A Strategy For Faculty Enhancement Related To Scientific Publications

This paper reports on an initiative to strengthen the research activities of engineering faculty at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. As a specific objective the project attempts to improve the number and quality of publications in peer-reviewed journals by young members of the faculty. A diagnosis carried out shows that young researchers are not trained to be independent researchers during their Ph.D. studies in the United States, and that important decisions are made by their advisors, so that they are not even aware of the existence of various problems. The activities implemented by the first author under this initiative include a workshop for a small number of participants. The theme of the workshop is the publication process and the topics are grouped in three main parts: the manuscript, the evaluation of a manuscript, and conflicts in the publication process. The publication process is here seen as a way to enter into a more profound set of problems frequently found in young researchers which may cause difficulties in their activities and production. Thus, the workshop also introduces the participants to problems related to the history of science, philosophy and methodology of research, ethical dilemmas that arise in research, and aspects of sociology of the publication process. During the workshop the participants also work on a manuscript reporting a research already carried out by them. The initiative has been running for three years, and an initial assessment shows a clear increase in the motivation of the participants towards research activities and an increase in the publication of papers.