Excerpt from the source, The Open Notebook*: “Are you new to science writing? Or are you just thinking about getting into the field and wondering what it’s all about? The Open Notebook has published more than 350 articles and other resources aimed at helping science journalists sharpen their skills—and helping newcomers get started. This page contains a small subset of those…
This week, Dr. Caitlin Looby, a SciComm Section member, responds to the #MySciComm questions! Caitlin Looby is a scientist and a freelance science writer. She earned her PhD in Biology from the University of California, Irvine, her M.S. in Biotechnology at Kean University, and her B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Connecticut. During graduate school, Caitlin…
This week, Katie L. Burke responds to the #MySciComm questions! Photo courtesy of Katie L. Burke Katie is the Digital Features Editor at American Scientist magazine. She holds a PhD in biology (ecology and evolution) from the University of Virginia, where she studied conservation biology in eastern deciduous forests of North America. As a journalist and editor with American Scientist, she…
*This list is dynamic, and in-development. Feel free to make suggestions (use the comments section or contact us directly) re additional resources and great examples that should be included. INTERACTING WITH THE MEDIA Tips for dealing with reporters Tips for PR (public relations) writing Writing a Press Release: Death by Six-Shooter Peter Campbell, Public Information Officer – What does that Pete Campbell (of Mad…
This week, Marty Downs responds to the #MySciComm questions! Marty is the Deputy Director of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Communications Office, based at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) in Santa Barbara. She manages internal and external communications for a network of over 2000 environmental scientists and 28 diverse research sites. Marty began her career…
This week, Rebecca Johnson responds to the #MySciComm questions! Rebecca co-directs the Citizen Science program at the California Academy of Sciences. She holds a PhD in biology (ecology and evolutionary biology) from the University of California, Santa Cruz where she studied the evolution of color pattern in chromodorid nudibranchs (really beautiful sea slugs). She combines historical museum collections data and…
This week, Greg Nickerson responds to the #MySciComm questions! Greg is a writer and filmmaker for the Wyoming Migration Initiative, a project at the University of Wyoming that tracks wildlife migrations and shares that information with the public. He studied history of the American West and worked as a journalist in the Wyoming State Capitol before turning his interest to…
This week, Bethann Garramon Merkle responds to the #MySciComm questions! Bethann is an artist, writer, instructor, editor, and consultant who blends visual storytelling and science communication. She’s also a SciComm Section co-founder, the section chair-elect, and our webmaster. She is passionate about a) integrating drawing into education, research, and communication efforts, and b) the role stories play in shaping public…
This week, Megan Litwhiler responds to the #MySciComm questions! Megan is a scientist turned science communicator. After finishing her PhD in bird ecology, and a brief stint at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum, Megan moved on to her current role as a Research Communications Associate at the Museum of Science in Boston. When she’s not science communicating, she’s hanging with her daughter or birding…
Looking to expand your toolbox? Curious to test the waters of science communication for the first time? Either way, you’ll want to tap into the wide-ranging SciComm Resource Guide curated by us – the ESA Communication & Engagement Section.
*This list is dynamic, and in-development. Feel free to make suggestions (use the comments section or contact us directly) re additional resources and great examples that should be included. RESOURCES See the general scicomm resources page for tips and resources on writing about numbers and data, storytelling techniques, and a lot more. Science Writer’s Handbook + Pitch, Publish, Prosper blog Terms…
Image: screenshot from the book’s website Looking for inspiration for how to communicate about the complex topics you study or work to share? We recently came across a graphic novel that might give you ideas. From the publisher: “Do you know what your brain is made of? How does memory function? What is a neuron and how does it work?…
This week, Dr. Sara Kuebbing, of Plant Love Stories*, responds to the #MySciComm questions! Sara Kuebbing is a plant ecologist and conservation biologist who adores chickadees and mayapples. She is delighted to join the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Biological Sciences this fall as an Assistant Professor. Sara’s most recent #MySciComm adventure is propagating Plant Love Stories, a website devoted…
We know we’ve posted a lot in the last week, but when our chairperson-elect picked this photo to start our April newsletter, we just had to share a backstory with you. Check your email tomorrow for the newsletter featuring this photo and more! What’s with the egret and Terrebonne Parish? Well, this spring, the C&E Section has developed a strong connection…
Retrospective by Jennifer Purrenhage, series co-editor and Communication and Engagement Section secretary Bethann Garramon Merkle’s recent #MySciComm 2017 Year in Review highlighted takeaways from our 2017 contributors on building human connections through scicomm. As I looked back on the 2017 #MySciComm contributions, an additional set of theme emerged from our contributors. They offered advice and encouragement for those of us…
Retrospective by Bethann Garramon Merkle, series co-editor and Communication and Engagement Section chairperson Certainly, there is much to be learned from #MySciComm contributors regarding how to incorporate scicomm into research and how to transition into a scicomm career. But we, the editors, think the humanity this series exposes is equally important. #MySciComm shows us the people behind the science. In…
I blend images & word craft to communicate why science & sustainability matter. I am an artist, educator, and science communicator passionate about the role stories play in shaping public perspectives of ecology, natural history, and sustainability. Recently, I’ve done visual communication projects, freelance journalism, and science communication and ‘sketching for scientists’ trainings for scientists across the country and entities ranging from…