— Supporting Researchers’ Creativity and Accelerating Scholarly Communication —
The Center for Research in Radiation, Isotopes, and Earth System Sciences (CRiES) and the Institute for Environmental Sciences (IES), in collaboration through the Environmental Radioactivity Research Network (ERAN), hosted a workshop titled “Effective Academic Writing with AI” on December 5, 2025, at IES.
The session began with an introduction by Professor Onda on the fundamental workflow of AI utilization, followed by a hands-on workshop where participants used pre-prepared materials to assemble research papers with generative AI tools. The event emphasized idea-sharing and peer learning, fostering an environment where participants explored better writing strategies together.
A large number of researchers and students attended, actively engaging with multiple AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Nature Research Assistant. Participants experienced the entire academic writing process—from structuring manuscripts and refining English expressions to data analysis and responding to peer-review comments—while operating these tools in real time.
Voices from Participants
Many participants expressed that AI is a powerful tool to support researchers’ creative work:
- “I never imagined generating a manuscript from PPT slides or posters. This will help me resume work on papers I had put aside.”
- “Combining ChatGPT and Nature Research Assistant allows me to improve paper structure and search related literature seamlessly.”
- “I was amazed that Copilot integrates with Word and Excel to finalize figures and tables. It seems useful for data analysis too.”
- “Brainstorming with AI helped organize my thoughts. Writing no longer feels like a solitary task—it became a positive, interactive process.”
- “AI-assisted debugging for data analysis code is extremely practical. Getting multiple solutions from error messages is a game-changer.”
- “It was my first time using generative AI, and the content was beginner-friendly. I even upgraded to ChatGPT Plus during the session.”
- “I gained a deeper understanding of security and data handling, which is essential for safe and confident AI use.”
Across disciplines, participants shared positive feedback such as “The barriers to academic writing have been lowered” and “I now see AI as a collaborative partner in research.”
Significance and Future Outlook
This workshop aimed to provide researchers with a foundation for “proactively mastering AI tools” and to experience the transformative potential of generative AI in research environments. AI applications extend beyond manuscript writing to:
- Generating research project ideas
- Data analysis and figure preparation
- Optimizing English for international journals
- Supporting communication during peer review
ERAN will continue to offer workshops like this to help researchers leverage AI tools safely and effectively, enhancing the global impact of their scholarly work.
Contact
Environmental Radioactivity Research Network (ERAN) Secretariat
Center for Research in Radiation, Isotopes, and Earth System Sciences (CRiES), University of Tsukuba
