URI Professional Development Opportunity for NEAGEP Students

This summer, the University of Rhode Island's NEAGEP group has arranged to offer a workshop on Scientific Writing, for NEAGEP students. This course is geared toward graduate students and will be taught by Dr. Padma Venkatraman. Attendees will be given a certificate of participation, but they will not be graded or given graduate credit.

This course has three main goals: (1) to show graduate students how to set up a scientific paper and to make informed choices about its content, structure, and style; (2) to show how to use the English language to communicate the desired message clearly, unambiguously, and efficiently; and (3) to show how to use the language to communicate the message to the widest possible audience. To reach these goals, this course takes a rigorous approach to syntax, grammar, rhetorical principles, and compositional style. We will emphasize the preparation of the journal article, and touch on selected societal aspects of scientific writing.

We will discuss parts of speech, punctuation, phrases, clauses, hierarchical modification, restrictive and nonrestrictive modification, diagramming, major elements of sentences, old and new information in sentences, reducing structural complexity, paragraphs, sections, writing a research paper, the overall form and content of a proposal, writing a good abstract, etc. Participatnts will be expected to complete regular writing assignments and work on a paper (or proposal) of thier own.

• Arrival date: MONDAY, June 11, 2007
• Departure date: Saturday, June 16, 2007
• Course dates: Monday, June 11 - Friday June 15
• Accomodation: The University of Rhode Island has arranged for dormitory style accomodation for participants. The expense for accomodation alone, at the URI campus, between June 10th and June 16th, will be covered by the university. A block of ten rooms has been reserved, and as the workshop size limit is 10, rooms will be given to those enrolling on a first-come first-served basis. Rooms are single rooms, with shared bath and kitchen facilities.

TRAVEL AND FOOD WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGING THEIR OWN TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND FOR FINANCING THEIR MEALS DURING THE WEEK. HOWEVER, THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST WILL COVER TRAVEL FOR THIER NEAGEP STUDENTS.

LECTURE TITLES (Subject to change)
Goals of Scientific Writing
Finding time to write
The steps in writing a scientific paper
The structure of a scientific paper
Transitions and flow: writing effective paragraphs
Precision
Clarity
Being concise
Being familiar
Being forthright
Use and Misuse of the language
Preparing effective figures and tables
Posters
Slides
Writing teaching and research statements; applying for a faculty position
Parts of speech
Punctuation and spelling

Spots given on a first come-first serve basis. Class size limited to 10.

Students interested in attending should confirm their intent to participate before Monday, April 9th, 2007, by sending the following information to Dr. Padma Venkatraman, at the address provided below:
1. Completed form with all the information requested (below)
2. One official letter of introduction written by the student's faculty mentor
3. A check made out to the University of Rhode Island, in the amount of  $ 100 (PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHECK WILL NOT BE CASHED UNLESS THE PARTICIPANT  WITHDRAWS FROM THE COURSE, OR CAUSES PROPERTY DAMAGE DURING HIS OR HER STAY).

Queries may be directed to Ms. Beverly Ladd, at:
bladd@mail.uri.edu or 401 874 5491.

ENROLLMENT FORM FOR URI SUMMER SCIENTIFIC WRITING COURSE

STUDENT NAME:
INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION:
DEGREE PROGRAM (M.S./Ph.D.):
SUBJECT:
ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
EMAIL:
NAME OF PERSON TO BE CONTACTED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
FACULTY MENTOR:
ADDRESS OF FACULTY MENTOR:
PHONE NUMBER OF FACULTY MENTOR:
EMAIL:

Information must be mailed to the address below. Please send the completed application early, so that it arrives before April 9th. Late requests and incomplete applications will not be processed.

Dr. Padma T. Venkatraman
Coordinator, Graduate Diversity,
Room 204, Quinn Hall,
55 Lower College Road, Suite 2,
URI Graduate School,
Kingston, RI 02881
Ph. 401-874-2262
Email. padma@gso.uri.edu
Alternate Tel. (401)874-4838

UMass Student Received the Presidential Service Award

Dr. Almaris Alonso, a 2007 graduate of UMass Amherst, will be receiving the Presidential Service Award at the national SACNAS Awards Ceremony on October 13, 2007. This is award is to honor Dr. Alonso for her unstinting commitment to SACNAS, and underrepresented minority scientists and science students. In particular, Dr. Alonso will be recognized for her work on behalf SACNAS chapters. The nominators message to Dr. Alonso stated, "the growth and vibrancy of the SACNAS Chapter Program is very much due to your dedication."

