Lab Safety in SAFSLab Safety in SAFS

• Exits

• Eyewash and safety shower

• Proper clothing

• Emergency situations

• Behavior in lab and on field trips

• Animal Use Certification

• Clean workspace

Reading & Writing Reading & Writing Scientific PapersScientific Papers

FISH 210FISH 210

Lab OverviewLab Overview• Paper writingPaper writing

- What is the purpose of scientific writing?- What is the purpose of scientific writing?- Basic components of a scientific paper?- Basic components of a scientific paper?- Common mistakes- Common mistakes- Paper guidelines for Fish 210- Paper guidelines for Fish 210

• Using the libraryUsing the library- Resources available at UW- Resources available at UW- How to find primary literature- How to find primary literature

• Paper reviewPaper review- Discussion on how to be critical of a paper- Discussion on how to be critical of a paper- Review an assigned paper in groups- Review an assigned paper in groups

What is the purpose of What is the purpose of scientific writing?scientific writing?

• Create a concise Create a concise manuscript that cleanly manuscript that cleanly presents & interprets your presents & interprets your research.research.

• Relay how findings are Relay how findings are both unique & important.both unique & important.

• Clearly define scope of Clearly define scope of workwork ( (You are not trying to win the You are not trying to win the Noble Prize with your undergradute Noble Prize with your undergradute or graduate thesis paperor graduate thesis paper))

• What is scientific What is scientific literature?literature?- - peer reviewed papers, not popular peer reviewed papers, not popular literature, theses, textbooks, internet literature, theses, textbooks, internet sites (typically), etc.sites (typically), etc.

Basic Components Basic Components of Scientific Papersof Scientific Papers

• TitleTitle

• AbstractAbstract

• IntroductionIntroduction

• Materials & Materials & MethodsMethods

• ResultsResults

• DiscussionDiscussion

• Literature CitedLiterature Cited

Typical format of most Typical format of most peer reviewed peer reviewed journals. However, journals. However, some do not follow some do not follow this format!this format!

TitleTitle• Descriptive, informative

& short (10-12 words).

• Make objective of study clear & include key words – titles used by library search

engines & retrieval systems.

• Should NOT confuse reader with knowledge in your field (like these guys).

AbstractAbstract• Provide enough information to

enable reader to determine:– What you did– How you did it – Your major results – The significance of results

• People read quickly to assess relevance & quality of paper.

• Difficult to write & should be written after the rest of the paper.

IntroductionIntroduction• Provides a context for your Provides a context for your

researchresearch

• Motivate the reader & Motivate the reader & review the relevant review the relevant literatureliterature

• End Introduction with clearly End Introduction with clearly defined hypothesis being defined hypothesis being tested & focused objectives tested & focused objectives of study of study

• (<-- Avoid this man)(<-- Avoid this man)

Materials & MethodsMaterials & Methods

• Should make research Should make research reproduciblereproducible– Detail experimental designDetail experimental design– Describe equipment usedDescribe equipment used– Define formulas and Define formulas and

symbolssymbols– Identify statistical Identify statistical

approachapproach

• Do not simply Do not simply listlist your your protocol, protocol, writewrite it out if it out if possiblepossible

ResultsResults• Introduce the principle findings.Introduce the principle findings.

• Present tables and figures in this section.Present tables and figures in this section.

• Include descriptions of important Include descriptions of important numbers, as well as the results of any numbers, as well as the results of any statistical tests.statistical tests.

– Example: “There was a significant Example: “There was a significant difference in the volume of the mascot difference in the volume of the mascot animals (t = 2.21, p = 0.001). West Coast animals (t = 2.21, p = 0.001). West Coast mascots were twice as large as East coast mascots were twice as large as East coast mascots (Fig. 1).”mascots (Fig. 1).”

• Do Do NOTNOT mix Results & Discussion mix Results & Discussion

ResultsResultsBad FigureBad Figure

ResultsResultsGood FigureGood Figure

DiscussionDiscussion

• Structured like pyramid.Structured like pyramid.– Specific findings to broader contextSpecific findings to broader context

• Describe meaning of findings Describe meaning of findings – What is the story of data?What is the story of data?

• Interpret, draw conclusions from, & Interpret, draw conclusions from, & discuss significance of resultsdiscuss significance of results

• Acknowledge speculationAcknowledge speculation

• Mention additional hypotheses Mention additional hypotheses developed from results & developed from results & suggestions for future studiessuggestions for future studies

Literature CitedLiterature Cited

• This section should list referencesThis section should list references– only those used in paper only those used in paper – mostly in introduction & discussion. mostly in introduction & discussion.

• Cite articles within body of paper in two Cite articles within body of paper in two ways:ways:– 1) Jones et al. (1987) found strong evidence for a 1) Jones et al. (1987) found strong evidence for a

relationship between depth and diet.relationship between depth and diet.– 2) A relationship between depth and diet has been 2) A relationship between depth and diet has been

demonstrated in several pelagic fishes (Jones et demonstrated in several pelagic fishes (Jones et al. 1987).al. 1987).

Common MistakesCommon MistakesSignificantly erode the quality of your paperSignificantly erode the quality of your paper

• Avoid cliches like the plague - they are old hat.

• Parenthetical remarks (however appropriate) are (usually) unnecessary.

• Also too, never use repetitive redundancies.

• No sentence fragments.

• Do not be redundant; do not use more words than you have to; it is highly superfluous.

• Don't use no double negatives.

• One word sentences? Eliminate.

• Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary.

• Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

• And finally, proffread carefully to see if you any words out.

Paper Guidelines Paper Guidelines for Fish 210for Fish 210• Format paper after Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CJFAS).

• Minimum of 10 pages, typed, double-spaced text – NOT including title pages, figures, tables, references, etc.).

• Minimum of 10 relevant references, NOT including e-reserve. – mixture of peer-reviewed primary research and grey literature articles.

• Limit abstract to 200 words.

• Figures & tables NOT embedded in the text.

• Literature Cited formatted as in CJFAS. This title is available online.

• Generally, use the past tense when writing scientific papers.

• If you have ANY questions, ask us instead of writing a poor paper.

Recommendation for Recommendation for SuccessSuccess

Robert Day’s book “How to write and Robert Day’s book “How to write and publish a scientific paper” Oryx publish a scientific paper” Oryx Press, 5Press, 5th th editionedition

Paper ReviewPaper Review

• Discussion on how to Discussion on how to be critical of a paperbe critical of a paper

• Review the assigned Review the assigned paper in groupspaper in groups

• Reconvene as group Reconvene as group to discussto discuss