Last year, the NASW statistical section geographically analyzed our membership, noting certain preferential parameters. But that was before the Great Recession had sunk its teeth into the economy. 2010 seemed like a good time to repeat the investigation to see what effects the recession has had on NASW members.
Last year, the NASW statistical section geographically analyzed our membership, noting certain preferential parameters. But that was before the Great Recession had sunk its teeth into the economy. 2010 seemed like a good time to repeat the investigation to see what effects the recession has had on NASW members.
First, there's been a drop of approximately 200 members, almost 10 percent of last year's membership. Out of 50 states plus D.C., 34 show a membership decline. Nine states held steady: Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, and Wyoming. Only eight states showed membership gains: Except for Georgia, which went from 9 to 26 people (!), the gains are minimal. The other states with gains were Indiana, Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia.
No pattern is evident other than more highly populated or industrial states usually experienced a greater fall in membership whereas low populated/less industrialized states managed to hold onto the few science writers they have. Speaking of few, the only state last year with no science writers was South Dakota. I haven't checked the name yet but there's a writer there now, but none in North Dakota. Did they move the border?
Second, last year five states had more than 50 percent of all NASW members; this year the same five still do and the rankings remain the same. However, all five states lost members with the largest two (California and New York) losing the most, their difference widening considerably from last year's single digit.
Where did the 10 percent go? No idea. But just out of curiosity, to see if any writers besides moi changed continents to find better employment, I tallied up non-U.S.-residing members. Last year, the total was 68; this year, 73. Most of the gain is in Europe (36 to 40), Australia gained two (2 to 4), and Africa went down from 2 to 1.
The largest single country outside of the U.S. with NASW representation is Canada, holding steady at 21 members. Most of the European gain was in the U.K. (7 to 11). Given this data, it is apparently better to be an expatriate in a purely English-speaking country. To prove the point, Switzerland — a land of four languages — fell from 11 to 9; Germany and Italy have six each. Korea ... now has 1. While not as much as Europe or Canada, Korea is sufficiently English-speaking that I may have made the write, er, right move. An-nyung-hi!
Freelance writer, educator, and publisher of The Classroom Astronomer magazine, Larry Krumenaker, Ph.D., is currently at Seoul National University, South Korea.
(NASW members can read the rest of the Summer 2010 ScienceWriters by logging into the members area.)
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