Beyond the Lab: Research and Reasoning workshop series

Launched during the Fall of 2025, the Beyond the Lab: Research and Reasoning workshop series features WSU's health sciences librarian, Aaron Bowen, offering workshops that draw from his wealth of experience teaching undergraduate and graduate CHP students (as well as students in other fields who's learning touches upon the health sciences) about the research process, effective searching to find useful sources, and then understanding and interpreting those sources once they are found.  Through this series, Aaron presents some of the most commonly asked about topics from the different student inquiries he receives.  The time and place for these workshops is:

Ahlberg 201 | 3:30-5:00 PM

The individual dates for the workshops are listed below, with the workshop descriptions:

• September 17: Panel: How Do Health Sciences Connect to the Humanities?
  Explore how topics in philosophy, history, and other humanities fields intersect with the health sciences. This panel discussion will help students understand how integrating diverse perspectives can deepen research and practice in healthcare and public health.
• September 24:  Recognizing and Avoiding Junk Science
  Learn how to spot misleading or inaccurate scientific claims. This workshop will walk students through a teaching module developed for public health coursework and equip them with practical tools to critically evaluate information—a vital skill for research and everyday decision-making.
  
• October 1:  Getting Started with Health Science Research
  Not sure where to begin with your research? This session introduces the key steps and resources needed to conduct research in the health sciences and related clinical fields. Perfect for students feeling overwhelmed or unsure about starting major projects or assignments.
  
• October 8:  Evidence-Based Practice Tools
  Discover the difference between traditional research and evidence-based practice. Students will explore tools designed to support evidence-informed decisions in healthcare, including the library’s newly updated Evidence-Based Practice Portal and the UpToDate database.
  
• October 22:  Designing Systematic Reviews
  Systematic reviews are more than just long literature reviews. Learn what sets them apart, how to read and write them, and why they are one of the fastest-growing forms of scholarly publication. Ideal for students in health, behavioral sciences, or anyone tackling an in-depth research project.
  
• November 19:  Mastering EndNote: Citation Management Made Simple
  Tired of losing track of sources? This hands-on workshop will show students how to use EndNote to import, organize, and cite references across projects. Whether you're writing your first paper or formatting a thesis, EndNote can help you stay organized and reduce last-minute stress.
  
• December 3:  Publishing and Presenting in the Health Sciences (and Beyond)
  Learn how to take your writing beyond the classroom. This session walks students through what it takes to present at conferences, publish in journals, or submit to research competitions. Whether you're an undergrad getting started or a grad student planning your next step, you’ll leave with a better understanding of the scholarly publishing process.