Training in Scientific Manuscript Writing

Graduate programmes require their doctoral students to write as scholars and experts who publish their findings in quality, peer-reviewed journals. However, since not all programmes require a formal writing course and uniformity in explicit instructions from supervisors is not possible, variability in the preparedness of trainees for scientific manuscript writing is likely. Indeed, results from a selfreported survey of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers that we conducted confirm this uneven preparation, and reinforce the clear need for formal training in disciplinary writing. We review some initiatives, whose implementation should prove profitable in formalizing the instruction of pre-and postdoctoral researchers in the practical skills required to write dissertations and scientific manuscripts, the cornerstone for archiving and transferring disciplinary knowledge.