Peking University, May 2, 2025: Dr. Jeffrey Robens, a senior editor at Nature Portfolio, gave a lecture on how to improve scientific writing on April 29. Held in Room 438 of the Yan Yuan Building, the lecture drew students, researchers, and faculty members eager to improve their writing skills.

Dr. Robens has more than 20 years of experience in research and publishing. He has led over 650 days of training worldwide and is a lead instructor in the Nature Masterclasses series, which offers professional guidance on writing and publishing scientific papers.

During his lecture, Dr. Robens emphasized that good scientific writing should be clear, concise, and engaging. He encouraged the use of simple words and short sentences, avoiding jargon, and focusing each paragraph on one main idea. “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough,” he said, quoting Albert Einstein to stress that clarity reflects true understanding.

He also offered practical tips: use the active voice to make writing more direct, stay within an ideal word limit of 3,000 to 4,000 words for top journals, and avoid overstating results unless they are strongly supported. He stressed the value of a clear structure and maintaining objectivity throughout a manuscript.

The session concluded with a Q&A, where Dr. Robens addressed questions on citation practices, the use of visuals, and collaborating with professionals for figures and graphics. He encouraged early-career researchers to co-author review papers with mentors and to draft directly in English. Furthermore, using AI tools to refine grammar and style is especially helpful for non-native English speakers.

This lecture was especially valuable for international researchers. As most leading journals publish in English, strong writing skills not only increase the chances of publication but also help scientists communicate their work to a global audience.

Attendees were also introduced to the Nature Masterclasses On-demand platform, a suite of expert-led courses covering writing, peer review, and publishing. These resources are now accessible to the Peking University community.