EAPoC Project Hosts a Writing Workshop in Entebbe, Uganda
Under work package 5, the EAPoC-VL project organized a writing workshop, “Winning the Publication Game,” at Admas Grand Hotel in Entebbe, Uganda, from February 17th to 18th, 2025. There were 34 participants from Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya.
Prof. Anna Mia Ekström (Karolinska Institutet, Sweden), Prof. Sayoki G Mfinanga, and Dr. Mbazi Sankoro (National Institute for Medical Research, NIMR, Tanzania) were the senior researchers responsible for the workshop, which was supported by colleagues from Karolinska Institute (KI), National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), and Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).
The workshop, which was led by a senior editor from the British Medical Journal (BMJ), Dr Jocalyn Clark, was a follow-up to an introductory 2-hour online workshop held on November 22nd by the same editor, which reached over 90 participants. The second in-person workshop targeted junior researchers in the EAPoC-VL network who had participated in the first part.
The aim was to provide the skills and knowledge needed to develop a manuscript for submission to build capacity for future publications and accelerate outputs from this EDCTP-funded project.
All participants were asked to bring data/tables, a draft manuscript, or at least a research idea to the workshop, which focused on manuscripts reporting original research but also included sessions on writing non-research articles such as editorials and commentaries. The two days were intensive, with lectures and hands-on guidance to formulate their main research messages to each other and provide peer feedback.
The first day covered the following topics:
Understanding the game of publishing; Understanding your goals; Introducing a 4-step process for success;
The second day began with focused writing and then went on to cover Publication ethics, writing editorials and commentaries, returning to the 4-step process and drafts on big and tiny picture editing, Writing hacks and writing cover letters, wrap-up, and next steps.
Outcomes: All participants drafted a large part of their planned papers and wrote one commentary each. They were also encouraged to plan and specify how and when they would finalize their papers and how they could make more time for dedicated, effective writing ahead. They all received a certificate of attendance after the workshop. Participants’ evaluations of the workshop were overwhelmingly positive.
The workshop also offered valuable opportunities for junior researchers across all 4 countries to network and learn from peers as well as senior mentors.
