Science communicators Archives

Article

Mpox: An explainer and research roundup

"A handful of researchers tried to notify the international community about a brewing problem with mpox, but their reports went mostly unnoticed until an outbreak in the United Kingdom in May 2022." This piece, first published in 2022, was updated in August 2024 given new alerts and emergency declarations from the U.S. CDC, Africa CDC, and World Health Organization.

Mpox: An explainer and research roundup

Summary:

"A handful of researchers tried to notify the international community about a brewing problem with mpox, but their reports went mostly unnoticed until an outbreak in the United Kingdom in May 2022." This piece, first published in 2022, was updated in August 2024 given new alerts and emergency declarations from the U.S. CDC, Africa CDC, and World Health Organization.

Author:

Naseem S. Miller

Published By:

The Journalist's Resource

Date:

August 13, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Fellowships & Grants

Princeton University Press book proposal grants

Princeton University Press

These grants from Princeton University Press support authors from under-represented groups in STEM working on nonfiction books about science topics. Grantees receive coaching from Princeton University Press editors and consideration for publication. Both first-time and previously published authors are eligible. The application deadline for the 2024 grant cycle is October 11.

Princeton University Press book proposal grants

Summary:

These grants from Princeton University Press support authors from under-represented groups in STEM working on nonfiction books about science topics. Grantees receive coaching from Princeton University Press editors and consideration for publication. Both first-time and previously published authors are eligible. The application deadline for the 2024 grant cycle is October 11.

Organization:

Princeton University Press

Category:

For:

VISIT

Video

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

In this virtual event presented by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, journalist and activist Erin Reed spoke to Ivan Hsiao, founder of Trans Health HQ. They discussed "ways to translate and disseminate research about LGBTQ health for policy and public discourse, combat misinformation and disinformation, and support progress toward a more equitable future for the LGBTQ community."

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

Summary:

In this virtual event presented by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, journalist and activist Erin Reed spoke to Ivan Hsiao, founder of Trans Health HQ. They discussed "ways to translate and disseminate research about LGBTQ health for policy and public discourse, combat misinformation and disinformation, and support progress toward a more equitable future for the LGBTQ community."

Organization:

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Date:

July 24, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Video

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

Covering Climate Now

"Increasingly, disinformation peddlers are protecting their lies by accusing anyone who fact-checks or debunks climate disinformation of censorship, bias, or being anti–free speech and debate. How can journalists preempt such charges, or deal with them, as we continue to tackle climate disinformation on the beat? In this press briefing, co-sponsored by Covering Climate Now and Climate Action Against Disinformation, experts detailed strategies used by disinformers to discredit journalists and how you can protect your reporting and serve your audiences. Kendra Pierre-Louis of Bloomberg; Marco Silva of BBC News; and Wudan Yan, freelance journalist, fact-checker, and entrepreneur, joined moderator Amy Westervelt, executive editor of Drilled, for a one-hour conversation."

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

Summary:

"Increasingly, disinformation peddlers are protecting their lies by accusing anyone who fact-checks or debunks climate disinformation of censorship, bias, or being anti–free speech and debate. How can journalists preempt such charges, or deal with them, as we continue to tackle climate disinformation on the beat? In this press briefing, co-sponsored by Covering Climate Now and Climate Action Against Disinformation, experts detailed strategies used by disinformers to discredit journalists and how you can protect your reporting and serve your audiences. Kendra Pierre-Louis of Bloomberg; Marco Silva of BBC News; and Wudan Yan, freelance journalist, fact-checker, and entrepreneur, joined moderator Amy Westervelt, executive editor of Drilled, for a one-hour conversation."

Organization:

Covering Climate Now

Date:

June 18, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Video

Trust in science: Understanding the trends and implications for science communication

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine

"Recent survey data show declines in trust in science that mirror earlier trends for other institutions, including journalism and government. New research is shedding additional light on those patterns and illuminating some of the mechanisms that underlie the aggregated trends." In this May 30, 2024, National Academies webinar, researchers considered the differences between credibility, confidence, and trust; described new empirical findings; and discussed the implications for how to communicate science in a complex information landscape. Moderated by Mariette DiChristina of Boston University, panelists are Katherine Ognyanova of Rutgers University, Arthur Lupia of the University of Michigan, and Liz Hamel of KFF.

