Scientific writing & oral presentations
Scientific writing & oral presentations
12-13 November & 3-4 December 2025
General context
Effectively communicating research is a vital skill for any scientist. Whether in a manuscript or on stage, clear and persuasive communication enhances the visibility and impact of your work. This course is designed for researchers who want to strengthen both their scientific writing and oral presentation skills to meet the standards of international peer audiences.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Scientific Writing:
- Structure a scientific article according to international standards (IMRaD), including clear and concise abstracts, introductions, and conclusions.
- Apply reader-oriented writing strategies to improve clarity, coherence, and accessibility of research texts.
- Use appropriate academic style, terminology, and referencing techniques in line with scientific conventions.
- Identify and avoid common pitfalls in grammar, paragraph structure, and layout.
- Revise and improve their own scientific writing through feedback and self-assessment.
Oral Presentations:
- Develop a well-structured and engaging research presentation tailored to a scientific audience.
- Use visual aids (e.g. PowerPoint) effectively to support and enhance spoken communication.
- Deliver a clear and confident presentation, applying techniques related to voice, posture, and audience interaction.
- Receive and apply feedback to improve future presentations.
- Evaluate their own and others' presentations using a structured framework.
This course combines two intensive, hands-on modules:
- Scientific Writing: Through three half-day group sessions and one individual coaching session, participants improve their academic writing—from abstract to conclusion—while working on their own text.
- Oral Presentations: In two group sessions and one full-day practice session, participants build effective, engaging presentations, with feedback on delivery, structure, and visual aids.
The format is interactive, practice-based, and limited to 8 participants to ensure personal feedback and active involvement.
VIB PhD students and postdocs
Please note that this is not a language course, so proficiency in English is a basic requirement!
The trainer has signed a Confidential Disclosure Agreement with VIB.
"The trainer was very good, he knew a lot about his topic and was very enthusiastic. He had so much experience and showed us many useful tools. The fact that we were with a small group also gave us the opportunity to receive individual feedback, which I appreciated a lot. The trainer also made a practice sheet with our previous mistakes and learned us how to correct them. I would really recommend this course."
Participant spring 2024
"I highly appreciated the training. A big thank you to the wonderful trainer!"
Participant spring 2024
"The instructor spoke with pure passion about his topic. He not only taught us principles of scientific writing and presenting, but also gave us personal feedback on both of these topics. The training was very useful!"
Participant spring 2023
Program
Scientific Writing
3 half-day group sessions and one half-day individual coaching based on an assignment
- The qualities of a good research report
- The preliminary phase: purpose, audience and contents
- Structuring a research report
- Parts of a research report
- Proposal writing
- Writing the research report of proposal
- Visual appearance
- Academic posters
Oral Presentation
2 half-day group sessions and one full day presentations by participants
- What makes a presentation memorable?
- How to prepare a presentation?
- How to build a presentation?
- How to end a presentation?
- How to use PowerPoint Effectively?
- How to be(come) a charismatic speaker?
- Some loose ends
Practical info
12 November 2025 - 04 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
12 November 2025 - 04 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
12 November 2025 - 04 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
Shared bicycles:
Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic
There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.
12 November 2025 - 04 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.
12 November 2025 - 04 December 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Room L4