During an individual session, specialised librarians help you develop a methodology and strategies for searching information in the library collections and in electronic resources (online catalogues, bibliographic databases, electronic journals, Internet) and apply these strategies using examples drawn from your research subject.

At the library, you have access to a wealth of information in a variety of formats, including physical books, journals, and other materials, as well as electronic resources like online catalogues, bibliographic databases, and e-journals. However, navigating these resources and finding the information you need can be a daunting task, especially if you're not familiar with the library's collections or the search tools available to you.
To help you make the most of the library's resources, specialised librarians are available to work with you one-on-one in individual sessions. During these sessions, they will help you develop a methodology and strategies for searching information that is relevant to your research subject.
The specialised librarians will guide you through the process of identifying the most relevant resources, as well as how to effectively search for information using different search tools, both online and offline. They will teach you how to use Boolean operators, limiters, and other search techniques to find the information you need, and they will show you how to evaluate sources to ensure that the information you're using is reliable and accurate.
In addition to providing guidance on search techniques, specialised librarians will work with you to develop a research plan tailored to your individual needs. They will help you identify key research questions, and provide suggestions for appropriate resources to explore.
Throughout the individual session, the specialised librarians will work with you using examples from your research subject. This will allow you to practice using the search tools and techniques you've learned in a practical way, and ensure that you leave the session with a solid understanding of how to conduct research effectively using the library's resources.
Overall, the specialised librarians are an invaluable resource for anyone conducting research at the library. By working with them, you can develop the skills and knowledge you need to find the information you need quickly and efficiently, saving you time and ensuring that your research is based on accurate and reliable sources.

https://portail.ulb.be/en/research/finding-scientific-documents/one-on-one-sessions-dedicated-to-developing-information-retrieval-strategies-and-apply-them-to-your-research-topic

One-on-one sessions dedicated to developing information retrieval strategies and apply them to your research topic

https://api.typedream.com/v0/app/collection_content/03b309e7-b5d4-4e2f-8d8c-279720ed7d12_ca57fb39-3768-4934-b2f6-f053135692ca_collection_rich_content.json

Bibliographic reference management software allows you to automatically create and import bibliographic references that you find online, save them, organise them, share them with collaborators, and export them in standard formats.
Training sessions in the use of the FREE Zotero bibliographic management software are organised on request, individually or in small groups.

In the age of digital research, the process of managing references and citations can be a daunting task. With the sheer amount of information available online, it can be difficult to keep track of the sources you've used, and ensuring that you cite them correctly is essential for maintaining academic integrity. This is where bibliographic reference management software comes in.
Bibliographic reference management software is a powerful tool that allows you to easily create and manage your references, from the moment you find them online. With this software, you can automatically import references from websites, databases, and other online sources, saving them in a central location where you can easily organise and retrieve them. You can also use the software to annotate and tag your references, making them easier to find and categorise.
One of the most popular and widely used bibliographic reference management software is Zotero, a free, open-source platform that offers a range of features and functions for researchers. With Zotero, you can create citations and bibliographies in a range of formats, including APA, MLA, and Chicago, making it easy to ensure that your work is properly cited and formatted.
To help you make the most of this powerful tool, training sessions are available on request, either individually or in small groups. During these sessions, you will learn how to use Zotero to manage your references, including how to import references from online sources, how to organise and tag your references for easy retrieval, and how to create citations and bibliographies in a range of formats.
Overall, bibliographic reference management software like Zotero is an essential tool for researchers, making it easy to keep track of your sources and ensure that your work is properly cited and formatted. And with training sessions available on request, you can quickly learn how to use this powerful tool to take your research to the next level.

https://portail.ulb.be/fr/enseignement/formation-documentaire-etudiants/training-zotero

Book a personalized training to Zotero (specific for your discipline) 

https://api.typedream.com/v0/app/collection_content/ae95398c-1fc5-46bc-aa17-68c199b6afbd_ca57fb39-3768-4934-b2f6-f053135692ca_collection_rich_content.json

From our personal experience, there are currently 4 levels of tools. We categorize them based on which part of the paper (or its metadata) that is searched, and the output they are able to provide: ranking, relation, data extraction
1. Rank papers, based on word matching in title & keywords— Cible+, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, etc
2. Map network of citations— Connected Papers, Rabbit Research, Open Knowledge Map
3. Provides summary, influence-in-literature metrics, and rank papers, based on abstract and paper — Semantic Scholar
4. Extract & creates a table of information based on the AI-reading of the abstract and paper — Elicit

Note that all methods use the title, keywords, and citation count.
In most cases, we can’t explain the methods of each tools, either because they are not disclosed, (eg), or is too complex and beyond our scope. 

Conventional Search engine

Cible+
Science Direct
Web of Science
Scopus
PubMed
Google Scholar

Mapping Literature: Rabbit Research

- Papers: >200M+ (it accesses semantic scholar database)
- Creators: independents, based on Microsoft Academic Graphs
Specificity: Mapping of paper relations based on citation
- Fields: all

Main Features
1. Maps all citing paper based on 1 or more paper seed
2. Promotes literature navigation via the visual interface. Allows traceback to the original query
3. Exploration of Authors and co-authors
4. Paper feed based on papers contained in your folders.
5. Zotero integration

Best for: All types of search (general, or specific); exploring the research landscape of a topic; litterature monitoring

Alternative: Connected Papers OpenKnowledge Maps Litmap Inciteful Microsoft academic graphs

Semantic Scholar

Papers: 200M+ from 30+ publishers
Creators: Allen Institute for AI
Specificity: Natural Language Processing AI (GPT3-like)
Fields: all

