Table Of ContentHow Scientists Communicate
How Scientists Communicate
DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE
Alan Kelly
1
1
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers
the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education
by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University
Press in the UK and certain other countries.
Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America.
© Oxford University Press 2020
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted
by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction
rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the
above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the
address above.
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Kelly, Alan (Alan L.), author.
Title: How scientists communicate : dispatches from the
frontiers of knowledge / Alan Kelly.
Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2020] |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019053119 (print) | LCCN 2019053120 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780190936600 (hardback) | ISBN 9780197521021 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Communication in science. | Technical writing.
Classification: LCC Q223 .K45 2020 (print) | LCC Q223 (ebook) |
DDC 808.06/65—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019053119
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019053120
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., United States of America
For Louis and Ena Kelly
{ CONTENTS }
Acknowledgments ix
About the Author xi
1. Introduction 1
2. The History and Future of Scientific Publishing 10
3. What Does a Scientific Paper Say? 34
4. The Scientific Voice 53
5. The Perils of Peer Review 78
6. What Happens after Publication? Tracking the impact of papers 99
7. Ethics and Integrity in Scientific Communication 117
8. Conferences and Presentations 141
9. Expanding the Comfort Zone: Communicating with
Nonspecialist Audiences 162
10. Communication across a Career in Science 186
11. Some Final Thoughts 199
Bibliography and Notes 201
Index 203
{ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS }
One of the themes of this book is about how science and scientific publication
are typically today a collaborative effort, and in this spirit I wish to acknowledge
several individuals who helped during the writing of this book.
First, I thank Jeremy Lewis, my editor at Oxford University Press, for his positive
reaction to my proposal and subsequent support, advice, and patience throughout
the writing and editing process. I also thank Suganya Elango of Newgen Knowledge
Works and Bronwyn Geyer at Oxford University Press, for help during the prepara-
tion of the book for publication, and for the expert copyeditors whose input into the
final manuscript was very helpful. Great thanks also to Brían French, for his creative
collaboration on cover design concepts.
I thank friends and colleagues who provided perceptive feedback on draft
chapters, including Dr. John Finn at Teagasc, Professor Thom Huppertz from
Wageningen University Research and FrieslandCampina, and Dr. Fergus McAuliffe
from University College Dublin, as well as many scientific colleagues and collabora-
tors whose inputs and comments have informed my views presented here (especially
Hugh Kearns from Flinders University, Australia), and my brother, Paul Kelly.
I also thank all the students and researchers who have attended my workshops
and courses on scientific writing in Ireland for over a decade (especially the long-
running module PG6001, or STEPS), whose feedback showed me how critical
development of good communication skills is, and whose questions and in- class
discussions led to many of the points discussed here. I further thank a number
of these who provided feedback on draft chapters, especially Colm Breathneach
of the Tyndall National Institute, and members of my own Milk Science and
Technology research team and the Food Ingredients Research Group at University
College Cork, who helped by providing feedback on drafts and checking proofs.
I also acknowledge that most of this book was written on a short sabbatical from
University College Cork in Ireland in 2018, and recognize the support of the
College of Science, Engineering and Food Science and the School of Food and
Nutritional Sciences for facilitating this.
Finally, thanks as always to my wife, Brenda, and my children, Dylan, Martha,
and Thomas, for their support and encouragement during the writing of this book,1
and for tolerating my being around the house more than usual while doing so,2 as
well as my extended family. I dedicate this book to the memory of my late parents.
1 Special mention for Martha’s indexing skills!
2 I also recognize the nonhuman support of Juno and Odie, who taught me that it is actually just
about possible to write with a dog curled up on your lap.
