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CHAPTER 4 • MANAGEMENT 45

or at the meeting. This practice stimulates

the speaker to organize data for presenta-

tion, allows colleagues to consider sub-

stance in advance and generates a written

record of progress. Other principal investi-

gators require annual or biannual written

progress reports, complete with literature

review, research progress, discussion, and

future plans.

These are reviewed by the principal inves-

tigator, revised in response to the criticisms,

then collected into a laboratory notebook.

These lab presentation notebooks or progress

reports are important historical documents

for the laboratory as well as helpful starting

points for papers or theses.

Journal clubs are common adjuncts to reg-

ular research lab meetings. An analysis of a

recent paper provides additional opportunity

for young scientists to practice formal pres-

entation. Journal clubs also keep the entire

lab current with the relevant literature and

provide an opportunity to practice critical

evaluation of other scientists’ observations

and interpretations.

As integral features of the culture of aca-

demic science, lab meetings help train young

scientists and push each laboratory toward

optimal research performance. At the same

time, lab meetings set the tone for each labo-

ratory’s style of doing science. An emphasis

on discovery and constructive feedback in lab

meetings can enhance everyone’s effective-

ness and productivity, and make doing sci-

ence much more fun. ■

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR CELL BIOLOGY

The lab group is the “home

team” who knows most about

the subject. It is their job to

ensure that the speaker gets a

harder time at home than

anywhere else.