Course description

Quantitative biologists must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, a task that is challenging given the inherent complexity of biological data and their associated analyses. This course focuses both on traditional modes of communication, such as writing and speaking, and communication modes inherent to quantitative data. Students will learn how to write for and talk to a range of audiences, including scientists, industry representatives, policy makers and the general public. This course will also make use of state-of-the-art software solutions, in particular within the R environment, to creatively illuminate attributes of large data sets and complex analyses and to ensure reproducibility of data handling and analyses. Students will learn how to curate tidy datasets and write reports that integrate text, code, data, analyses, and graphics using R Markdown. Much of the raw material that students will use to practice these skills will be provided by the other MQBIOL courses, so that this course acts as the `glue' that integrates experiences across courses and builds upon skills gained in QBIOL7001.

Archived offerings