NASW 2004 Annual Meeting (archived)

NASW 2004 Seattle Conference
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AAAS Meeting

NASW 2004 Seattle Workshops

Washington State Convention and Trade Center

7:30 a.m.: Registration opens and Continental Breakfast served

8:30 — 10:30 a.m.: Plenary Session: Science in the New World Order/Disorder

10:30 a.m.: Morning Break

11:00 a.m. — 12:20 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

12:30 p.m. — 1:45 p.m.: Network Luncheon

2:00 — 3:20 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

3:20 — 3:50 p.m.: Afternoon Break

3:50 — 5:10 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

8:30 — 10:30 a.m.: Plenary Session: Science in the New World Order/Disorder

    Organizer and Moderator: Laura van Dam, Vice President, NASW; Chair, NASW Workshops Committee

    Terrorism and war are not going to go away soon, unfortunately. While in recent years science journalists have covered many stories concerning conflict in the world, there's much more we will handle in the future. Terrorism and war can relate to virtually all scientific fields — for instance, biology, physics, geology and computer science.

    What stories should we be ready to report and write on? What have we missed so far? How can we report both fully and responsibly to our audiences during this period, despite attempts at quelling a free press? Our plenary session will address what we have yet to report on and how we can do so in an era with growing restraints on coverage by governments.

    Panelists:

    • Christopher Chyba, Co-Director of Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) and a national security staff member of the White House during the 1990s, will give the overview on matters of concern to science journalists in the new world order/disorder. Chyba has conducted research on biological terrorism and emerging diseases, nuclear weapons material security, and nonproliferation. In 2001, Chyba was named a MacArthur Fellow. (He also holds the Carl Sagan Chair for the Study of Life in the Universe at the SETI Institute and is an associate professor in Stanford's Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.)
    • R. James Cook, Plant Pathologist, Washington State University has worked on the National Research Council agricultural bioterrorism committee that in 2002 reported on the significant future potential for such an occurrence in the United States. "It's not a matter of 'if.' It's a matter of 'when,'" Cook was quoted widely as saying. He has also spoken strongly about the need for making publicly available all information from that report, one chapter of which was eliminated for general publication. Cook will bring us up to date on concerns about agroterrorism and recent efforts to reduce the possibility of threats against agriculture.
    • Barbara Seiders, Biodefense Program Manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a Department of Energy research facility, will focus on current engineering research on sensors for biological threats. Seiders served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Augmentation Team for studies related to combat assessment; assisted the State Department in analyzing U.N. procedures for investigating allegations of chemical and biological agent use; and through the Gorbachev Foundation was a member of a task force on nuclear weapons reduction, test ban, and proliferation issues.

10:30 — 11:00 a.m.: Morning Break

11:00 a.m. — 12:20 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

  • Science for Sale: How to Cover Conflicts of Interest

      Organizer and Moderator: Dan Ferber, Freelance, and Contributing Correspondent, Science.

      In science, as in politics, money talks. Companies bankroll seemingly objective scientists who say that pharmaceuticals work, chemicals are safe for the environment, and junk food is safe to eat. Trial lawyers fund scientists who testify about a product's dangers, and advocacy groups enlist sympathetic scientists to stump for their causes. This panel will explore such conflicts of interest, their effects on science, how to detect them, and how to cover them.

      Panelists:

      • Marcia Angell, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Medical School; former Editor-in-Chief, New England Journal of Medicine
      • Michael Jacobson, Executive Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest
      • Sheldon Rampton, Editor, PRWatch; Author, Weapons of Mass Deception, Trust Us, We're Experts, and other books.
  • University Magazines and Web Sites: Raising Science Awareness

      Organizer and Moderator: Bill Snyder, Editor, Lens, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

      How well do university-based science magazines and web sites inform the public? What is the best way to measure their impact? Which is better — print or the Internet? These are some of the questions that will be considered by our panel of three veteran science communicators.

      Panelists:

      • Neil Caudle, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research; and Editor, Endeavors, the science magazine published by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
      • Sharon Dunwoody, PhD, Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UW-Madison; Co-Team Leader, The Why Files Research Team
      • Kelli Whitlock, Manager, Media Relations and Publications, The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA; and President, University Research Magazine Association
  • First Steps for Science Writers: Building a Career

      Organizer and Moderator: Deborah Illman, Assistant Professor, University of Washington; Editor, Northwest Science & Technology Magazine; former Associate Editor, Chemical & Engineering News

      How do you build a career in science writing? We will explore that question from the perspectives of a science writer for a major newspaper, a nationally acclaimed freelance writer, and a scientist turned writer for a national weekly science magazine.

