In an era where nutrition science plays a pivotal role in shaping the health and wellness of individuals and communities, the pursuit of advanced knowledge in this field has never been more crucial.

As a top-tier educational pathway for aspiring nutritionists, LAU’s Department of Natural Sciences put together a scientific writing workshop for students pursuing their Master of Science in Nutrition. The workshop primarily focused on how to structure research papers, write clear and concise original research articles and present findings in a manner that is both informative and engaging.

On August 21, 12 participants in the full-day workshop sharpened their technical writing and fine-tuned their competence in disseminating information to a broader audience.

Following the revamping of the Nutrition and Dietetics program at LAU – previously known as the Nutrition program – a big portion of that expansion centered around engaging students in conducting research. Nonetheless, opening room for such engagement entails being acquainted with appropriate scientific research methodology and the dissemination of research findings in the form of scholarly articles.

Assistant Professor of Nutrition Rana Rizk, who organized and executed the workshop, felt that one of the ways through which she can emphasize the importance of nutrition in today’s world is by providing her students with the opportunity to further their understanding in this dynamic field. This was achieved by adhering to appropriate research guidelines to reach the targeted demographic.

“I’m an active researcher, and a huge part of our work is actually to document what we are doing,” said Dr. Rizk. “If we’re doing research and we’re not communicating it to the greater population, much less in a professional way, then we’re not doing anything at all.”

“For this reason,” she added, “growing accustomed to the basics of scientific writing is a necessity, and acquiring that skillful knowledge allows for wide-ranging options in contributing to publications under their name and LAU’s.”

With subjects on crafting an original research article as well as principles and overviews of effective scientific writing, the workshop pushed the participants to be adept at critically analyzing scientific literature and articulating their findings in a manner that contributes to the collective knowledge of the field.

“Part of our job is to be conducive to that kind of literature,” added Dr. Rizk. “We do that by being vital in our field. To prepare for that in the workshop, we referenced real research papers to debunk certain types of information, cite valuable data and even recognize the appropriate writing voice in relaying specific information.”

The workshop, Dr. Rizk hopes, enhances the visibility of the program and the university’s objective in driving innovation and change in the ever-evolving field of nutrition. “Armed with these skills, graduates are well-prepared for successful careers in academia, research institutions and beyond.”

As the academic year unfolds, the department is committed to hosting additional workshops designed to amplify such skills in different aspects, such as delving into strategies for selecting relevant research topics and guiding students in the process of advancing their research for publication.

“A few students have already approached me with promising research leads,” Dr. Rizk stated, “so the more they develop a deep appreciation for the role of research in advancing nutrition science, the more they get to carry forward the legacy of the program.”