More Professional Development Opportunity at URI

February

FEB 16 Dr. Siddhartha Mitra, SUNY Binghamton.
Refractory organic carbon discharge in selected coastal systems globally
Friday, 1:30 – 2:30, Corless Auditorium, GSO, Bay Campus, Narragansett.

FEB 16 Dr. Siddhartha Mitra, SUNY Binghamton.
Looking for an academic position: The Job Search
Friday, 3:30 – 4:30, University Club, URI Main Campus, Kingston.
Tea-time Discussion. Snacks provided.
RSVP Ms Beverly Ladd (bladd@mail.uri.edu 874-2262).

MARCH

MARCH 9 Dr. Katrice Lippa, NIST, Washington , D.C.
Rational material design and modeling of chromatographic surface.
Friday, 1:30 – 2:30, Corless Auditorium, GSO Bay Campus, Narragansett.

MARCH 9 Dr. Katrice Lippa, NIST, Washington , D.C.
Balancing research and family life, as a student and as a professional.
Friday, 3:30 – 4:30, University Club, URI Main Campus, Kingston.
Tea-time Discussion. Snacks provided.
RSVP Ms Beverly Ladd (bladd@mail.uri.edu 874-2262).

MARCH 30 Dr. Molly McGuire, Bucknell College.
Conducting cutting edge research at a predominantly undergraduate institution.
Friday, 12: 00 – 1: 00, Hazards Room, Coastal Institute Building GSO Bay Campus, Narragansett.
Luncheon discussion. Lunch provided by GSO.
RSVP Ms Meredith Clark (mclark@gso.uri.edu 874-6246).

MARCH 30 Dr. Molly McGuire, Bucknell College.
Spectroscopic investigations of redox chemistry in iron-bearing clay minerals.
Friday, 1: 30 – 2: 30, Corless Auditorium, GSO, Bay Campus, Narragansett.

APRIL

APRIL 11 Dr. Leigh McAllister
Ecobiogeochemistry of land-sea margins: Microbial role in determining carbon dioxide efflux.
Wednesday, 12:00 to 1:00, Corless Auditorium, GSO, Bay Campus, Narragansett. 

APRIL 11 Dr. Leigh McAllister
Doing a post-doc aboard: The pros and cons.
Wednesday, 3:30 – 4:30, University Club, URI Main Campus, Kingston.
Tea-time Discussion. Snacks provided. RSVP Ms Ladd (bladd@mail.uri.edu 874-2262).

APRIL 20 Dr. Dharni Vasudevan, Bowdoin College.
Experience in straying from the academic path: Risks and benefits.
Friday, 12:00 to 1:00, Hazards Room, Coastal Institute Building, GSO Bay Campus, Narragansett.
Luncheon discussion. Lunch provided by GSO.
RSVP Ms Meredith Clark (mclark@gso.uri.edu 874-6246).

APRIL 20 Dr. Dharni Vasudevan, Bowdoin College.
Veterinary Antibiotic Sorption to Soils and Model Soil Components.
Friday, 3:30 – 4:30, University Club, URI Main Campus, Kingston.
Tea-time seminar, followed by a career discussion. After her talk, Dr. Vasudevan will be able to meet informally with students and engage them in a career discussion.
RSVP Ms Beverly Ladd (bladd@mail.uri.edu 874-2262).

APRIL 25/ May Dr. Janelle Thompson, Harvard Universtiy / M. I.T.
Reverse engineering natural microbial systems.
Wednesday, 12:00 to 1:00, Corless Auditorium, GSO, Bay Campus, Narragansett.

APRIL 25/May Dr. Janelle Thompson, Harvard University / M. I. T.
Being a woman of color in the sciences: A perspective.
Wednesday, 3:30 – 4:30, University Club, URI Main Campus, Kingston.
Tea-time Discussion. Snacks provided. RSVP Ms Ladd (bladd@mail.uri.edu 874-2262).
Dr. Thompson's visit is tentatively scheduled for the 25 th of April, but she may postpone her visit by a week. So please check and confirm the date with Ms. Ladd in early April.