Short-Term Training on Presenting and Publishing. Research Results Excellence in Research Training One of the most critical competencies of an effective public researcher is the ability to analyze data and translate it into usable recommendations for the intended beneficiaries. Unfortunately, the education of scientists is often so overwhelmingly committed to the technical aspects of science that the communication arts are neglected or ignored. Most of ARIA researchers did not have a chance to take a formal course in scientific writing. As students, they learned to imitate the style and approach of their professors and previous authors. As a continuation of a program launched in PY2, and based on the request of the ARIA Director General (DG) to expand participation to researchers from all ARIA departments, GRAIN provided scientific writing training to 79 researchers (13 women) from ARIA HQ, 09-11 February. The purpose of the training is to enhance the capacity of the ARIA researchers to prepare manuscripts with a higher probability of being accepted for publication in domestic and international journals. The training session provided participants with detailed information on core sections of academic research articles, to include: abstract, introduction, materials and methods, result and discussion, and the elements need to be included in each section. After discussing each section of academic research articles, participants completed an in-class practical exercise by reviewing published research articles to critique content and to identify missing information, using a checklist of best practices. Upon completion of the training, 80% of participants demonstrated an increase of knowledge of 40% or greater. Participants expressed their gratitude for the program, with one participant describing the training as “A wonderful opportunity for ARIA staff to learn on scientific writing, have the ability to engage in a broader scientific community by presenting their research findings, and demanded having similar trainings organized by GRAIN in the future.” XXXXX also prepared the training concept and training materials to resume advanced sessions of scientific writing training with ARIA researchers and university professors who previously completed introductory sessions in PY2. Training will resume in Q3 when the public health
Short-Term Training on Presenting and Publishing. Research Results Training materials were developed this quarter with implementation of training planned in the final quarter of this program year, and provides opportunities to present and publish results as they become available. The training materials for the scientific writing class were developed for the purpose of conducting training to Kabul, Herat, Nangahar and Balkh Universities professors and ARIA researchers who have been involved in implementing research projects through GRAIN's small grant program. The purpose of the training is to enhance capacity of the professors and researchers on preparing manuscripts that will have a high probability of being accepted for publication in international journals. The research projects are focusing on different aspects of wheat productivity improvement and are being implemented jointly between the university’s professors and ARIA researchers. Sub-IR 2.B: Improved knowledge and skills of researchers and extension personnel to develop research-based best practice recommendations for farmers and others in the wheat value chain. 2.B.1 Facilitation of Workshops and Trainings Between Researchers and Extensionists GRAIN sees connecting research to extension, through collaborative workshops and trainings, as an essential activity in the pathway for designing needs-based research and ensuring research- based recommendations reach the wheat sector stakeholders, including farmers. Activities reported under The Annual Wheat Research Conference (Activity 2.A.1), Training and Translation of Research into Extension and Outreach (Activity 2.B.2), and Facilitation of Work Groups (Activity 3.A.1) are making progress in connecting researchers and extensionists in training and workshops.
