Working with their own manuscripts, exchanging feedback with peers, and discussing the challenges of scientific writing and publishing: At a full-day workshop at the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar, doctoral researchers from the Graduate School on Natural Resources and Development (École Doctorale Gestion des Ressources Naturelles et Développement) at the École Supérieure des Sciences Agronomiques (ESSA) examined their writing and shared experiences. The training also covered research funding applications and fair rules for authorship. 

What makes a scientific argument convincing? How can an introduction capture the significance of a study without overstating its findings? And what can researchers learn by examining one another’s work? 

These questions formed the starting point for a workshop held on 2 October 2026 at the University of Antananarivo, led by Prof. Julie Zähringer of the Wyss Academy for Nature at the University of Bern. 

Participants were invited to bring their own manuscripts or examples of published research. Working in small groups, they examined the structure of scientific arguments, identified what worked well, and suggested improvements. The focus was on putting writing techniques into practice, with researchers drawing on their own work and experience. 

For one participant, the exercises helped resolve questions that had been difficult to work through independently: 

A convincing manuscript still has to find its way into the scientific literature. Choosing where to publish involves weighing several factors: the journal's reputation, the audience it reaches, the availability of open access, and the costs involved. Researchers also have to navigate peer review, respond to criticism, and ensure that contributions are properly acknowledged. 

New tools introduce further considerations. Artificial intelligence can help researchers review literature and improve their writing, but its outputs need careful verification. Using these tools responsibly means protecting confidential material and retaining responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the research. 

The workshop also examined the conditions under which research itself is conducted, particularly when researchers work across institutions and national borders. 

In international research partnerships, decisions about a project's direction, responsibilities, and funding arrangements can shape how people participate in the work. Prof. Zähringer’s presentation also addressed the rights of co-investigators in research consortia, including the importance of setting research priorities together, establishing clear agreements, and sharing project information and budgets transparently. 

The day also included an open forum, where participants could raise questions and share experiences from their own research. 

“I particularly appreciated the friendly and close atmosphere, which made it easy for us to express ourselves, ask questions and share our experiences openly,” one participant wrote afterward. The same participant valued the practical nature of the workshop:

Sharing research experience also means sharing the practical experience that is accumulated with every lived publication process but that is rarely part of teaching curricula: how to develop an argument, respond to criticism, navigate publishing decisions, and work with colleagues on equal terms.  

The workshop builds on the University of Bern’s long-standing research partnerships with ESSA in Madagascar. During her own PhD, Prof. Zähringer benefited from the guidance of Professors and researchers there, whom she credits with helping shape her academic career. Years later, she is sharing a different kind of expertise in return: insights from the editor’s desk that doctoral researchers can bring to their own work. 

Text: Predrag Tripkovic