Main Features
1. AI-Assisted Ranking → Method for ranking based on a larger parameter set
2. “TLDR”, an extreme summarization of papers [source], only if the entire paper is available open-source
3. Influence in citing literature→ AI estimate of the importance of a paper in the literature citing it: ranks by most influenced
4. Citation intent → AI estimates the reason for citing a paper based on category: background, method, results.
5. Paper feed based on papers contained in your folders. Info
6. Semantic reader (beta)→ AI contextual definition of abbreviation and variables. Info

Best for: All types of search (general, or specific); literature monitoring weighing the influence of paper in a field

Elicit.org

-Papers: >200M+ (it accesses semantic scholar database)
-Creators: ought.org
-Specificity: AI-based information extraction and summary from abstracts
-Fields: all

Main Features
1. AI (GTP-3) interprets research questions expressed in natural language
2. AI extracts data and information from papers
3. “Take-out from the study” are generated
4. Information to be extracted is user-designed
5. AI brainstorms research question
6. provide possible critiques of paper based on citations in other papers

Best for: All types of search (general, or specific); quick and summarized response to a research question, a rapid overview of a new field

Finding scientific literature (AI-powered)

https://api.typedream.com/v0/app/collection_content/5421b0e4-f0de-4861-9dcc-efaa3b1c3e48_ca57fb39-3768-4934-b2f6-f053135692ca_collection_rich_content.json

Remnote is a freely accessible tool developed for non-linear note-taking and spaced repetition learning.
What is non-linear note-taking? It is the very useful ability to connect concepts and topics across any note that you take (literature review, course, etc.), providing a structure to accumulated knowledge based on the ideas and concepts themselves rather than the sequences in which the notes were taken or the structure of the base material.
Remnote also proposes a built-in tool for "spaced repetition learning" which helps you beat the infamous forgetting curve.


Taking notes is an essential part of learning and research, but traditional linear note-taking methods can limit your ability to connect and synthesise ideas across different topics and disciplines. That's where non-linear note-taking comes in, and Remnote is a powerful tool that makes it easy to organise and connect your notes in a way that supports deeper learning and understanding.
Remnote is a free tool that is specifically designed for non-linear note-taking and spaced repetition learning. With Remnote, you can take notes on any topic or subject, and then connect those notes to related concepts and ideas across your entire collection of notes. This allows you to build a more complete and interconnected understanding of any given topic, without being limited by the sequential order in which you took your notes.
What's more, Remnote also includes a powerful built-in tool for spaced repetition learning. This tool is based on the idea that we forget information over time, and that by revisiting that information at specific intervals, we can reinforce our memory and make the information more permanent.
With Remnote's spaced repetition tool, you can create custom flashcards and other learning resources that are automatically scheduled for review based on your own individual learning needs. This helps you to stay on top of your learning and avoid the infamous forgetting curve, allowing you to retain more information and build a deeper understanding of any topic or subject.

Why Remnote? It is free, it has desktop software that works offline, and all data can be backed up locally.

PDF handling is NOT available in the free version. The software is relevant for literature review and connecting ideas without this feature (you have to copy part of papers you want to keep in RemNote instead of directly highlighting in the PDF joined to your RemNote). 

Zotero/Mendeley to Remnote
This add-on allows drag and drops from your reference manager into RemNote. It will then look for matching metadata in Remnote (Authors, Journal, etc) and connect them. If not found it will place the correct metadata in the right place.

Non linear note taking

https://api.typedream.com/v0/app/collection_content/d0a8ccfc-5426-42cf-b559-b364e45dba0b_ca57fb39-3768-4934-b2f6-f053135692ca_collection_rich_content.json

What is data voyager 2? It’s a browser-based app, that allows you to upload your dataset, and search for correlation in visualisations of the data. Instead of producing randomly many correlation charts and metrics manually, you have instant access to all correlations possible in your dataset

Visual data analysis involves both open-ended and focused exploration. Manual chart specification tools support question answering but are often tedious for early-stage exploration where systematic data coverage is needed. Visualization recommenders can encourage broad coverage, but irrelevant suggestions may distract users once they commit to specific questions. We present Voyager 2, a mixed-initiative system that blends manual and automated chart specifications to help analysts engage in both open-ended exploration and targeted question answering. We contribute two partial specification interfaces: wildcards let users specify multiple charts in parallel, while related views suggest visualizations relevant to the currently specified chart. We present our interface design and applications of the CompassQL visualization query language to enable these interfaces. In a controlled study, we find that Voyager 2 leads to increased data field coverage compared to a traditional specification tool, while still allowing analysts to flexibly drill down and answer specific questions.
source: UW Interactive Data Lab | Papers (washington.edu)

Watch a demo : https://vimeo.com/199084718
Documentation : https://idl.cs.washington.edu/files/2017-Voyager2-CHI.pdf

Code-free correlation exploration in datasets

https://api.typedream.com/v0/app/collection_content/8ed1caf7-f709-4b16-931c-9f47ff366e17_ca57fb39-3768-4934-b2f6-f053135692ca_collection_rich_content.json

🟡 Provide more text in body and header

Zotero est un logiciel gratuit de gestion bibliographique. Il vous offre la possibilité de:
- créer ou importer automatiquement vos références bibliographiques depuis les ressources en ligne (catalogue des bibliothèques, bases de données, Google Scholar,...)
- les conserver et les intégrer aisément dans vos travaux
- exporter vos références dans les formats exigés par les éditeurs de revues

https://bib.ulb.be/fr/support/boite-a-outils/zotero

Using Zotero

https://api.typedream.com/v0/app/collection_content/c8b703f0-fb9f-40d3-ab17-182b2454b86b_ca57fb39-3768-4934-b2f6-f053135692ca_collection_rich_content.json

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Specifically for PhD candidates: AI-powered search, code-free statistics exploration, literature management,...