      Panelists:

      • Robert Service, Staff Writer for Science. He covers western issues for the magazine and the subject areas of chemistry, materials science, and condensed matter physics.
      • Carol Smith, Reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. While working toward a master's degree in plant pathology, she received a AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship and, through that, her first newsroom experience at the Charlotte Observer in North Carolina.
      • Eric Sorensen, newspaper reporter; former Science Writer, The Seattle Times
  • Science Literacy and Democracy

      Organizer and Moderator: Staci Maloof, Media Relations Specialist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

      There's a growing dichotomy in science news. Increasingly, the daily headlines include science stories like human cloning or stem cell research that are founded in science yet have implications for policy and, further, our society. For the public to understand such complex stories and issues, it's imperative that they have a strong basis in science education. However, the state of science literacy is of concern to educators, science writers, parents and policy makers. We will explore the truth about science literacy in the United States, the importance of science literacy to a strong democracy, the role of scientists in communicating appropriately about science, and the role and impact of science writers and the media in science literacy.

      Panelists:

      • Tom Daniel, Professor and Chair of Biology, University of Washington
      • Bill Dietrich, former Science Writer, Seattle Times, author of several books, including Ice Reich, Getting Back, and Dark Winter. Dietrich shared the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1990 for coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
      • Pinky Nelson, Program Director for Science, Mathematics & Technology Education, Western Washington University; NASA astronaut on three space flights in the 1980s; and former director of AAAS Project 2061, a long-term initiative to reform K-12 science education nationwide.

12:30 p.m. — 1:45 p.m.: Network Luncheon

2:00 — 3:20 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

  • Politicization of Science: The Use and Misuse of Scientific Facts in the Media

      Organizer and Moderator: Jackleen de la Harpe, Executive Director, Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting; former Science Writer, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island; and Editor, Maritimes, a marine and environmental research magazine for URI.

      More and more issues of public concern have heavy science components. As the issues become politicized, so does the underlying scientific debate. Stem cell research, drilling in protected areas, climate change, fisheries management — science is used to justify positions on all sides of these and other issues.

      How can journalists report on this science so that the public can grasp the real story? He said/she said coverage is not enough. If reporters are to provide clear and accurate coverage, they cannot resort to journalism formulas that treat divergent scientific opinions as equally held and equally likely. How can reporters and editors achieve this understanding?

      This panel will focus on case studies relevant to the Northwest to illustrate how the research agenda and its results can be politicized, how information can be used or misused to support one position over another and how journalists can wade through the complexities to produce clear and accurate stories.

      Panelists:

      • Cornelia Dean, Shorenstein Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard (where she is working on a book about the misuse of scientific information in American public life); former Science Editor (1997-2003), New York Times; Author, Against the Tide: The Battle for America's Beaches
      • James R. Karr, Professor of Aquatic Sciences and Biology; and Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering, Environmental Health, and Public Affairs at the University of Washington. Co-author, Restoring Life in Running Waters: Better Biological Monitoring.
      • Alexandra Witze, Dallas Morning News; former Associate Editor, Earth magazine; Contributor to numerous publications including New Scientist, Sky &Telescope, Technology Review, and the Earth & Sky radio series.
  • Pictures and Words: Collaborating with Artists

      Organizer and Moderator: Leila Gray, Assistant Director, News and Community Relations, University of Washington

      This workshop will show how writers, photographers, artists, and graphic designers can best collaborate on images to convey scientific concepts to the general public. The panel, composed of a news artist, a photographer, and a graphic designer, will reveal how artists create informative illustrations for feature articles or news stories.

      Panelists will offer tips on how the verbally apt and the visually talented can collaborate to co-produce effective presentations.

      Panelists:

      • Pat Hansen, Graphic Designer. Hansen's design firm has a national reputation for blending words, photos, graphics, tables, and page design to communicate scientific ideas in an accurate and visually appealing manner.
      • Dan Lamont, Photographer. Lamont's work has appeared in Time, Life, US News & World Report, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, London Telegraph, Der Spiegel, Geo Le Monde, National Geographic World, Sierra, Reader's Digest, and Smithsonian.
      • Whitney L. Stensrud, Graphics Desk Editor and Coordinator, The Seattle Times
  • Beyond the Beat: How Freelances Diversify

      Organizer and Moderator: Alan S. Brown, Freelance, has been known to do market and economic research, business journalism, and public relations in addition to writing about science and technology.

      Many, if not most, high-income science writers don't rely only on science writing; they do other things that take advantage of their background and skills. These may include writing for non-science glossies, project management, specialized conference coverage, public relations, market research, editing, technical writing, or grant & proposal writing.

      This panel features freelance writers who have successfully branched out from science journalism for the usual suspects to a more diversified client base (and income source). Panelists will discuss the nature of their work, what it involves, what it pays, what expertise one needs, getting that first assignment, and how to build on it.

      Panelists:

      • Emma Hitt, Freelance, has carved out a niche covering scientific meetings and conferences. She developed a web site for freelance science writers and clients.
      • Henry Lansford, Freelance, works as a science and technical writer, editor and communication consultant. His editorial specialty is integrating diverse scientific and technical material. As a consultant, he helps clients communicate effectively with policy-makers, private-sector decision-makers, the news media, the public, and other audiences.
      • Rabiya S. Tuma, Freelance, started her writing career after working as a biologist. Her work appears in Discover and The New York Times, as well as in trade publications such as Oncology Times, BioMedNet News, and The Scientist.
  • Bill Gates's Global Health Experiment

      Organizer: Tom Paulson, Science Reporter, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

      Moderator: Dr. Michael McCarthy, North American Editor, The Lancet

      The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made global health its top priority. But the Seattle philanthropic group is not simply donating to established causes in international health; it is helping set the agenda. While everyone welcomes the money, not everyone is so certain the foundation should be determining priorities. This panel will explore what the Gates Foundation is attempting to do in global health, the role of science and technology in this mission, and its impact so far.

