From ScienceWriters and AAAS meetings
The National Association of Science Writers honored some of the year’s best science writing at its annual ScienceWriters Awards Night gala Oct. 18 at the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, OH. The Science in Society Journalism Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Science Writers, honored journalists in five categories: book, science reporting, long form, science reporting for a local or regional market, and commentary and opinion.
Starting a blog for a university or institution requires convincing the higher-ups and sometimes breaking away from the serious tone that is common among research publications. “Don’t think of it as a blog. Think of it as a really light, lean, and flexible web platform. When you pitch it, call it a really cheap way to disseminate information,” said Carol Clark, senior science communicator at Emory University and a panelist for Saturday’s session titled, “Blogging for institutions.”
A freelance writer wears many hats. There’s the writer hat, of course, but also accountant, marketer, strategist, and even social media consultant. As a freelancer, in other words, you’re both a lowly worker and CEO, accountable to no one but yourself.
After a good night’s rest following Friday’s conference kick-off, science writers from across the country gathered at the NASW business meeting Saturday morning for updates on the work the committees have been doing over the past year and their visions for the future.
Nine talented juniors and seniors from the East Coast to the West Coast and as far north as Montreal, gathered in Chicago Feb. 13-17 to report on the 2014 American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting. These travel fellows were selected by the NASW Education Committee from a competitive set of applicants. The NASW Travel Fellows’ dispatches from The Windy City have been posted here.
A kitchen cupboard staple is helping in the fight against age-related brain disorders. Yeast has given rise to powerful new methods for examining cellular processes involved in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and for identifying new drug therapies.
Radio may have killed the video star, but now it is helping astronomers fill in significant gaps in their understanding of how planets grow.
Google Maps can tell us where to find the nearest pizza joint in a strange city, but our ability to make our way through cluttered environments is still surpassed by other members of the animal kingdom.
The Hawaiian Bobtail Squid isn’t afraid of the dark — but it still uses a nightlight.
Lack of field investigations from Vietnam, misguided research in China, and a scarcity of communication all contributed to the SARS pandemic that would claim over 774 lives in less than a year.