Interlude: SCSIR Database, Maximizing Impact, and Promotional Language in Grants
After I opened my Scientific Writing Simplified course to investigators who had their federal grants terminated, several writers and editors reached out to me to offer help with the program.
Although they can't exactly help with my course and community, I had an idea.
And I ran with it.
This morning, I launched the Science Communicators Supporting Impacted Researchers (SCSIR) Database.
The SCSIR Database is a free resource to connect volunteer science communicators with researchers whose federal grants were terminated by the new US administration. This database houses information shared by science communicators who are willing to offer pro bono services to support impacted researchers and help them find alternative funding sources, shift research focuses, or transition career paths.
This database will be an evolving project. I welcome your feedback—just hit reply to let me know. And if there is a lot of interest, I already have plans for what to do next.
If you are a science communicator, I hope you'll consider adding your information to the database to support our struggling research community. And if you're a researcher, please share this resource with someone in your community who needs the extra support.
Learn more about the SCSIR Database
Now onto this week's round-up...
💌 Round-up
💻 From My Desk
How to Transform Your Writing to Maximize Your Impact
In this FREE masterclass, you'll discover the top 3 challenges that get in the way of clear, compelling writing; the surprising truths about writing for experts in your field; the #1 thing holding you back from maximizing your impact; and a simple framework that will help you transform your writing.
👓 Reading
Use of Promotional Language in Grant Applications and Grant Success
"This survey study revealed a correlation between the percentage of promotional language in grant proposals and the likelihood of funding success, with applications featuring a higher fraction of promotional words having increased odds of being funded. Our analysis also revealed that men tend to use more promotional language than women across various funding levels. This finding underscores the significant association of linguistic style alongside scientific merit in determining funding outcomes."
Linking citation and retraction data reveals the demographics of scientific retractions among highly cited authors
"Retractions were more common in the life sciences and rare or nonexistent in several other disciplines. In several developing countries, very high proportions of top-cited scientists had retractions (highest in Senegal (66.7%), Ecuador (28.6%), and Pakistan (27.8%) in career-long citation impact lists). Variability in retraction rates across fields and countries suggests differences in research practices, scrutiny, and ease of retraction."
🖥️ Watching
The 60 seconds that make or break a conversation
I'll admit that I think the title is a bit "clickbaity," but the video is worth the watch. In this TEDx talk, you'll discover a three-step technique to help you frame your next conversation with a TIP: topic, intention, and point.
💬 Quote
One of my students shared part of a poem with me recently (Thanks, Maria!). It really speaks to how I've been feeling lately, so I wanted to share it with you. You can find the full poem here.
“Good timber does not grow with ease.
The stronger wind, the tougher trees.
The further sky, the greater length.
The more the storm, the more the strength.”
–Douglass Malloch
Thank you so much for reading.
Warmly,
Crystal
