Biomedical professionals need to be able to communicate their research proposals and findings effectively in writing. However, most professionals receive little specific training in scientific writing. Many have mistaken views about what good writing is and how to achieve it. Writing in a language that is not your mother tongue makes it even more difficult to ensure that a text is well organized, coherent, and easily understood. Although most professionals quickly learn to read English-language texts in their special areas of interest, most fail to develop the skills they need to write successful grant applications and articles.

All scientists can learn to write competently. Writing skills can be learned, improved, and refined. Skills are based on knowledge, but knowledge alone is not enough. Developing skills requires putting knowledge into practice. This training seminar aims to help students improve their skills in writing scientific English. Students will learn the principles underlying effective written communication in science and put them into practice in a relaxed atmosphere of open discussion and feedback.

On the 2nd and 3rd of December 2015 the Esteve Foundation organized the fifth edition of Developing skills in scientific writing at the Hospital Universitari Son Espases in Palma de Mallorca, in collaboration with the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Palma (IdISPa). The edition had the special conference The importance of English in medicine, by Jonathan McFarland, Medical English teacher at Son Espases University Hospital and Son Llatzer Hospital.