Assignments

As part of our program, the participants had quite a lot of assignments. From taking screenshots of completing the different modules, to writing, presenting, working on Github, writing in Rmarkdown, interviewing scientists, and delivering group projects. Each of the "bigger" assignment is described below in a collapsible section and you can read examples of their work. Click on the heading to expand or collapse the details.

Assignment 1: 500-Word Summary of a Scientific Article

Description & Objectives

Pick a published scientific article not authored by you.
Write a concise, 500-word summary aimed at non-specialist readers.
Include a figure, photo, or short video snippet that clarifies the science.

How to Approach It

Choose a Malaria Article: Something interesting or relevant to you, ideally with a spatial mapping element.
Key Points:
- What was the research question/hypothesis?
- Methods used & key results.
- Why it matters (impact/significance).
Adapt Language & Tone: minimal jargon; define crucial terms. Keep it friendly.
Visual Selection:
- Adapt a complex figure or create your own small schematic.
- Check licensing or cite the source if it’s not yours.
Polish & Seek Feedback:
- Read aloud; ask a non-specialist if it’s clear.
- Incorporate feedback from mentors/peers.

Upload & Feedback

Create a Google Doc named Assignment1_YourInitials.
Insert your figure/photo or a link to a short video snippet.
Reviewers add a scoring table after reading.

Assignment 2: 250-Word Abstract (Formal Scientific Audience)

Description & Objectives

Write a concise, 250-word abstract suitable for a scientific publication or conference.
It can be your current/ongoing research or a hypothetical project.
Follow typical abstract conventions: background, methods, results, conclusion.

What to Include

Background/Context: a couple lines about the broader problem.
Objectives: the specific question(s) or hypothesis(es).
Methods: brief outline of design, data, or analysis.
Key Findings: main/anticipated results.
Conclusion/Significance: why it matters or next steps.

Approach & Tips

Structured Draft: use headings, then merge into one paragraph if needed.
Refine for Brevity: keep ~250 words, remove fluff.
Check Scientific Tone: keep it precise; discipline-specific terms are okay.
Feedback Round: ask a mentor/peer if it’s logical and coherent.

Upload & Feedback

Document: Assignment2_YourInitials in your folder.
Reviewers add the scoring table in the doc.

Assignment 3: 5-Minute Talk on a Scientific Article

Description & Objectives

Select any scientific article (not authored by you).
Create a recorded 5-minute presentation for a “general scientist” audience.
Use visuals (graphs, diagrams, photos) to highlight question, methods, results, & significance.

How to Approach It

Slide Planning (~4–6 slides): minimal text, 1 main point per slide.
Narrative Flow: main question, brief methods, main findings, “So what?”.
Recording: use PPT’s built-in recorder or Zoom; keep camera on if possible.

Upload & Feedback

File: Assignment3_YourInitials.pptx plus an MP4 or link in the same folder.
Reviewers provide feedback in the PPT’s Notes or a separate doc.

Assignment 4: 3.5-Minute Research Presentation/Pitch

Description & Objectives

Create a concise 3.5-minute recorded talk about your own research (or planned project).
Use the “What, How, Why” structure to keep it focused.
Imagine your audience as potential collaborators you want to impress.

How to Approach It

Hook: a startling statistic or question to grab attention.
Outline Approach: briefly explain your method or plan.
Why It Matters: emphasize significance, potential impact.
Visual & Delivery: limit text, prefer diagrams; be enthusiastic.

Upload & Feedback

File: Assignment4_YourInitials.pptx + a 3.5-min recording in your folder.
Reviewers watch & comment in slides or doc.

Reviewers: Scoring Guide (1–5)

1 – Poor

Clarity: Content unclear; heavy jargon.
Structure & Flow: No logical structure, transitions missing.
Accuracy: Key points misrepresented or missing.
Engagement: Lacks interest or creativity.
Visuals: Absent or poorly executed, irrelevant.
Delivery: Hard to follow, lacks confidence.

2 – Below Expectations

Clarity: Partially understandable but includes complex or unclear bits.
Structure & Flow: Some structure, but lacks thorough development.
Accuracy: Some correct info, but errors or omissions.
Engagement: Minimal audience connection, limited energy.
Visuals: Present but not well-chosen or integrated.
Delivery: Audible but not polished; possibly distracting visuals/audio.

3 – Meets Expectations

Clarity: Generally clear with minor lapses.
Structure & Flow: Logical, with occasional inconsistencies.
Accuracy: Mostly accurate, minor overlooks.
Engagement: Moderately engaging, decent attention-holding.
Visuals: Relevant, moderately polished.
Delivery: Clear, audible, somewhat confident pacing.

4 – Exceeds Expectations

Clarity: Clear, concise, well-tailored to audience.
Structure & Flow: Logical with smooth transitions.
Accuracy: Key points represented accurately.
Engagement: Creative, appeals well to audience.
Visuals: High-quality, well-integrated.
Delivery: Confident, good pacing, uses visuals effectively.

