Class name: Science Article Journal Club Thur.
(In person（対面）/18:30-20:00)

Instructor: Dr. Rick Weisburd

Ever wonder about the origin of various dog breeds or whether cats can recognize their names? Orhave you wondered about climate change, human evolution, or the effects of diet on health? Theseare just a few of the topics from recent scientific research that have been discussed in Kenkyu
Koryu Center’s Science Article Journal Club. Why not join us for weekly informal andenthusiastic discussions about exciting recent research and ways to read and write about it?
Previous participants also are welcome.
Journal clubs (輪講) are groups that gather regularly to critically discuss academic papers that all
members have read; they are one of the most common activities of highly successful researchlaboratories and are fun also for anyone interested in science. Journal clubs are among the mosteffective activities to improve critical thinking, discussion, and research writing skills, which(in addition to having fun) are the goals of this class.
This journal club will require participants to read a short, English research paper or science news
article before each weekly session to prepare for in-class discussion of both the research content andthe writing. Each week a paper or article will be distributed for the following week’s discussion. In
class, we will analyze and discuss the papers for focus, context, linkage, specificity, logic, clarity,coherence, and cogency.
The instructor will provide a research paper and lead the discussion for the first session on 23 May
but for subsequent sessions, participants will be expected to take turns selecting the science topic,
nominating a reading, and leading the discussion with help from the instructor. To stimulatediscussion, reports of interdisciplinary studies of short to moderate length and of interest to a broad
audience will be preferred; research that is topical, elegant, fascinating, provocative, well written,
poorly written, or some combination of these is particularly appropriate for our discussions because
these qualities stimulate discussion.
Questions, comments, or critical discussion of the papers will be expected from every participantin every session they attend; the sessions with lively discussion are the most fun. In addition, theinstructor will demonstrate aspects of research writing techniques, many from the perspective ofreader expectations; participants are invited to request explanations of specific writing topics.
A TOEIC score 720 or higher (or equivalent) is recommended.

The seven sessions will be held from 18:30 to 20:00 on Thursdays from 23 May through 25 July 2024:
23 May; 6 and 13 June; 4, 11, 18, and 25 July(no class on 30 May and 20 and 27 June)
参考）

Wikipedia「輪講」: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BC%AA%E8%AC%9B
Wikipedia [Journal Club]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_club

Instructor: Rick Weisburd
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4266-6612
American (permanent resident of Japan) PhD: Oceanography. University of Hawaii
BSc cum laude: Biological Sciences (minor in chemistry). State University of New York at Albany.
ELSS, Inc. (株式会社 ELSS), Founder, President, and Editor-in-Chief.
http://www.elss.co.jp/April 2006 to present.
Associate Professor of Biology at the College of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba.
April 1997 to March 2006.
Career Objectives: Facilitate the publication of research through excellence in both teaching about researchcommunication and provision of excellent scientific editing and translation services.
Encourage, facilitate, and implement transition to sustainable human activities through individual, corporate,educational, governmental, and intergovernmental action.

Class name: Research Article Journal Club & Science Topics Thur.
(In person（対面）/18:30-20:00) Instructor: Dr. Rick Weisburd※カレンダー内「 * 」は、 教室の都合により授業はありません。

**受講者の声**・英文校正関係の講師であるため、「論文のこの部分が分かりづらいのはこういう理由で、こうした方が意味が明確になる」というような説明が明快だった。
（2023 年度対面授業、 Research Article Journal Club & Science topics 木クラス受講（一部抜粋)）

・申込んだクラスが開催されなかったため、「Science Article Journal Club 木クラス」への参加に挑戦しました。予想通り自分の英語のレベルの低さに苦戦しましたが、丁寧なリードと、フィードバックから得るものに励まされ、自然に一生懸命に取り組むことができました。各セッションに取り上げられる論文の内容が最新、かつ興味深い内容ばかりで、非常に良かったです。興味範囲ではありますが、自分の仕事に関連するものも含めて英語の科学論文を読むことがあるため、このクラスのお陰で英論文読解のコツを学べたことに満足しています。
（2023 年度対面授業、 Research Article Journal Club & Science topics 木クラス受講（一部抜粋)）