Week 1 / February 5

Intro week, get to know each other, set group goals and goals of meetings, design the semester’s schedule.

Week 2 / February 12

☆ Kristin presents recent research: “The Moulin Shape (MouSh) Model”

    Try to identify the elements of the scientific method shown in this research.

Week 3 / February 19

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career, by Stephen B. Heard. Available online at UB Libraries.

Assigned reading: Preface and Ch. 1-4.

We’ll discuss these ideas in group meeting.

Week 4 / February 26

☆ Josh presents his research ☆ in preparation for Wooster talk: “Greenland Ice Sheet Hydrology”

Week 5 / March 5

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career, by Stephen B. Heard. Available online at UB Libraries.

Assigned reading: Chapters 5-7

Discussion Questions:

Chapter 5, Getting Started – Consider TMT theory and write down specific actions you can take to increase the attractiveness of a writing project you’re working on. (end of chapter exercise)

Chapter 6, Momentum – What was a time in the past when you’ve used “binge” writing and when have you used “snack” writing? Same question, but for “swooping” and “bashing” writing techniques.

Chapter 7, Finding and Telling Your Story – Write a mini-summary (like the one on page 60) for your research project.

Week 6 / March 12

Semi-annual website biography workshop

Week 7 / March 19

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career, by Stephen B. Heard. Available online at UB Libraries.

Assigned reading: Ch. 8-13

Week 8 / March 26

Windstorm wipes out power! Research presentation postponed. Instead, we’re jumping ahead one week:

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career, by Stephen B. Heard. Available online at UB Libraries.

Chapter 13, Discussion

Read the Discussion section for the paper “Measuring and inferring the ice thickness distribution of four glaciers in the Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan” by Lander Van Tricht et al., in the most recent issue of Journal of Glaciology. (It will probably help to read the abstract first.) Identify text that supports each of the four main Discussion components:

• Interpreting results
• Considering weaknesses
• Relating results to literature
• Considering future progress

What occupies the power position at the end of this Discussion / Conclusion? What does it tell you about the importance of the different parts of the research that these authors performed?

Week 9 / April 2

☆ Eric presents his research ☆ Detecting draining of firn aquifers using NASA Operation IceBridge data in GHub

Week 10 / April 9

☆ Naureen presents an introduction to her research ☆ How to use Google Earth Engine, with application to detecting crevasses in Greenland

Week 11 / April 16

☆ Hannah presents her research ☆ Finding moulins in western Greenland ☆

Week 12 / April 23

Field Trip: 🌳 In-person outdoor walk at UB South Campus. Meet at the main (northwest) entrance to Abbott Library. Thanks to Naureen for the photographic documentation! 🌳

Week 13 / April 30

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career, by Stephen B. Heard. Available online at UB Libraries.

Assigned reading: Part IV (Ch. 17-20), Style.

Week 14 / May 7

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career, by Stephen B. Heard. Available online at UB Libraries.

Assigned reading: end of Part IV (Ch. 19-20), Words and Brevity.