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Writing about science for a general audience. A workshop presented in the School of Biology’s Integrated Learning Week by Alex Sinclair and Catie Lichten of EUSci February 22, 2012. What is EUSci ?. EUSci or eu:sci [yoo-sahy] noun: 1) Edinburgh science magazine - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Writing about science
for a general audience
A workshop presented in the School of Biology’s Integrated Learning Week
by Alex Sinclair and Catie Lichten of EUSci
February 22, 2012
What is EUSci?EUSci or eu:sci
[yoo-sahy]
noun: 1) Edinburgh science magazine
Ex. Did you read the latest issue of EUSci? It's amazing!
2) Edinburgh student society
Ex. I just joined EUSci and it only cost £3!
3) Producers and organisers of science podcasts, seminars, events...
Ex. I can't keep up with all the fantastic content that EUSci is producing!
The Four parts of EUSci
Workshops:
* Editing (incl. External speakers) * Copyediting * Layout * Coming soon: writing
Issue 1 Sep ‘08 Issue 2 Jan ‘09 Issue 3 May ‘09 Issue 5 Jan ‘10
Issue 6 May ‘10 Issue 7 Sep ‘10
Issue 4 Sep ‘09
Issue 8 Jan ‘11 Issue 9 Apr ‘11 Issue 10 Sep ‘11
We can always use more people…
Editors-in-chief:
Sub-editors:
Production team:
Artists (UoE and ECA):
Article/Copy Editors:
Writers (they edit too):
Total people involved (issue 8): 51
The Plan• Writing News
– What makes the news?– Nailing the key idea and headlines (activity)– Short Break– Structure of news articles– News writing exercise (activity)
• Introduction to editing– Activity
• Introduction to features • Where to go from here
Why news?
• The audience- mostly not scientists• Good practice of transferable skills:
– Avoiding jargon– Reducing information down to key points– Communicating facts clearly– Making complex ideas understandable
• Important- most people hear about science from news media
Why are each of these stories newsworthy?
Girls use Facebook to attract gangs
Greece heads for final bailout talks
There is no one reason behind Whitney's awful self-destruction
Let's Dance for Sport Relief attracts 6.5 million
Newsworthiness• Timeliness• Proximity• Rarity (‘holy cow!’)• Prominence (e.g. famous people)• Impact• Novelty• Human Interest• Magnitude• Conflict/controversy
Sample story: Human Tears Contain a Chemosignal
• Read abstract (on your own, 5 minutes)
In groups (5 minutes):
• Find and discuss key information (Who?, What?, Where?, Why is it interesting?, How)
• What makes this story newsworthy?
• Write a headline about this story for your assigned publication
The Original Paper:
The Institute’s Press Release:
Human Tears Contain a Chemosignal- headlines from groups
1. Daily Mail: Science proves the obvious: men turned off by women crying
2. Men’s Health: Turned off by tears
3. Nuts: Crybabies equals no babies
4. Time Magazine: The science behind why your sex life is bad
5. The Telegraph: A tear a day keeps your man at bay
6. Guardian: Tears reduce sexual arousal
7. Facebook status update: Who knew? Crying actually IS a turn-off, it’s not just me… [link]
8. Cosmopolitan: Don’t cry for me
Pretty straightforwardheadlines:
More headlines….
Weeping women make willies wilt
5-10 min Break
Part 2: Structuring a news piece
Crucial
Important
Nice
Structure Example
Who
Why
WhatWhere
When Hook
Your turn to write
• On your own (15 minutes):– Read: Zebra paper abstract and excerpts– Note: who, what, where, when, why it matters– Write: First paragraph of story (3-4 sentences at
most)• Share, discuss in small groups (10 minutes)• Feeling inspired? Send us your zebra
para/story for feedback (see handout for emails)
Editing
1) Help the author to effectively say what they intend
2) Make it readable for others
3) Check facts for accuracy A few tips: - Note any places where you felt confused or had to reread.
- Trim words, sentences, or information that are not adding anything. Remember: Less is More.
- Be positive, diplomatic, respectful. - Work WITH (not against) the author, - Explain your suggested edits.
- DON’T be a perfectionist.
Editing activity
• Read ‘Altitude Illness’ (individually, 5 min)• Make notes of problems
– You should find plenty!• Discuss how this piece can be improved
(in groups, 5-10 min)– What suggestions would you make? – Remember to be positive and tactful
Features = Pretty much everything else
“in depth” analysis
science and/of .... politicsnew mediasocietycultureboozemagiczombies
historical /philosophical
careers advice
ReviewsTV podcastsbooks
Interviews
day in the life of…
opinion pieces the science budget is going to ruin usdoes Brian Cox smile too much?
rantswhy does no one ever clear up in my lab? sceptics view of religion
Coming up with an idea
Your own research
Follow your interest
Stuff you’ve seen , read, watched, heard, chatted about...
Scout out press releases/publications e.g. Science daily/Nature news
Science festival event....
Part of your research, technique, general
introduction, general field, interview someone.
Finding an angle – an example Classic Kit by Andrea Sella Petri dish
First line
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2010/February/PetriDish.asp
Richard Julius Petri was born in the town of Barmen….
Narrative
3nd Para
a peculiar novel in my father's study. Written in 1884, Edwin Abbott's Flatland described the strange adventures of a character called A Square…
But was it really Petri's idea?... My feeling…
5th Para
6th Para He retired in 1900 and was reported to have become both stout and vain…
Final Para …where their low dimensionality helps to make visible the most complex of phenomena…
Conceived, written and edited by a team of students Articles can be submitted on any scientific topic
email - [email protected] website - eusci.org
EUSA society providing science writing, broadcasting and presenting opportunities and training
Interested in getting involved? Contact us…
Informal 15 min talk and question session given by researcher or student on their subject area or nerdy passion
Science discussions bringing the latest in science and technologyProduced fortnightly with 1200 downloads a month