Aligarh, October 23: In an effort to strengthen research capabilities and promote the effective use of digital tools in academic writing, Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), in collaboration with iGroup India, organised a training programme on “Using SciFlow for Publishing Research and Reference Management” at the Cultural Hall of the library.
The programme aimed to familiarise faculty members, research scholars and students with SciFlow, a digital platform that facilitates academic writing, reference management and manuscript preparation. More than 100 participants, including faculty members, deputy librarians, assistant librarians, research scholars and students, attended the programme, reflecting the growing importance of technology-enabled research and scholarly communication.
In an increasingly competitive academic environment, researchers are expected not only to produce quality research but also to ensure accuracy in referencing, adherence to journal-specific publication guidelines and efficient manuscript preparation. Digital platforms such as SciFlow can help simplify these tasks by streamlining citation management, automating bibliography creation and facilitating manuscript formatting in accordance with journal requirements.
Prof. Nishat Fatima, Officiating Librarian, Maulana Azad Library and convener of the workshop, welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Mr. S. Mustafa K. Q. Zaidi, and the resource persons, Dr. Tariq Ashraf and Mr. R. Sunil Kumar, for their participation.
Chief Guest Mr. S. Mustafa K. Q. Zaidi shared his perspectives on the significance of adopting modern research tools in the academic landscape. He highlighted the relevance of technology-driven solutions in facilitating research and helping scholars navigate the evolving requirements of academic publishing. He also highlighted the evolving role of academic libraries as dynamic centres of research support and digital learning.
In her address, Prof. Nishat Fatima emphasised that in an increasingly competitive academic environment, researchers are expected not only to produce quality research but also to ensure accuracy in referencing, adherence to journal-specific publication guidelines and efficient manuscript preparation. Digital platforms such as SciFlow can help simplify these tasks by streamlining citation management, automating bibliography creation and facilitating manuscript formatting in accordance with journal requirements.
Dr. Tariq Ashraf introduced the participants to SciFlow, explaining its key features and potential applications in academic writing. Mr. R. Sunil Kumar conducted a practical, step-by-step demonstration of the platform, covering automated bibliography generation, manuscript formatting according to journal-specific templates, collaborative writing and other features designed to simplify the research publication process.
The hands-on orientation enabled participants to gain practical insights into the use of digital tools for managing references and preparing research manuscripts. Such training initiatives are particularly relevant for early-career researchers and research scholars.
The programme was coordinated by Dr. Habibur Rahman Khan, Deputy Librarian, with Dr. Jafar Iqbal, Assistant Librarian, serving as co-coordinator. Mr. Mohd. Yusuf, Assistant Librarian, conducted the proceedings, while Dr. Shamama Firdaus, Assistant Librarian, proposed the vote of thanks.
