when we visit.
4. Get ready to practice being interviewed. Josh will bring his mic and recorder. Re-live the moment, here's the recording click to download .WAV
5. See pictures of the day by clicking here

Week 12, November 22 TURKEY DAY - NO CLASS

Week 13, November 29 Vermont Public Radio studio experience - several hours in the afternoon; leave UVM at 1120. Bring lunch!

Here are the one page research summaries for the public that you all prepared. click to download .pdf
We will watch Jane and Ric do their noon-time show, get a tour of the VPR faciliteis, and be live in the control room while they are on air. After the noon time show is finished, each of you will get interviewed by Jane or Ric in the actual studio. Five minutes this time!

Week 14, December 6 COOKIE SWAP and Kyle paper

Kyle would like feedback on what information/results seemed to be the most important to include in the discussion/conclusion. Other details I’d like to cover: Introduction flow – is it coherent? Potentially condensing the intro (feels a bit long for a journal but I don’t know what info to cut, it all seems so important to me!) Are there figures that I’m missing?
Here's the paper click to download .docx