Searching & Managing Scientific Information

This is our biannual introductory training series for PhD students and other affiliates of the four federal research institutes Eawag, Empa, PSI & WSL. The series covers a whole variety of topics such as basic & advanced searching, scientific publishing, research evaluation, Open Access & copyright, literature management (particularly with Endnote), writing with LaTeX, research data management, and -new- also on data handling using Python, Pandas & Jupyter Notebook.

Autumn 2023 training series

From September to December, we offer eight individually bookable modules (ca 3-7h each) at the three sites of the institutes. Registration is open and closes a few days prior to each session. Please refer to the course description below for details.

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Course description

The training series is split into eight modules (3-7h each) that can be booked individually. On request, students attending four or more modules will receive a recommendation for 1 ECTS credit point. Course slides will be available below a couple of days prior to each session.

Course description

    • Each venue is open to all members of the 4 research institutes Eawag, Empa, PSI and WSL. Most modules are offered on-site at Eawag-Empa Dübendorf, PSI Villigen and WSL Birmensdorf.
    • Registration is open and closes a few days prior to each event.
    • All modules are held in English. No course fees apply.
    • Presentations/Workshops with examples and exercises. The course notes, presentation slides, and other course material will be available below a couple of days prior to the sessions.
    • Max. 20 participants for sessions of modules 1-3 & 5-7+ (please bring your laptop).
    • Max. 12 participants for sessions of module 4 (computers provided).
    • For module 5: Please bring your laptop with a working LaTeX installation. Brief instructions for example installations can be found below ca. 1 week prior to the sessions. Please contact us should you require assistance with your installation.
    • For module 7+: Please have Anaconda installed on your laptop. Details can be found on the website dedicated to the course material. A 2-hour online session (optional) will be held on 20 Sep 2023, 13.00-15.00 (1 day prior to the actual course) to deal with installation issues. You will receive the Zoom link via email together with the registration confirmation for module 7+Important: This course requires basic knowledge of Python (importing modules, defining variables, defining and calling functions, accessing properties of objects). For newbies, the introductory Python tutorial (by Empa) is highly recommended and should be completed until the section dealing with functions.
  • In module 1, «Searching Scientific Information», you become skilled in finding relevant scientific information using suitable tools offered by Lib4RI.

    • How to use Lib4RI’s resources for quick information retrieval
    • Formulating systematic search queries including Boolean operators, wildcards and truncations
    • Examples/exercises from the swisscovery library catalogue, Scopus and Web of Science
    • Material:
      Basic Search
      Topic Search

    Trainers: Stephanie Hofmann, Bobby Neuhold

    See Organisation & Requirements for additional information!

    Optional Locations

    Date & Time

    Registration Link

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-C24

    Mon, 25.09.2023
    9.00-12.00

    Register

    PSI Villigen
    PSI Education Center
    Room OSGA/OG09

    Wed, 20.09.2023
    9.00-12.00

     

    WSL Birmensdorf
    Room EP D1

    Mon, 18.09.2023
    9.00-12.00

     

     

  • In module 2, «Scientific Publishing - From Writing to Sharing», you will be guided through the scientific publication process from start to finish.

    • Steps prior to writing a paper
    • Grammar and writing style
    • Tips on the publication process
    • Author identification, impact and visibility

    Trainers: Nina Helg-Kurmann, Laura Konstantaki

    See Organisation & Requirements for additional information!

    Optional Locations

    Date & Time

    Registration Link

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-C24

    Thu, 07.12.2023
    9.00-12.00

    Register

    PSI Villigen
    PSI Education Center
    Room OSGA/OG08

    Thu, 30.11.2023
    09.00-12.00

    Register

    WSL Birmensdorf
    Flurysaal

    Tue, 21.11.2023
    09.00-12.00

    Register

     

  • In module 4, «Literature Management with EndNote», you get introduced to scientific literature management with EndNote.

    • Introduction to literature management
    • How to import and organise literature information including fulltext PDFs
    • Citing references and creating bibliographies in your scientific document using EndNote's Cite-While-You-Write (MS Word plugin)
    • How to modify/create output styles using EndNote's style editor

    Trainers: Stephanie Hofmann, Bobby Neuhold

    See Organisation & Requirements for additional information!

