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| Volume 47, Number 1, Spring 1999 |
In March, Science Writers in New York (SWINY) members learned about the application of molecular physics to understand traffic. Yes, the actions of individual drivers-especially the guy who just cut you off-and the flow of traffic can be predicted using models designed to demonstrate how gases behave. The meeting at Rockefeller University featured Sam Schwartz, a transportation engineer and a former New York City Deputy Transportation Commissioner, and Brian Schwartz, City University of New York physics professor. Brian and Sam are brothers and have worked together employing molecular physics to find solutions for NYC traffic.
The topic of the April SWINY meeting was the "Biology of Suicide" and was held at the New York State Psychiatric Institute; the world's leading laboratory studying suicide. Every year, 30,000 Americans kill themselves, and hundreds of thousands of people attempt suicide. While about half of these people are clinically depressed, depression doesn't explain why they commit suicide (80 percent of all people suffering from depression, including the very sickest ones, never try to take their own lives). Researchers John Mann and Victoria Arango believe the reason people kill themselves is they are unable to inhibit the desire to do so, possibly as the result of a malfunctioning serotonin system.
SWINY is now online. For information on upcoming and past events, job listings, and helpful links to other organizations access http://www.nasw.org/users/swiny/ index.html or link through the NASW home page.
New England Science Writers organized a Freelance Business Workshop in March at the Whitehead Institute. While freelance writers like to think of themselves as writers first, when the business of freelancing takes a back seat the result can be frustration or worse. The workshop focused on helping mid-career science writers hone their business acumen and offered a rich source of ideas and resources useful to full-time professional freelancers, the occasional freelancer, and editors. Successful Boston area science writers shared their freelance strategies and other business tips. Keynote speaker was Dan Carlinsky, contracts specialist of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, who discussed the new era of contracts in magazine and newspaper writing. Carlinsky also made himself available to review contracts submitted by audience members, pointing out trouble areas and recommending negotiation strategies for better terms.
In April, DCSWA members met with senior scientists at the Jerome H. Holland Laboratory in Rockville, MD. The lab is the biomedical research headquarters of the American Red Cross. This was a joint meeting with the American Medical Writers Association. In May, DCSWA visited the David Taylor Model Basin, a Naval Surface Warfare Center widely considered the world's finest ship design research facility and home of the world's largest complex for hydrodynamic experiments. Following a facilities tour, hydrodynamicist Toby Ratcliffe discussed her studies of the flow phenomena associated with ships' movement through water using computer simulation and scale models.
Infused with new energy, the Puget Sound Science Writers Association (PSSWA) is reinventing itself with the goal of becoming a science communications resource for the northwest. The group plans regular meetings at Hugo House, a literary gathering place, and will look beyond the work of individual researchers to examine broader issues of science research, science coverage, public impact, science education, science policy, and/or local controversies. PSSWA is also casting a wider membership net to include others interested in science communications such as fiction writers, poets, essayists and the like. Future plans include creation of a job bank and calendar of conferences and other meetings of interest to science writers. NASW members visiting the northwest are encouraged to participate in PSSWA events. Contact Paul Lowenberg at 206-522-0137, pdlowen@aol.com, or at http://www.sands.seattle.wa.us/PSSWA.