The Web Office of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura organized a seminar on ‘Use of ChatGPT for Journal Paper Preparation: Hope or Hype? Things You Should Demystify for Better Delivery’ by Prof. Mahesh Jayaweera of the University of Moratuwa. The event was held on February 17th, 2023, at the Forestry Auditorium.
During the seminar, Prof. Jayaweera discussed the benefits and limitations of using ChatGPT in academic writing. He emphasized the importance of embracing AI tools such as ChatGPT to improve efficiency and effectiveness in academic writing, allowing researchers to produce high-quality research papers in less time.
Prof Jayaweera demonstrated how he was able to use ChatGPT to write a paper titled “Occurrence, persistence, and ecological risk of BPA in surface waters” within a few days, generating relevant content and structuring the paper. However, he noted that ChatGPT should be used as a tool to aid in the writing process and not a replacement for critical thinking and research skills.
“When using ChatGPT for journal paper writing, it is important to clearly define the research question, provide a clear and concise prompt, review and edit the output, refine the language and structure, check for plagiarism, and proofread thoroughly before submission. ChatGPT is popular among academics due to its speed, efficiency, versatility, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness. However, it is important to be cautious when using ChatGPT, as the final output still requires careful review and revision by an expert in the field.
There are also some demerits to using ChatGPT for journal paper writing, including detectable non-human phrase usage, lack of ability for expression, and the inability to produce insights. Additionally, Nature Journals have announced that they will reject any article written with ChatGPT.
Researchers need clarification on whether or not to use ChatGPT, and there are questions about how to ensure co-author approval, the ethics of using ChatGPT in medical education, and the policy of Elsevier on this matter. While ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize academic writing, it is crucial to carefully consider its limitations and potential impact on the field.” are some highlights from the Prof Jayaweera’s seminar.
The seminar was organized by Web Office of USJ in collaboration with the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science.
Click here to access the PDF of the presentation.