    Optional Sessions

    Date & Time

    Registration Link

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-B15

    Tue, 31.10.2023
    9.00-12.30

    Register

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-B15

    Thu, 09.11.2023
    9.00-12.30

    Register

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-B15

    Wed, 15.11.2023
    9.00-12.30

    Register

     

  • In module 5, «Getting Started with LaTeX», you are guided in creating your first LaTeX document, with special attention to scientific writing oriented features. The course is for LaTeX beginners.

    • A not so short summary of LaTeX basics
    • Tables, figures and formulae
    • The LaTeX error log and common errors to avoid
    • BibTeX and citation styles

    Note: Please bring your laptop with a working LaTeX installation. Brief instructions for example installations can be found below ca. 1 week prior to the sessions. Please contact us should you require assistance with your installation. See Organisation & Requirements for additional information!

    Trainers: Federico Cantini, Frank Hösli

    Optional Locations

    Date & Time

    Registration Link

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-C24

    Thu, 19.10.2023
    9.00-16.00

    Register

    PSI Villigen
    PSI Education Center
    Room OSGA/EG06

    Thu, 12.10.2023
    9.00-16.00

    Register

     

  • In module 6, «Work on Your Own Project», you work on your own literature project receiving individual assistance.

    • Develop your search strategy and set up your systematic topic search with bibliographic databases such as Scopus & Web of Science
    • Critically evaluate your search results
    • Tweak your reference management & citation tools (particularly EndNote)

    Trainers: Stephanie Hofmann, Bobby Neuhold

    See Organisation & Requirements for additional information!

    Optional Locations

    Date & Time

    Registration Link

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-B81

    Tue, 05.12.2023
    9.00-12.00

    Register

    PSI Villigen
    PSI Education Center
    Room OSGA/OG08

    Fri, 01.12.2023
    9.00-12.00

    Register

     

  • In the new module 7, «Research Data Management - The Basics», you learn to identify the relevant strategies and tools to implement research data management in your research practices.

    • Life cycle of research data
    • Adequate metadata documentation for your code and data
    • Storing and publishing data
    • Writing Data Management Plans (DMP) and using OpenBIS (ELN)

    Trainers: Federico Cantini, Fabian Felder (Lib4RI), experts from Eawag, Empa, PSI & WSL

    See Organisation & Requirements for additional information!

    Optional Locations

    Date & Time

    Registration Link

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-D24

    Tue, 28.11.2023
    9.00-12.00

    Register

    PSI Villigen
    PSI Education Center
    Room OSGA/OG08

    Thu, 23.11.2023
    9.00-12.00

    Register

    WSL Birmensdorf
    Flurysaal

    Thu, 02.11.2023
    9.00-12.00

    Register

     

  • In the new module 7+, «Load, Work and Plot your Data using Python, Pandas and Jupyter Notebook», you will learn how to treat, explore and analyse your data using Python with the Pandas library. You will learn how to use the JupyterLab environment to work with, but also to publish your data.

    • Using Jupyter Notebook and coupling it with OpenBIS
    • Analysing and plotting data with Pandas (Python data analysis library)
    • Publishing your code with Voilà and Binder
    • Course Material

    Trainers: Antoine Masson (Youmi), Federico Cantini

    Note: Please have Anaconda installed on your laptop. Details can be found on the website dedicated to the course material. A 2-hour online session (optional) will be held on 20 Sep 2023, 13.00-15.00 (1 day prior to the actual course) to deal with installation issues. You will receive the corresponding Zoom link via email together with the registration confirmation for module 7+.

    Important: This course requires basic knowledge of Python (importing modules, defining variables, defining and calling functions, accessing properties of objects). For newbies, the introductory Python tutorial (by Empa) is highly recommended and should be completed until the section dealing with functions.

    Please see Organisation & Requirements and Course Material for more information.

    Location

    Date & Time

    Registration Link

    Eawag-Empa Dübendorf
    Forum Chriesbach
    Room FC-C24

    Thu, 21.09.2023
    9.30-17.30