      Panelists:

      • Dr. Stephen Gloyd, Director of International Health Program, University of Washington School of Public Health
      • Melinda Moree, strategic program leader, PATH's Malaria Vaccine Program
      • Dr. Regina Rabinovich, Director of Infectious Disease Program, Gates Foundation

3:20 — 3:50 p.m.: Afternoon Break

3:50 — 5:10 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

  • Reporting Science: Do Science Writers Always Get It Right?

      Organizer and Moderator: Mike Martin, Science and Technology Writer, News Factor Networks; Former Senior Science Correspondent, UPI; Weekly Radio Show Host, KFRU, 1400 AM, "The Science Guy"

      Many journalists watching the Jayson Blair scandal unfold or former New Republic writer Stephen Glass's "in your face" television interviews have probably said to themselves, "that could never happen to me." Reporting the right facts, however, doesn't always happen every time. In recent issues of Discover, Publisher's Weekly, The Christian Science Monitor, and Seed Magazine, for instance, some of the world's best science journalists misled readers by omitting important facts about physicists John Moffat, Joao Magueijo, and a best-selling book on the speed of light.

      We'll ask our panel and our audience just what it takes to get science writing as precise as the research it reports.

      Panelists:

      • Marc Kaufman, Editor, Science & Spirit Magazine. A former reporter and writer for three Boston-area newspapers who has covered the health and science beat, Marc Kaufman received his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Vassar and his master's degree in journalism at Northeastern. Science & Spirit Magazine, published six times each year, explores the relationship between science and religion in the context of our everyday lives.
      • Jere Lipps, Ph.D., Professor, Paleontology, University of California at Berkeley; Curator, Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley. Lipps has edited major journals in the fields of geology and paleontology, including Paleobiology, Micropaleontology, MarineMicropaleontology, and Geology.
      • Nicolle Wahl, Public Information Officer, Science and Technology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • How to Deal: Negotiating a Better Contract

      Organizer and Moderator: Kathryn Brown, Freelance; Correspondent Science.

      Contracts are getting tougher. Publishers want all rights, in all media. Before you sign, come learn how to strike clauses, change contract wording, and negotiate a better deal.

      Panelists:

      • Kraig Baker, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. Baker represents clients ranging from CNN and the BBC to the Seattle Times Company and Simon & Schuster. Among other tasks, he helps such clients draft and negotiate publishing and consulting agreements.
      • Erik Sherman, Chair, Contracts Committee, American Society of Journalists & Authors
  • European Science Sources

      Organizer and Moderator: Carl J Sundberg, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Karolinska Institiutet, VP Euroscience

      Science is an international phenomenon with important and exciting scientific discoveries made all over the world. To some extent, what European scientists do is neither known, nor reported in US media. There are several systematized science news sources available. Good examples are Alphagalileo, the German IDW and the Swedish Expert Response. These and other ways of getting access to European science and scientists will be described and discussed.

      Panelists:

      • Jens Degett, European Science Foundation
      • Tina Zethraeus, Project Manager, Expert Response
  • Science, Security & Privacy: How Increased Security Concerns Affect Science Journalism

      Organizer and Moderator: Mitch Waldrop, Author

      Science journalism — like science itself — is grounded in the notion that information ought to be shared as widely and as openly as possible. In the post-9/11 era, however, restrictions on this free flow of information seem to be proliferating as never before.

      We still have all the familiar pressures of commercialization, as when scientists hold back on publication for patent reasons. But now we also have new national-security pressures, as in recent efforts to restrict the publication of research that might conceivably aid terrorists. And we have an Administration stonewalling on everything from how energy and environmental decisions are made, to its intelligence about weapons of mass destruction.

      For science writers, this restriction of the information flow is both an ongoing story to be covered, and daily reality that can greatly complicate our ability to do our jobs. (Agencies such as Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, for example, are making it difficult to get information about even the most innocuous non-classified projects.) This panel brings together journalists and scientists to look at the scope of the problem; consider what, if anything, science writers can do about it; and offer some tips for coping.

      This panel is a DC Science Writers Association board initiative.

      Panelists:

      • Ronald Atlas, PhD; Immediate past president, American Society for Microbiology; Dean, Graduate School, University of Louisville. Dr. Atlas was a member of the "Fink Committee" that issued the NAS report "Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism: Confronting the Dual Use Dilemma."
      • Rick Borchelt, The Whitehead Institute
      • Glennda Chui San Jose Mercury News; Chair, NASW Committee on FOIA Issues

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Last revised: March 19, 2006

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