LSC 212: Life Sciences Communication. Introduction to Scientific Communication (Spring 2025) : Home

This course guide is designed to supplement the information in the LSC 212 online library module in Canvas and provide general guidance for navigating the resources and services available through the UW Libraries.

The library session will include:

• Review of the library activities in the Canvas module
• Modeling a process for:
  • Thinking creatively about your topic to identify your assumptions, biases, and where the research questions are
  • Searching online sources for background information
  • Exploring the scholarly conversation using research articles and databases
• Work time

With a partner, discuss the following questions

• How were you inspired to choose your research topic / where did you hear your “they say”? (e.g., personal experience, news articles, scholarly articles, social media, etc.)

• What have you done or could you do to get a better understanding of your topic?

Microsoft Copilot

What is it?

• Microsoft Copilot is a generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, which is one kind of artificial intelligence technology that uses predictive algorithms and statistics to respond to questions in a human-like manner. They are not designed to evaluate sources for credibility or relevance.
• When you log in with your NetID, at copilot.microsoft.com, you are provided with commercial data protection, meaning it won’t use your prompts to train its large language models, but does does not provide security for personal or sensitive information. Once you are logged in, you will see a small green shield icon next to the "New Chat" button.

Example prompt

Provide search terms, multiple perspectives and points of view, and current issues on my question. 

Search terms should be in the form of a database search, including Boolean operators, and there should be multiple keywords and synonyms for each aspect of my question. 

If there is a scientific consensus, what are the ongoing debates around my question? 

Start by asking me questions to: clarify terminology; understand my assumptions, prior knowledge, and perspective; and identify specific areas of interest, types of sources needed, and purpose for this information. 

Here is my question: [insert question]

Considerations when using generative AI

• Generative AI tools should be research assistants and not do the research for you.
• Be specific in your prompt to limit the amount of decisions the AI tool is making.
• You are responsible and accountable for any content generated by the AI tool that you incorporate into your work, projects, etc.
• Prompt the AI tool to provide the sources for the information it is providing, then go to the original sources to evaluate them for relevancy and accuracy.
• Dig deeper using Google and Library databases for additional sources and corroborating evidence.
• Do not include personal information in your prompts.

Google search tips

• Limit your results to News by selecting the News filter
• Limit your results to organization websites that provide information on a specific issue or perspective
  • YOUR TOPIC site:org
• Limit your results to education websites
  • YOUR TOPIC site:edu
• Limit your results to government websites
  • YOUR TOPIC site:gov