The Department of Zoology, Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, in collaboration with the Naga Biodiversity Collective, successfully conducted a comprehensive three-day state-level workshop on Science Writing and Communication from June 10 to 12.
The initiative aimed to bridge the gap in scientific publications from the region and equip Master’s students, PhD scholars, and lecturers with critical tools for effective scientific reporting, creative writing, and media publishing.
The workshop commenced under the chairmanship of Dr Lilongchem Thyüg, with opening remarks from Katasinliu Remmei, Head of the Department of Zoology. Workshop coordinator, Liavirhii Movi emphasized the vast, untapped potential of Naga youth in research, highlighting the necessity of translating complex ideas into impactful publications.
The technical sessions for the first two days were spearheaded by Dr Priya Tamma, Associate Professor at Azim Premji University, Bangalore. Dr Tamma guided the participants through the foundational anatomy of research papers, structural nuances, and the classic IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) format.
She underscored the importance of Mind Mapping & Paragraph Construction: Organizing chaotic data into coherent logical streams before writing; Tense and Voice Integrity: Standardizing presentation styles using active voice and keeping introductions in the present tense, results in the past tense, and discussions in the present tense; Visual Communication: Designing accessible, colour-blind-friendly charts, tables, and presentation slides to complement oral data delivery.
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Transitioning into the literary world, Krocha detailed the lifespan of a manuscript from submission and technical formatting (such as acquiring unique ISBNs) to the ultimate bottlenecks of printing and market promotion. She strongly advocated for localized content, urging young scholars to ground their narratives in regional realities and indigenous experiences.
She also demystified the principles of journalism through core concepts like the 5Ws and 1H (What, When, Where, Why, Who, and How), unpacking how newspapers curate and prioritize daily content. Participants gained hands-on experience by conducting mock interviews and drafting their own news reports.
The intensive program concluded with interactive book-marketing pitches designed to test the participants’ promotional and public communication skills.
At the valedictory session, Professor, Limatemjen, Dean of Sciences, Kohima Science College, expressed profound gratitude to the resource persons and challenged the attendees to diligently apply their newly acquired skills to elevate the standard of scientific literature emerging from the state. Certificates were distributed to all the participants.