Trust in science: Understanding the trends and implications for science communication

Summary:

"Recent survey data show declines in trust in science that mirror earlier trends for other institutions, including journalism and government. New research is shedding additional light on those patterns and illuminating some of the mechanisms that underlie the aggregated trends." In this May 30, 2024, National Academies webinar, researchers considered the differences between credibility, confidence, and trust; described new empirical findings; and discussed the implications for how to communicate science in a complex information landscape. Moderated by Mariette DiChristina of Boston University, panelists are Katherine Ognyanova of Rutgers University, Arthur Lupia of the University of Michigan, and Liz Hamel of KFF.

Organization:

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine

Date:

May 30, 2024

Category:

Journalism and communication practice

For:

VISIT

Video

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

SEJ

Pandas and forests are out. Moths and peatlands are in. During this session at the 2024 Society of Environmental Journalists annual meeting, a panel of wildlife writers discussed how to get readers deeply invested in stories about wildlife and ecosystems that are not traditionally charismatic. These could be obscure creatures and places that some readers have never heard of, or animals that many people consider icky pests.

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

Summary:

Pandas and forests are out. Moths and peatlands are in. During this session at the 2024 Society of Environmental Journalists annual meeting, a panel of wildlife writers discussed how to get readers deeply invested in stories about wildlife and ecosystems that are not traditionally charismatic. These could be obscure creatures and places that some readers have never heard of, or animals that many people consider icky pests.

Organization:

SEJ

Date:

April 4, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Article

What’s a nationally representative sample? 5 things you need to know to report accurately on research

"Journalists can’t report accurately on research involving human subjects without knowing certain details about the sample of people researchers studied. It’s important to know, for example, whether researchers used a nationally representative sample." This article explains what a nationally representative sample is, why this is important, and how journalists can evaluate such samples when covering research papers.

Resource Database / Guide

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage

CASW Connector, The Journalist's Resource

On July 11, CASW Connector and The Journalist’s Resource hosted a Chat discussing how journalists can better cover hot-button topics, focusing on abortion as an example of a medical topic that has become increasingly political. The panelists shared lessons from their research and reporting, offered guidance for journalists covering abortion, and answered questions from the audience. The event was moderated by Naseem Miller, senior health editor at The Journalist’s Resource, and the panelists were Sarah McCammon, national political correspondent at NPR who covers abortion policy among other divisive topics, and Katie Woodruff, public health social scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the University of California, San Francisco.

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage

Summary:

On July 11, CASW Connector and The Journalist’s Resource hosted a Chat discussing how journalists can better cover hot-button topics, focusing on abortion as an example of a medical topic that has become increasingly political. The panelists shared lessons from their research and reporting, offered guidance for journalists covering abortion, and answered questions from the audience. The event was moderated by Naseem Miller, senior health editor at The Journalist’s Resource, and the panelists were Sarah McCammon, national political correspondent at NPR who covers abortion policy among other divisive topics, and Katie Woodruff, public health social scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the University of California, San Francisco.

Organization:

CASW Connector, The Journalist's Resource

Date:

July 18, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Conference

UK Conference of Science Journalists 2024

Association of British Science Writers (ABSW)

This biennial conference, organized by the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), provides science journalists and writers with professional development and networking opportunities. The 2024 conference will take place on Tuesday, October 15, at the Francis Crick Institute in London. Early bird tickets are available through the end of July, and ABSW also offers diversity scholarships for writers from underrepresented groups.

Organization

Science Media Centre

"The Science Media Centre is New Zealand’s trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to research, science, and innovation." The organization helps to connect journalists and scientists, offers resources and trainings, provides networking opportunities, recognizes excellent science journalism, and more.

Science Media Centre

Summary:

"The Science Media Centre is New Zealand’s trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to research, science, and innovation." The organization helps to connect journalists and scientists, offers resources and trainings, provides networking opportunities, recognizes excellent science journalism, and more.

