Scientific Information Retrieval & Management in Life Sciences and Chemistry

Abstract

Students learn how to effectively retrieve, critically judge, analyze and manage published scientific information – important skill sets in chemistry and life sciences where scientists need to deal with vast amounts of information. The course, using practical examples, also covers scientific writing, visualizations, science communication and state-of-the-art technologies such as text mining.

Objective

Ability to select appropriate, subject-specific databases or tools for a given specific scientific question based on a sound understanding on how a tool or database has been developed and maintained, thus building the personal capacity of doing research effectively and efficiently by integrating scientific information into the research process when needed. Ability to communicate own scientific results using additional distribution channels. Ability to easily write-up the Ph.D. thesis or first paper.

Content

The course has been primarily designed for Ph.D. students, also for the Life Science Zurich Graduate School, but is also open to Master students. In a series of 12 units, which always include practical examples (for some lectures an notebook is required), the use of scientific information is taught not in a database-centric view but corresponding to the steps through which scientific research is conducted – including the dissemination of scientific results. This is particularly interesting for students who are about to write-up their first paper or thesis. Students will learn about the different types of information resources and tools, get an insight into the numerous databases and tools that exists and how those are built and maintained, enabling them to critically judge the value and trustworthy of a information resource. Additionally, they will learn how to communicate their own scientific results properly, using also additional measures that are reflected by alternative metrics. The following topics are covered: 1. The world of scientific publishing: basics, publishing models 2. Searching and retrieving scientific information using search engines and literature databases 3. Searching and retrieving scientific information using subject-specific databases in chemistry and material science 4. Searching and retrieving scientific information using subject-specific databases in life sciences 5. Tools for analyzing scientific information 6. Tools for managing scientific information and sharing knowledge, including pipelining tools 7. Patents 8. Text (literature) mining 9. Visualizating molecules for lab reports, presentations, posters, and publications 10. Scientific writing, good design & good scientific practice 11. Communicating & analyzing the impact of (your) science

Resources