Development Conference Recap- "Re-Writing Science: Communicating Science in the 21st Century&qu
Image Source: goo.gl/W44zAi
Organized by Justin Breaux / Photography Credit: Nina Andorf
On Friday, April 17, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) students and local science writers discovered the diverse paths of science writing within today’s job market, how to translate statistics while writing for general audiences, and how specialists in technical fields are searching for individuals with impressive backgrounds in the sciences as well as in liberal arts.
From morning until early afternoon, three panels of seasoned professionals were efficiently moderated by Justin H.S. Breaux, the Multimedia Manager and External Communications Specialist at Argonne National Laboratory and Vice President of the Chicago Science Writers group, and Dr. Jeffrey Gore, the Global Learning Community Program Coordinator at UIC.
The first panel—titled “Introduction to Science Writing: Exploring the Possibilities”— introduced attendees to the world of science writing and how initial challenges eventually lead to considerable rewards.
To begin, Breaux shared his own journey to becoming a science writer, which began after he graduated from UIC as a philosophy major. By diligently writing science articles and connecting with those within the scientific community, he found his way to the Chicago Science Writers group.
“I would like everyone to know that there is no straight line to a career. You have to always be open to change. You need to fill your toolbox with what you can do and never forget to take chances and make those valuable connections in the field you’d like to pursue,” Breaux advised.
Dr. Katherine Parr, a First Year Writing Program Lecturer at UIC, then spoke about the importance of rhetoric and the art of successfully communicating with specific audiences. As a passionate and driven professor, she encouraged students at the conference to expand their knowledge on scientific subjects and disciplines by enrolling in research-based, professional writing courses at UIC.
To stress the importance of competently analyzing and writing on technical topics, Sandra A. Swanson shared her knowledge on being a freelance journalist who specializes in investigating science, technology, health, and business news. She first began her career as a staff writer, but after connecting with an attendee at a neuroscience event, she has been a devoted science writer.
“I highly recommend joining groups such as the National Association of Science Writers, the Association of Healthcare Journalists, and the Society of Environmental Journalists. It’s a great way to communicate and connect with your peers and professionals,” Swanson stated.
As the Executive Director of News and Public Affairs at the University of Chicago, Jeremy Manier is not a stranger to the world of journalism and how important it is to think about and care for audiences and their time. He presented and endorsed Ernest Hemingway’s personal writing style of adopting shorter sentences to grab a reader’s attention; Manier reported that it is extremely crucial in the case of science writing. As a psychology major turned science writer, he also communicated the importance of thinking big by focusing on noteworthy reports and adapting writing styles for receptive audiences.
Ted Anton, an English Professor at DePaul University as well as a talented author and editor, also shares the same views on conveying scientific ideas to general audiences through the medium of the popular science (pop-science) genre.
“Everyone in the scientific community appreciates someone who can translate technical terminology for the public. Those who can understand and evaluate technical work are largely in demand within specialized industries. Welcome to the secret society of science writing,” Anton imparted.
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The second session—titled “Statistics for Science Writers: Explanation of a Case Study”— was intended to provide information on how to use, analyze, and explain statistics to the public.
Dr. Bill Burton, the Senior Director of Public Affairs at UIC, honored the conference audience with a PowerPoint titled, “A Picture’s Worth 1,000 Words. Solve for X,” detailing how mathematics are a main component of science writing which needs to be presented simply, yet effectively to the non-scientific community. He explained that one needs to be descriptive and comparative to help readers understand the numbers involved. By making statistics relatable, science writers more or less make mathematic figures come alive which aids the overall comprehension of significant scientific studies.
“Big Data, Pretty Big Data, and Privacy” presented by Dr. Robert H. Sloan, the Department Head and Professor of Computer Science at UIC, provided attendees with information regarding the many types of data which are collected, stored, analyzed, and transmitted on the internet. Big Data was represented by digital information units such as megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes while Pretty Big Data consisted of internet based data mining and analytics which then led into the subject of Privacy and the current lack of anonymizing private information.
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The third and final panel—titled Innovations in Science Communication— familiarized attendees with modern ways to communicate science.
Monica Metzler, the Founder and Executive Director of the Illinois Science Council (ISC), emphasized how science and technology strongly compliment the arts and humanities. As a result of this steadfast appreciation for scientific exploration, the ISC was created to promote and implement fun, engaging, and interesting educational programs for the public. Metzler expressed that 90% of Americans are captivated by science and technology; however, 70% cannot recall one noteworthy scientist. To combat this statistic along with many others, the ISC is determined to spread science education through various events which encourage awareness of the scientific world.
WBEZ’s Curious City series also actively advocates science appreciation by inviting their audience to engage in various scientific conversations and encouraging them to ask questions. Shawn Allee, Curious City’s Content Editor, described how audio science writing is fun, but challenging, yet also rewarding.
“Involving an audience in an audio narrative can be quite difficult at times—especially when you are required to include technical information. You can only get so much information across in a given amount of time. I would advise anyone thinking of pursuing a career in audio to talk through a story first and then write your script to make sure you do not overwhelm listeners,” Allee shared.
Tricia Bobeda, the Producer of WBEZ’s Nerdette Podcast, reinforced the importance of knowing your audience, making an effort to communicate what you are passionate about, and displaying vigor and enthusiasm about your interests. She also discussed the significance of breaking technical jargon down for your listeners. To close, she insisted that creating and maintaining a personal brand is one step toward joining the science writing community in an extraordinary way.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to those who sponsored the Re-Writing Science: Communicating Science in the 21st Century conference: the UIC Department of Philosophy, the UIC Department of English, the UIC Institute for the Humanities, the African American Cultural Center, the Latin American Recruitment and Education Services Program, the UIC College of Engineering, and the Association for the Advancement of Science Communication.
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