Category:

For:

VISIT

Book

Engaging With the Press: A Guide for Perplexed Readers and Sources

"We train scientists and health professionals to collect and analyze evidence. Yet we’re far less intentional about equipping them to credibly communicate it in an increasingly skeptical and fragmented world." This resource, by veteran news executive Richard J. (Dick) Tofel, aims to address this challenge by preparing scientists, health professionals, and other sources of the news media to better understand the world of journalism and how they can engage with it. It describes the motivations of reporters, editors, and publishers; how material from sources is received; challenges for readers and sources, and more.

Article

Research highlights need for public health approach in news reporting of gun violence

A May 2024 study, published in BMC Public Health, examines local television news clips covering gun violence. The study "reveals an overwhelming reliance on law enforcement narratives, missing deeper insights into the root causes and potential solutions to gun violence." This article unpacks those findings and offers recommendations for journalists covering gun violence as a public health issue.

Science writing example

Big Poultry: How a secretive industry rules the roost in North Carolina

CASW

"This feature story, a collaboration between environmental and investigative reporters at the Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News & Observer, is the flagship story from the two papers’ Big Poultry series uncovering how North Carolina’s secretive poultry industry is hurting the state’s environment. The Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT selected this series as the 2023 winner of the Victor K. McElheny Award for local and regional journalism."

Conference

Communicating Discovery Science – International symposium

Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) at Stellenbosch University

This symposium, sponsored by the Kavli Foundation, "aims to deepen understanding of effective public engagement around Discovery Science, also known as basic or foundational science, by exploring ways to improve the practice of communicating Discovery Science, share insights and create a supportive community for scientists and science communication practitioners focused on basic science."

Book

50 Essentials on Science Communication

"This handy and entertaining book provides the basics of goal-oriented science communication. It is aimed at career-building scientists and anyone who wants to take their first steps in the field of science communication. Experienced international authors in the field share their essential thoughts on important aspects of contemporary science communication."

Organizations

Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture in Kenya (MESHA)

"Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture in Kenya (MESHA) is an association of journalists and communicators who are specialized in environmental, agriculture, health, technology and development reporting. It is a non-partisan and not for profit making organization which has been in existence since October 2005." MESHA offers regular and student memberships, and publishes Sayansi Magazine.

Resource Database / Guide

Tip sheet: Tapping wastewater surveillance — the next big source of public health data — in your reporting

This tip sheet shares resources and reporting tips from a lightning talk that Betsy Ladyzhets gave at the 2024 Association of Health Care Journalists conference. Ladyzhets discussed where to find wastewater surveillance data, how to interpret it, and types of stories you can do based on wastewater surveillance data, whether you're covering COVID-19 or another health threat.

Tip sheet: Tapping wastewater surveillance — the next big source of public health data — in your reporting

Summary:

This tip sheet shares resources and reporting tips from a lightning talk that Betsy Ladyzhets gave at the 2024 Association of Health Care Journalists conference. Ladyzhets discussed where to find wastewater surveillance data, how to interpret it, and types of stories you can do based on wastewater surveillance data, whether you're covering COVID-19 or another health threat.

Author:

Betsy Ladyzhets

Date:

June 8, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Article

How to build a science writing portfolio when you have no experience

"Putting a portfolio together is not complicated once you have a few assignments under your belt. But it's a different story for newbies, and I can't count how many first-time writers have asked me how they can get a portfolio when no one will give them a chance to start." In this article, communicator Joachim Eeckhout shares recommendations for building a portfolio, including creating a blog, guest posting, and using social media.

Resource Database / Guide

EurekAlert! resources

EurekAlert!, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

This site, maintained by EurekAlert! (the news-release distribution service operated by AAAS), highlights a variety of international resources for science journalists and public information officers (PIOs). The site includes links to communities for science writers in different parts of the world, guides and best practices, articles and videos, and more.

EurekAlert! resources

Summary:

This site, maintained by EurekAlert! (the news-release distribution service operated by AAAS), highlights a variety of international resources for science journalists and public information officers (PIOs). The site includes links to communities for science writers in different parts of the world, guides and best practices, articles and videos, and more.

