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Overview

Most Chemistry Library induction and training courses are also listed on the Library Study Skills Catalogue. This is a growing collection of resources and workshops available to all students, as provided by Cambridge Libraries. It can be searched using simple keywords, and resources can be filtered by subject/study area, to help you find relevant study support and materials to aid your learning. 

The library delivers training and induction to Chemistry undergraduate and postgraduate students, and Chemistry Post-Doctoral Research Associates (PDRAs).

Graduate students are auto-enrolled on to the IS1, IS3 and IS4 sessions on Moodle by the Graduate Education team.

All other sessions are advertised with details of how to book places. 

Chemistry Library orientation for NST Chemistry Part IB, Part II and Part III undergraduates

This optional session covers finding your way around the print collections of Chemistry and other libraries and practicalities of borrowing within and outside Cambridge, as well as accessing subscribed electronic resources, and includes:

  • The structure of Cambridge Library system, Cambridge University Library as host of online resources, and links to other libraries.
  • Locating Chemistry Library print resources, using IT facilities and services such as document supply for items not available in Cambridge.
  • Demonstration of and advice on how best to find the journal articles and books that you need, whether in print or online, using the online library catalogue, iDiscover, and other search engines available.
  • Request and renew functions on iDiscover.
  • Self-issue system and borrowing accounts.
  • Introduction to the Chemistry Library website and social media accounts.

Training for new Chemistry postgraduate students

The training delivered to new postgraduate students is Information Systems (IS) training is delivered as part of the Department's Graduate Education programme. Students are auto-enrolled on to the IS1, IS3 and IS4 sessions on Moodle. All other sessions are advertised with details of how to book places. 

IS1: Chemistry Library Orientation

This compulsory session covers finding your way around the print collections of Chemistry and other libraries and practicalities of borrowing within and outside Cambridge, as well as accessing subscribed electronic resources, and includes:

  • The structure of Cambridge Library system, Cambridge University Library as host of online resources, and links to other libraries.
  • Locating Chemistry Library print resources, using IT facilities and services such as document supply for items not available in Cambridge.
  • Demonstration of and advice on how best to find the journal articles and books that you need, whether in print or online, using the online library catalogue, iDiscover, and other search engines available.
  • Request and renew functions on iDiscover.
  • Self-issue system and borrowing accounts.
  • Introduction to the Chemistry Library website and social media accounts.

IS2: Citation Database Searching Skills

A ‘recommended’ optional course that introduces all the relevant online databases available to you in the university: citation databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, which index all the scientific literature that is published, as well as chemistry and related subject-specific databases. You will be guided on how to search citation databases effectively and the session includes a hands-on element where you can practise searching using the PCs available. You are welcome to bring your own laptop.

IS3: Research Information Skills

This compulsory course will equip you with the skills required to manage the research information you will need to gather throughout your graduate course, as well as the publications you will produce yourself. It will also help you enhance your online research profile and measure the impact of research.

IS4: Research Data Management (RDM)

This compulsory course introduces Research Data Management (RDM) to Chemistry PhD students. It is highly interactive and utilises practical activities throughout. 

Key topics covered are: 

  • Research Data Management (RDM) - what it is and what problems can occur with managing and sharing your data. 
  • Data backup and file sharing - possible consequences of not backing up your data, strategies for backing up your data and sharing your data safely. 
  • Data organisation - how to organise your files and folders, what is best practice. 
  • Data sharing - obstacles to sharing your data, benefits and importance of sharing your data, the funder policy landscape, resources available in the University to help you share your data. 
  • Data management planning - creating a roadmap for how not to get lost in your data!

IS5: ReaxysIntroduction and Practical Session

An introduction to searching the chemical literature, focussing on the use of Reaxys. Has a molecule been made before? Has something like it been made? Has a reaction been carried out? Is your calculation new? Has a concept been discussed in the literature? New research requires knowledge of the relevant background, and these tools will help you to explore past research.

IS6: Introduction to GitHub

Are you interested in using Git and GitHub to manage your code/research data? This new workshop covers the following:

  • What is Git? What is GitHub? What is version control?
  • How can it be useful for you?
  • Practical session: working with GitHub

Training for Chemistry PDRAs

All you need to know about Data Management Plans 

Are you a post-doc applying for grants? Do you need to write a Data Management Plan as part of your grant application but don't know how? Are you a post-doc who is just interested in learning about writing data management plans? If so, this session is for you.

During this session you will learn everything you need to know about data management plans:

  • What they are
  • Why they are suddenly required as part of grant applications
  • What to include in data management plans
  • Tools to help writing data management plans

Introduction to GitHub

Are you interested in using Git and GitHub to manage your code/research data? This new workshop covers the following:

  • What is Git? What is GitHub? What is version control?
  • How can it be useful for you?
  • Practical session: working with GitHub

Information skills

Do you ever ask yourselves these questions?

  • How can I access online, full text literature, on- and off-campus?
  • How do I search the library catalogue efficiently?
  • What databases are available to me?
  • How can I manage my reference collection?
  • How can I keep up to date with the latest research in my field?
  • How do I get something that’s not available in Cambridge?
  • What are altmetrics and why are they important?
  • How do I comply with open access and open data requirements?

Learn all of this and more at one of the Information Skills training sessions being delivered especially for you!

Other sources of research and related skills training

Please visit our Research skills website for more information.