Science Communication and Academic Writing: A Guide
Science Communication
The Essence of Scientific Communication
Science is characterized by rigorous, systematic knowledge, sensitive to criticism and striving for objectivity. Scientific communication requires careful structuring for optimal understanding. Each component—paragraph, section, or phrase—must have meaning and contribute to the overall discourse.
Objectivity and Clarity
Scientific work aims to communicate specific knowledge, not opinions or subjective feelings. While absolute objectivity is not achievable, scientific writing requires a conscious effort to express ideas rigorously and objectively. The narrative structure should follow clear logic, depending on the work’s objectives. The author must know precisely what to communicate and find the most appropriate way to do so. A pre-determined schema or outline is essential before writing.
Style and Presentation
Style and presentation are crucial. Sentences should be unambiguous and relatively simple. Word choice should be rigorous, using precise terms to convey the intended meaning. A balance between simplicity and accuracy is key, avoiding both obscure formulations and excessive jargon. This ensures the message is understood, discussed, criticized, and integrated into existing knowledge.
Rules for Academic Texts
Scientific writing is the exposition of research. It often involves reworking existing or newly obtained knowledge for specific presentation purposes. Without research, it becomes a review, abstract, or essay.
Types of Scientific Papers
- Research Report
- Monograph
- Paper
- Thesis/Dissertation
Report
A generic term for a written account of scientific inquiry. It can be a working document, a final report, or a team’s product. Its purpose can be informational or decision-making.
Monograph
A concise work focused on a single, well-defined topic. It prioritizes depth over breadth, often resulting from literature review, though not exclusively. Monographs require clear, formal presentation, good organization, and a structured critical apparatus.
Structure of Scientific Papers
Scientific papers consist of three main parts: introduction, body, and conclusion.
Initial Section
This section includes introductory elements like cover, preface, dedications, acknowledgments, general introduction, and table of contents. It prepares the reader by providing context about the material.
Body
This section develops the work’s substantive content, organized into sections and subsections for systematic presentation and understanding.
Final Section
This section includes conclusions, recommendations, references, indices, and any additional materials like appendices, graphs, statistics, or glossaries.