5 – Outstanding

Clarity: Exceptionally clear, minimal jargon, elegantly explained.
Structure & Flow: Seamless transitions, compelling narrative.
Accuracy: Comprehensive, no errors, well-researched.
Engagement: Highly captivating, stands out for creativity.
Visuals: Thoroughly enhances content, outstanding quality.
Delivery: Extremely polished, memorable, top-notch professionalism.

Assignment 5: Informational Interviews

MAP Dar ECR Development Program: Cohort 1 (2025)
In this assignment, you will write an informational interview in an RMarkdown file and publish it on GitHub. This workflow combines the power of RMarkdown with GitHub's collaborative features, letting you share your work easily and track changes effectively.

We encourage a fork-and-branch workflow so you can:

Safely develop features in your own copy of the project.
Easily track and discuss changes before merging into the main repository.

Guide to Conducting Informational Interviews (Shortened)

Define Your Goal: Clarify what you want to learn (role specifics, career path, etc.).
Identify the Right People: Find professionals in your network, explain you’re part of MAP Dar ECR Program.
Prepare Your Questions: Explore career path, daily tasks, skill sets, industry trends, advice, etc.
During the Interview: Be respectful of time, listen actively, confirm if they allow public posting.
Close & Follow Up: Thank them; send the final article if they want to see it. Ask for referrals!

Guide to Writing & Publishing Your Article (Shortened)

Create RMarkdown: Insert text, images, links. Knit to HTML in RStudio.
Fork & Clone Repo: So you can develop in your own branch without affecting the main repo immediately.
Commit & Push Changes: Stage your .html, push to your fork, then open a Pull Request.
Add a Link: Edit this 06_Assignments.html to link your new HTML interview in the Participant Submissions section below.
Done!: Others can now read your interview from the website.

Independent Group Project: Designing & Delivering a Spatial-Health Study

Over the last 2-3 months of the programme participants self-organised into three teams, chose a real-world malaria-related question, and produced a fully-reproducible analysis pipeline — from data acquisition to visual communication.
Full guide: Google Doc ↗︎

Teams & Topics

Team Flood-Risk TZ — Mapping flood-hazard exposure for health facilities in Tanzania.
Team Access TZ-ZM — Geographical accessibility to primary health facilities in Tanzania and Zambia.
Team ITN Equity — Age & sex disparities in ITN utilisation using DHS surveys in Tanzania and Zambia.

Each group maintained its own GitHub repository, held group meetings, presented their updated in cohort-wide fortnightly catch up sessions, and delivered a ten-minute presentation at the final symposium. Slide decks and posters will be uploaded once manuscripts have been submitted for publication.

Comms Assignment 1 – 500-word lay summary

Brief & marking guide ▸

Write a 500-word non-specialist summary of a peer-reviewed malaria paper. Include one explanatory figure. Full instructions: Google Doc ↗︎ and Scoring Sheet ↗︎

Yasini Kokoda

Herieth Mboya

Phoibe Keu

Oscar Lugumamu

Sarah Leonard

Comms Assignment 2 – 250-word formal abstract

Brief & marking guide ▸

Craft a concise 250-word abstract suitable for a scientific conference. Full instructions: Google Doc ↗︎ and Scoring Sheet ↗︎

Jackline Nkoma

Oscar Lugumamu

Sarah Leonard

Comms Assignment 3 – 5-min recorded explainer

Brief & marking guide ▸

Explain a malaria paper to a general-scientist audience in ≤ 5 minutes.

Yasini Kokoda

Herieth Mboya

Jackline Nkoma

Phoibe Keu

Oscar Lugumamu

Mwiinde Mayaba Allan

Comms Assignment 4 – 3.5-min research pitch

Brief & marking guide ▸

Convince potential collaborators in ≤ 3.5 min that your project matters.

Yasini Kokoda

Herieth Mboya

Jackline Nkoma

Phoibe Keu

Oscar Lugumamu

Powell Kafwanka

Mwiinde Mayaba Allan

Participant Submissions: Informational Interviews

Below, we list final HTML interviews that were written in Rmarkdown and added to this website via the participants forking and cloning the main GitHub repo and editing the html website Full instructions: Google Doc ↗︎
Participants: Please add a bullet linking to your .html in the 06_Assignments/YourFolder .

Informational Interview Workflow recap

MAP ECR Final Symposium

It has been an incredible six months of intensive training and, as you can see, our participants had a lot on their plate! To celebrate their amazing work, commitment, and never-wavering enthusiasm, we closed our first cohort with an in-person symposium in Dar es Salaam, supported by AMMNet. They had two very busy days presenting their independent group projects, showcasing new skills, and learning even more. The agenda was:

The three independent groups worked on the following subjects:

Mapping Flood-Hazard Exposure for Health Facilities in Tanzania
Mapping Geographical Accessibility to Primary Health Facilities in Tanzania and Zambia
Age and Sex Disparities in ITN Utilization: Evidence from DHS Surveys in Tanzania and Zambia

(We’re aiming to publish all three projects, so slides and posters remain under wraps for now.)

In our very last reflection session, participants shared their experience about this program:

Enormous thanks to our stellar participants and all of our awesome trainers and mentors!