Much has been written about how to write good research papers. But there is a need to discuss it from time to time. Writing is a necessity for researchers to publish their work in reputed journals and well-attended conferences as well as to prepare winning grant proposals. However, it is increasingly becoming an even more important task than doing the research itself. Intense competition in securing grants and publishing papers underscores the need to write well to put forth one’s ideas effectively. By taking a few good tips from a selected set of essays on “how to write about research”, we will discuss a pragmatic approach that makes writing pleasurable and rewarding.


Brief biographical sketch of G. K. Ananthasuresh
G. K. Ananthasuresh earned his bachelor’s degree from IIT-Madras, master’s from the University of Toledo, and PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor—all in mechanical engineering. His principal research interests are compliant mechanisms and topology optimization with applications in microelectromechanical systems, biomechanics of cells, biomedical devices, and microrobots. In addition to research output of more than 300 journal and conference publications and 16 patents, his research group has spun off four startups. He
currently serves as a professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Dean of Mechanical Sciences at IISc-Bengaluru.