By: Deijah Scales | May 8, 2021
Welcome to the blog series “A Brief Introduction to Technical Communication” This installment focuses on Science Writing. Read on for more information.
If you’ve enrolled in the Master’s in Technical Communication program and you’re browsing the extensive list of electives and requirements for core classes you might have noticed a few things.
- There are a lot of subject areas and specializations you can choose to study.
- You probably don’t have enough room in your schedule to study everything you find interesting.
This wide variety of course material reflects the nature of the technical communication field overall. As a technical communicator, you have the opportunity to work in many different industry spaces. You could be a writer for software documentation, a project manager within a pharmaceutical company, an in-house web developer or designer for a business, or even a science journalist discussing the latest scientific and medical news from around the world.
In a series of posts, you’ll receive insight into what it might be like in three technical communication career fields: web design, web development, and science writing.
This post features different aspects of the science writing field.
WHAT IS SCIENCE WRITING?
Not to be confused with scientific writing, science writing is a form of journalism and you do not need to be a scientist to be a science writer. Science writing involves writing to the public, distilling scientific information to general audiences in a way that is factually correct, easy to understand and entertaining to read or listen to. Science writing articles may be published in places like National Geographic, Nature, Smithsonian Magazine, or Discover Magazine.
Science writers may conduct interviews with science experts, conduct preliminary research to understand their scientific topic, or contact medical, educational, or government organizations for comments to get information for their stories. Often science writers will work on a team with other writers and editors who will fact-check their work, review any grammar or general writing mistakes, ensure the piece meets publication standards or decide if the piece needs to be scrapped for another story. The science writing industry can be fast-paced and difficult but enjoyable nonetheless!
SKILLS AND TOOLS YOU’LL NEED AS A SCIENCE WRITER
Science writing is a very hands-on, people-focused job in addition to being a job focused on individual writing. There are many moving parts to consider when writing a story, and being able to manage those parts in a timely manner by yourself (and potentially with a team) is crucial.
Here are some skills and tools you’ll need as a science writer:
- Time Management
- Comfortable with interviewing
- Communication skills (internally with team members and externally with clients)
- Solid editing and proofreading skills
- MS Suite
- G Suite
Project Management Tools:
For more tips for becoming a science writer, check out this article from Columbia University 5 Tips for Scientists Who Want to Become Science Writers.
WHERE SHOULD YOU GET STARTED? ONLINE COURSES
If you’re unable to take MSTC classes geared toward a science writer career path, you’re in luck! There are a variety of courses available for students to get started.
Below you’ll find an example list of courses, their brief descriptions, whether or not they provide certifications, and costs associated with the courses.
SCIENCE WRITING COURSES
Futurelearn: Discovering Science: Science Writing
Provides a framework for what science writing is, how to write a science journalism piece, why the field is important, interviewing techniques and more. This course is for anyone, science background or not, who wants to get into the science writing field.
This course is for beginners. Finishing this course gives students a certificate of completion.
World Federation of Science Journalists: Course in Science Journalism
Science journalists created this course. The 10-lesson course covers key aspects of science communication, finding and crafting science journalism stories and how to use different types of media to share your stories.
The course is free and for beginners. Finishing this course does not give students a certification.
The Open Notebook: The Craft of Science Writing
Not a course, but this book provides valuable insight into the field of science writing from the perspective of science writers themselves (through interviews). The book also provides helpful tips such as how to craft stories, conduct interviews, best practices of how to ask questions and research stories and best ways to engage readers.
The book is available on Amazon for $9.99 digitally and about $20.00 for a paperback.
CAREER OUTLOOK
If the career outlook is your primary deciding factor as to whether or not you should pursue learning science writing, then keep reading! There are various ways you can use the skills from these fields to enter the workplace.
Below are examples of job descriptions you might see for science writers in addition to key skills employers look for in job applicants.
SCIENCE WRITERS
Key skills: Reporting, Storytelling, Writing, Editing, Communication, Journalism, Digital Media, Audience Analysis, Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, Ability to understand complex scientific concepts
Company: Insider
Position: Associate Editor, Science
Description: “Our science vertical delivers deep dives, scoops, and breaking news, as well as coverage of fun and surprising new findings. Our purview is wide-ranging; We cover Covid-19 research and vaccines, NASA, SpaceX, archaeology, climate change, animals, human evolution and much more.
“The ideal candidate is excited about a breadth of topics. You should be a self-starter who has a passion for finding and telling great stories, and someone who also wants to help other reporters with their career development. We value flexibility, creativity, accountability, and a diversity of ideas and opinions. We want someone who is excited about our mission everyday.”
Responsibilities: Understanding how to read and evaluate scientific studies, framing stories for a mainstream audience, writing and covering health, science (or related topics) stories in a fast-paced newsroom
Company: WarnerMedia
Position: Writer, Climate- CNN Digital
Description: “Climate is a story that touches all of CNN’s audiences and all of our journalistic beats: international and national news, politics, business, health and wellness, travel, science and beyond.
This writer will anchor our national coverage of climate, collaborating with reporters across CNN’s digital teams as well as domestic and international newsgathering to break news and cover the stories and conversations about one of the most important issues of our time.
The mission will be to create distinctive work that emphasizes the best of CNN’s DNA: Urgency. Essential, global “Go There” reporting. Facts backed by data and science. Journalism that holds power to account. Stories that connect dots and explain consequences.”
Responsibilities: Covering climate related stories, writing and storytelling for a general/mainstream audience, collaborating with team members on news pieces, delivering content in various formats (podcasts, newsletters etc)
Company: Intuitive
Position: Scientific Communication Writer/Editor
Description: “The Global Public Affairs (GPA) team is focused on enhancing the company’s corporate reputation, mitigating risk, and educating and engaging key audiences on the Intuitive’s technology, value and benefits. As a member of the team, the Clinical Communications Writer and Editor will support GPA’s communications strategy, outreach, messaging, programs and materials targeting key external audiences by drafting, editing, and reviewing a variety of material.”
Responsibilities: Developing white papers, presentation materials, fact sheets, web content etc., that translates scientific data and writing into plain language, share scientific, medical and economic news internally, work across teams to ensure publications are factually correct and properly conveyed to public audiences
If you would like to hear more about what it’s like to work as a science writer, check out this interview with Dr. Mike May, a freelance science writer who has worked for various companies such as Scientific American, Nature, and Science (the online publication). Dr. May talks about things such as how he got into the field of science writing, skills that are important to have, and general advice about science writing.
CONNECT WITH OTHERS: CONFERENCES
Attending conferences is a great way to connect with others in the field or see first-hand how science writers work. Here are a few conferences you might want to attend! Luckily, there are virtual options available.
- #SciWriCoffee: Not a typical “conference” but this space exists for science writers to connect and communicate with each other about their research, current work in general, and network with other scientists and science writers.Annual membership for students is currently $20 at the introductory rate and $35 for the regular annual renewal rate.
- ScienceWriters2021: The annual ScienceWriters meeting is a joint meeting of the National Association of Science Writers and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. A mix of professional development workshops, briefings on the latest scientific research, extensive networking opportunities, and field trips, it is a meeting for science writers, by science writers, with content to appeal to both the newest writers and seasoned professionals. The location varies each year based on the host institution, providing access to science writers in all parts of the United States. In 2020 the event cost $85-115 for members and $25 for students.
No matter what path you choose to take as you complete your MSTC degree, I hope this brief guide will introduce you to potential opportunities for additional learning!
If you want to explore more from this introduction series, check out the post about web design or the post about web development.