Intro
Writing a thesis can be hard work! The Hanson Center for Communication, Engineering Library, and Sciences Library are here to help. Join our Engineering & Sciences Writing Camp which will bring together a community of graduate students to write, eat, and learn together. We will provide some structure, inspiration, and support to help you excel in your thesis writing throughout the summer. This 8 week program will run May 27th through July 17th. Each Tuesday through Thursday from Noon to 4 p.m..
Important Name Update: We are expanding our writing camp to include the sciences and have renamed the program to reflect this change. It has gone from Engineering Thesis Summer Camp to Engineering & Sciences Writing Camp. It’s still the same great program!
Registration and Cost
Engineering & Sciences Writing Camp is FREE! We do ask that participants register so we can plan food and activities.
Sign up here to let us know you are interested. – Registration closes Friday, May 16th.
Sign up through the Engineering & Sciences Writing Camp Interest form to be on an email list to receive weekly updates throughout the summer about programing. We are not requiring registration for every session; it’s come as you are able and to give us a sense of how much food to order.
Audience
Engineering & Sciences Writing Camp is made for current engineering and sciences graduate students (MS and PhD) in any stage of writing their thesis or dissertation.
Format
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in person programming from Noon to 4 p.m.
Tuesday programming will have a lunch and learn from 12 – 1 with topics ranging from building healthy writing habits, creating citations, and so much more. See more below.
Attendees to Thursday programming will have access to 15-minute individual coaching meetings with HCC staff. There will be writing tutors and librarians are available every day throughout the course of the summer camp.
Where and When
Engineering & Sciences Writing Camp will run for 8 weeks, start May 27th and end July 17th between Noon and 4 p.m..
We understand that people have plans over the summer. If you are registered, please attend programming when you are in town.
We will meet in the Hanson Center for Communication, 4650 Seamans Center
Example Weekly Schedule (Subject to change)
| Tuesday | 12:00 Lunch & Learn Workshop 1:00 Group Discussion/Goals for the Week 1:30 Write 2:45 Break 3:00 Write |
| Wednesday | 12:00 Write 1:30 Snack Break 2:00 Write |
| Thursday | 12:00 Write 1:30 Snack Break 2:00 Write 15-minute Individual Coaching Meeting staggered throughout the day |
Tuesday Lunch & Learn Workshops Schedule:
Week 1 – May 27th – Time Management
Making the most efficient use of your time is one of the most useful skills for success in your writing. This workshop will focus on how to effectively prioritize, creating a time management plan, and other practical tips for managing time and commitments. Presented by Heidi Schmitt, University Counseling Service.
Week 2 – June 3rd – Public Speaking Skills
Being able to convey your ideas effectively is an important part of presenting your research, and is a skill that can be developed through practice. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to frame your ideas and your communications using the power of story. Along the way, in addition to learning how this works, you’ll understand the neuroscience of why this works. Presented by Nick Westergaard, Associate Professor of Practice, Tippie College of Business, and Director of Story Lab.
Week 3 – June 10th – Graduate Thesis Formatting and Submission
Being aware of the possible pitfalls in the formatting and submission process can help you avoid unnecessary stress and revisions during the final stretch of your thesis work. In this workshop, you will learn about the formatting requirements for your thesis, the tools and templates that are available to make fulfilling those requirements easier, and what steps you can take to avoid errors in the submission process. Presented by Erin Kaufman, Thesis Manager, Graduate College.
Week 4 – June 17th – Writing Workshop (Narrative Structure, Clarity Cohesion)
In this workshop, our team will work with you to weave the threads of your research into a clear and cohesive narrative. Presented by Kath Shaughnessy, Hanson Center for Communication.
Week 5 – June 24th – Comprehensive Literature Reviews
In this workshop, you will explore differences between systematic reviews, scoping reviews and literature reviews, and discover which type of review best fits your research goals. As systematic reviews are the most rigorous type of evidence synthesis, we will guide you through the entire process — from developing a protocol to reporting a search strategy. You will also gain insights into applying these strategies to other types of reviews, improving the methodological quality. Presented by Marina Zhang, Lichtenberger Engineering Library.
Week 6, July 1st – Peer Review Process and Journal Expectations
The peer review process is an important component of scholarly publication, and one which brings a host of new expectations on professional quality technical writing and figure quality. Additionally, with the advent of Generative AI tools and rogue publishing factories, there is ever more scrutiny on the peer-review process. This workshop will focus on what expectations reputable, peer-reviewed journals have of their authors, and provide clarity as to what the peer review process actually looks like, so that the attendees can avoid common pitfalls for an often opaque process. Presented by Fatima Toor, Ph.D., Endowed Chair and Full Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Past Chair of UI Faculty Senate Research Council.
Week 7 – July 8th – Guidelines for Good Graphs
Learn the best practices for designing figures for research articles and presentations, and then you will receive feedback on your figures in a low-stakes peer environment. Presented by Danielle Land, Hanson Center for Communication
Week 8 – July 15th – Reading Scientific Articles
Learning how to best read and understand scientific literature can be a time-consuming process. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to develop the skills to allow you to more quickly and thoroughly understand scientific literature in both your field and others. Presented by Laurie Neuerburg, Sciences Library.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Kari Kozak in advance at lib-engineering@uiowa.edu.