Organization:

EurekAlert!, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Category:

For:

VISIT

Science writing example

The Webb Space Telescope Will Rewrite Cosmic History. If It Works.

CASW

This multimedia article explores the James Webb Space Telescope’s extensive backstory and profiles scientists working on the $10 billion project. The article earned Quanta Magazine the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting. Natalie Wolchover, senior editor at Quanta, was the story’s lead author.

Video

Too much and not enough: The challenge of conveying trustworthy information

AAAS, Kavli Foundation

2019 AAAS Kavli winner and senior WIRED editor Maryn McKenna discusses health communication and disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. McKenna walks the audience through different examples of communications from early in the pandemic and identifies lessons learned from sharing health information during this emergency phase.

Article

How does science misinformation affect Americans from underrepresented communities?

Boston University

"New Boston University–led research has found historically excluded and marginalized Americans may be more vulnerable to inaccurate notions about science due to 'structural and institutional power dynamics.'" The Brink, Boston University's online publication for sharing research news, spoke to paper author Michelle Amazeen about the study's findings.

Science writing example

The Stargazers

CASW

In this feature for Science magazine, freelance science journalist Joshua Sokol describes how Indigenous Maya are working with Western scholars to understand the ancient Maya astronomy buried by Spanish colonists hundreds of years ago. Sokol has won awards from CASW, the American Astronomical Society, the American Institute of Physics, and the American Geophysical Union.

Resource Database / Guide

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

CASW Connector

On April 16, CASW Connector hosted a Chat discussing science journalism and communication in the misinformation era. The panelists talked about key concepts – and misconceptions – that journalists and communicators encounter in combating misinformation, shared insights from research on how people process information, and answered questions from the audience. This event was facilitated by Connector managing editor Kate Travis, and the panelists were: Kai Kupferschmidt, contributing correspondent at Science and Knight Science Journalism Fellow, and Briony Swire-Thompson, director of the Psychology of Misinformation Lab and assistant professor of political science, psychology, and network science at Northeastern University.

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

Summary:

On April 16, CASW Connector hosted a Chat discussing science journalism and communication in the misinformation era. The panelists talked about key concepts – and misconceptions – that journalists and communicators encounter in combating misinformation, shared insights from research on how people process information, and answered questions from the audience. This event was facilitated by Connector managing editor Kate Travis, and the panelists were: Kai Kupferschmidt, contributing correspondent at Science and Knight Science Journalism Fellow, and Briony Swire-Thompson, director of the Psychology of Misinformation Lab and assistant professor of political science, psychology, and network science at Northeastern University.

Organization:

CASW Connector

Date:

April 22, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Video

Memory and belief regression after the correction of misinformation

Harvard University; Shorenstein Center for Media, Politics and Public Policy

"After misinformation has been corrected individuals initially update their belief extremely well. However, this change is rarely sustained over time, with belief returning towards pre-correction levels. In this edition of the Misinformation Speaker Series, Briony Swire-Thompson discusses a study aimed to examine the mechanisms of belief regression, and whether corrected misinformation suffers more from belief regression than affirmed facts."

Find a resource

Library

Mpox: An explainer and research roundup

Princeton University Press book proposal grants

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

Trust in science: Understanding the trends and implications for science communication

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

What’s a nationally representative sample? 5 things you need to know to report accurately on research

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage

UK Conference of Science Journalists 2024

Science Media Centre

Engaging With the Press: A Guide for Perplexed Readers and Sources

Research highlights need for public health approach in news reporting of gun violence

Big Poultry: How a secretive industry rules the roost in North Carolina

Communicating Discovery Science – International symposium

50 Essentials on Science Communication

Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture in Kenya (MESHA)

Tip sheet: Tapping wastewater surveillance — the next big source of public health data — in your reporting

How to build a science writing portfolio when you have no experience

EurekAlert! resources

The Webb Space Telescope Will Rewrite Cosmic History. If It Works.

Too much and not enough: The challenge of conveying trustworthy information

How does science misinformation affect Americans from underrepresented communities?

The Stargazers

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

Memory and belief regression after the correction of misinformation