The use of a virtual journal club to promote cross-cultural learning in the reproductive sciences

Purpose: Scientific literacy and communication are critical skills in the biological sciences. Journal clubs, in which peer-reviewed academic literature is discussed, are traditionally used to teach students to evaluate the literature, review scientific findings, and learn about historical, controversial, or current topics. Methods: We used a virtual journal club to facilitate the international interaction between two universities with master’s degree programs in the reproductive sciences: the University of Murcia (Spain) and Northwestern University (USA). The virtual journal club occurred over a 2-hour period and was held using Blue Jeans Conferencing Service software and involved a total of 29 students. During this event, the students who were separated physically by thousands of miles discussed and exchanged ideas about a high-impact publication in real time. A survey assessment was administered to students at the University of Murcia following the event. Results: Positive perceptions included the establishment of cross-institutional interactions and the ability to practice scientific communication in another language. Areas noted for improvement included preparation time and engagement opportunities. Conclusion: Overall, the virtual journal club is an innovative technology that can easily be broadened and has the potential to foster collaboration, ameliorate multilingual communication, improve cultural competencies, and expand professional global networks.