Training Scientists

Training Scientists to Make the Right Moves

This book takes you step by step through the behind-the-scenes activities that result in a successful training event. Content is drawn from the experiences of HHMI and Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) workshop organizers, representatives of the BWF-HHMI Partners in Scientific Management Program, and others with extensive experience in scientific management training. © 2006 by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

Note: HHMI is no longer accepting orders for hard copies of Training Scientists to Make the Right Moves. This book is available for free as a downloadable PDF document below.

• Download Training Scientists to Make the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Developing Programs in Scientific Management (full book)

Download individual chapters:

• Front matter and Introduction (pp. i-2)
  • Copyright
  • Contents
  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • Contributors
  • Introduction
• Chapter 1: Getting Started: Deciding Whom to Train and What They Should Learn (pp. 3-8)
  • Identifying Your Target Audience
  • Setting Goals and Objectives
  • Selecting the Topics
• Chapter 2: Obtaining Support and Assembling a Planning Team (pp. 9-20)
  • Taking Stock
  • It's Okay to Start Small
  • Obtaining Buy-in from Your Organization
  • Assembling a Planning Team
  • Collaborating with Another Organization
  • Communication Within the Planning Team
  • Building in Evaluation    
• Chapter 3: Deciding What, When, and Where (pp. 21-30)
  • Settling on a Structure: Big-picture Considerations
  • Determining the Date
  • Developing a Timeline
  • Choosing the Location
  • Taking Advantage of an Existing Event
• Chapter 4: Developing a Budget and Getting the Funds Together (pp. 31-38)
  • Thinking Through Some Budget Details
  • Securing Additional Funds
  • Tips for Cutting Costs
• Chapter 5: Fine-Tuning the Agenda (pp. 39-46)
  • Narrowing Down the Session Content
  • Figuring Out the Format
• Chapter 6: Finding and Working with Speakers (pp. 47-54)
  • Finding Good Speakers
  • A Bit About Speakers' Fees
  • Communicating with Speakers
  • Preparing Your Speakers
• Chapter 7: Recruiting and Registering Participants (pp. 55-62)
  • Announcing the Event
  • Two Obstacles to Attendance
  • Registering Participants
• Chapter 8: Making It Happen (pp. 63-78)
  • Staying Organized
  • Several Months Before the Event
  • Working with a Hotel or Conference Facility
  • Training Materials and Giveaways
  • Troubleshooting: Develop a Contingency Plan
  • The Run-up to the Event
  • The Day of the Event
  • After the Training Event
• Chapter 9: Evaluating the Training (pp. 79-92)
  • What to Budget for Evaluation
  • Where to Find Evaluation Expertise
  • Working with an Evaluation Consultant
  • What to Evaluate
  • Designing the Evaluation Instrument
  • How to Gather Evaluation Information
  • When to Evaluate
  • Analyzing the Data
  • Reporting the Data and Applying What You Have Learned
  • Sharing What You Have Learned
• Appendixes (pp. 93-128) (425KB)
  • Appendix 1: Budget Planning: Sample Checklist
  • Appendix 2: The BWF-HHMI Courses in Scientific Management: A Case Study
  • Appendix 3: Course Schedule: 2005 BWF-HHMI Course in Scientific Management
  • Appendix 4: Course Summary Evaluation Form: 2005 BWF-HHMI Course in Scientific Management