Study and Communication Skills for the Chemical Sciences

1. Why are study & communication skills important?
2. Making the most of lectures
3. Making the most of tutorials and workshops
4. Making the most of group work
5. Making the most of practical work
6. Working with different information sources
7. Choosing the right writing style
8. Writing assignments
9. Writing practical and project reports
10. Communicating with a non-scientific audience
11. Avoiding plagiarism
12. Using feedback
13. Preparing scientific presentations
14. Delivering scientific presentations
15. Creating academic posters
16. Getting the most out of revision
17. Getting the most out of exams
18. Developing and articulating your skills
19. Career skills

Tina Overton is Professor of Chemistry Education at Monash University in Australia and Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, UK. Tina has published on the topics of critical thinking, context and problem-based learning, the development of problem solving skills, work-based learning and employability and has co-authored several textbooks in inorganic chemistry and skills development. She has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's HE Teaching Award, Tertiary Education Award and Nyholm Prize, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute's Fensham Medal and is a National Teaching Fellow and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Stuart Johnson is the Director of the Careers Service at the University of Bristol. He obtained a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Leicester, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Learning and Development from Thames Valley University. He was previously the Deputy Director of the Career Development Service at the University of Leicester.

Professor Jon Scott is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience and Professor of Bioscience Education at the University of Leicester. He obtained a BSc in Biological Sciences and a PhD in Neurobiology from Durham University. He joined the University of Leicester as a lecturer in physiology since 1987 and went on to become the Director of Biological Studies.

Special Features

• The friendly, conversational writing style makes the text ideal for beginning undergraduate students.
• A broad range of skills are covered, from writing and presentation skills, to working in groups and revising for exams.
• Frequent examples drawn from chemistry highlight the relevance of the skills being learned.
• The experienced author team is headed up by a leading expert in chemical education.

• New chapters on "Developing and Articulating your Skills" and "Career Skills" help students with concerns around employability.
• New sections on the importance of collaboration and dialogue, setting and enforcing internal deadlines, using technology in group work, and reflective writing expand on the types of skills covered.
• Extensive updates to the online resources, including example CVs, templates and cover letters.
• Chapters are restructured to aid preparation for flipped lectures, with content on problem based learning, online learning forums and video capture.
• Additional support for making the school to university transition, with a more explicit discussion of collusion and working with information sources.