bench to blogmoving from science doing to science writing

• Bench to Blog: Part I• Bench to Blog: Part II

Have science degree,

will write … perhaps

• Evaluate your strengths – are you a subject

matter expert in your field?

• What communications skills do you have

already? Powerpoint, speech writing,

blogging …

• Formal education – do you already have the

skills or do you need to go back to school?

©R/DV/RS (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

Getting Started

Learn from other science writers – how did they get started?

• From science to science writing: The Open Notebook

• A note to beginning science writers: National Geographic

• Careers for scientists away from the bench: Nature Jobs

• On the origin of science writers: Not Rocket Science on Discover Magazine

• Science communication: a career where PhDs can make a difference

• Leaving Academia: essays from Science on making the switch

Where to start?

• Education – learn to communicate

• Network – find your tribe (and your

clients)

• Read – find out what your tribe is

writing about and what readers want

to read

Communications

Programs

• General ProgramsBasic writing & communications mechanics for all

writers – check out local education institutions

• Science CommunicationThe ‘how, why & whatever’ of communicating science

best practices and tools – available at a limited

number of institutions

• Online – Distance LearningBoth basic & science-focused – useful for studying at

your own pace

General Communications Programs

Back to school?

• Douglas College Professional Communication: Post-

Degree diploma https://www.douglascollege.ca/programs-

courses/catalogue/programs/PDPCOM

• SFU Continuing Studies programs -

http://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/programs-and-

courses/area-of-study/writing-communications.html

• UBC Continuing Studies https://cstudies.ubc.ca/courses

• Tyee masterclasses http://thetyee.ca/MasterClass/FAQ/

• Check out local institutions for certificate, diploma & part-

time programs, or special interest classes

Keywords – communications, writing, editing, publishing,

journalism, professional writing

General Communications Programs

Online & Distance Learning• Some institutions offer complete programs online

– for example:

http://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/programs-and-

courses/online-and-distance-education.html and

https://cstudies.ubc.ca/programs/professional-

communication-certificate

• Pick and choose courses from Media Bistro.com

• Freelance article writing with Jennifer van Evra

https://cstudies.ubc.ca/courses/freelance-writing-

introduction/aw518

Keywords – journalism, communications, writing, publishing,

editing

Science Communication

Back to school• Imperial College

https://cstudies.ubc.ca/programs/professional-

communication-certificate

• UC Santa Cruz http://scicom.ucsc.edu/

• Banff Science Communication summer school

http://www.banffscience.ca/

Online• Online & classroom courses listed here

http://sciencewriters.ca/page-1716449

• MSc in Science Communication and Public

Engagement from University of Edinburgh

• World Federation of Science Journalists online

courses

ResourcesRead about science communication from the

professionals!

• Pitch, Publish, Prosper’s The Science Writer’s Handbook

• Secrets of science writing from The Guardian newspaper

• Canadian Association of Science Writers: Guide to Careers in Science Writing

• The Open Notebook

• Science Blogging: The Essential Guide

Communication is a

profession.

Professional Networking• Canadian Science Writers Association

• National Association of Science Writers

• International Association of Business Communicators

• Editors Association of Canada

• Association of British Science Writers

©Randall Munroe (CC BY-NC 2.5)

Science Communication:

Blogs

• SciLogs.com, especially SciComm25 –

weekly listing of most tweeted #scicomm

stories

• CSWA/NASW

• Scientific American blog network

• ScienceBorealis.ca

• http://www.talksciencetome.com/blog/

• Mosaic

• Canadian Blood Services blog

… read more

Science Communication:

Online Resources

Critical analysis

– check HealthNewsReview.org

For help with spotting clickbait, errors and hype

check out the links in our posts:

• How do I know it’s OK? Swimming through the

science communications minefield?

• Understanding and reading a science paper

… learn more

Science Communication:

Ideas, News, Stories …

Inspiration

• Pacific Science Center calendar of science

events in history

• ScienceNews.org - includes a student

section

• ScienceDaily.com - summaries of press

releases and other news

… learn more

Science Communication:

Online Tools

• Evernote = catalogue your resources

• Feedly = RSS feed reader & aggregator

• Pocket = save cool articles

• IFTTT = automate the mundane

… write more

Science Communication:

Online Portfolios

• Evernote

• Tumblr

• WordPress, blog

• Dropbox or OneDrive folder

• Flipboard with sound!

https://flipboard.com/@science/life-is...-

t54af7s4y (best viewed on a tablet)

… save those clips

Online Writing Portfolios

• Talk Science to Me

• Bryce Tarling & afmaxwell – WordPress blogs

• afmaxwell on Tumblr and Flipboard

• John Vigna & Nancy Lee (authors)

• Roberta Staley (journalist)

• http://www.hannahjwaters.com/

• http://www.melissallau.com/portfolio.html

• Sarah Boon at

https://snowhydro1.wordpress.com/freelance-work/

• Ed Yong http://edyong.flavors.me/#writing

… brag more

Keep learning

• http://design.tutsplus.com/

• http://www.lynda.com/

• https://www.mediabistro.com/online-training-

courses/browse/

• Check out local colleges, etc. for drop-in courses

Keywords = design, Photoshop, InDesign, indexing,

WordPress, coding, blogging, …

Keep writing …