To improve the students ability to write academic papers to learn research methods, the course Research Methodology and Scientific Writing co-conducted and well-organized by CIE and University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) were offered in summer term and now ends on a happy note.

The 30-hour course was completely delivered in English. The second and third year CIE students were the participants who enjoyed the chance of attending the course offered by Professor Steven Harris from UNL. At the very beginning of first class, the students had been fully attracted by the flexible and diverse teaching style of the foreign teacher. On-class lecture, group discussion and after-class assignment become so inspiring as triggering examples illustrated the activities. The students greatly enjoyed the lively class atmosphere and the interaction with the teacher, which made the class a win-win success as teaching and learning were both efficient. Professor Steven Harris was highly appreciated for his impressive and inspiring lectures.

Yan Lu, the class monitor, said: the content of experiment design that taught by Prof. Steven was fundamentals of this field. What impressed us are the examples he shared with us. We were encouraged to understand the independent variable and dependent variable and eye on the single-variable principle in experiment. As to the paper writing, Prof. Steven Harris also shared with us some tips in submitting papers. Be full-prepared when confronted with challenges.

Student Guo Yuanyi said: Prof. Harris’s teaching style is very flexible. He made all his lectures so well-illustrated with personal experience and so informative. Form how to design an experiment and compose a paper, to how to get the paper published, apply for a research program, demonstrate the findings and make the posters, Prof. Steven Harris gave us numerous instructions.

Professor Steven Harris received doctoral degree at University of Michigan and then continues the post-doctoral research at Purdue University. He has been working as a professor in Department of Plant Pathology and Research Center of Plant Science of UNL, with additional posts of director of graduate students recruitment program and editor of Journal of Microbiology, America.

Prof. Steven Harris delivering the class Research Methodology and Scientific Writing
                                                                                               (Translated by: Yan Xianhui)