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Topic: Career planning
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Podcast

Climate Science, Journalism and Working Backwards To Get to Your Career With Kendra Pierre-Louis

For Environmental Professionals Radio (EPR), Nic Frederick and Laura Thorne interview Kendra Pierre Louis, climate reporter and author of Greenwashed, Why We Can't Buy Our Way to a Green Planet, about the steps that led her to journalism (at 8:01).
Podcast

Climate Science, Journalism and Working Backwards To Get to Your Career With Kendra Pierre-Louis

Summary:
For Environmental Professionals Radio (EPR), Nic Frederick and Laura Thorne interview Kendra Pierre Louis, climate reporter and author of Greenwashed, Why We Can't Buy Our Way to a Green Planet, about the steps that led her to journalism (at 8:01).
Published By:

National Association of Environmental Professionals

Date:

August 15, 2025

Category:
For:
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Mentor program

Association of Science Communicators’ Mentorship Program

Association of Science Communicators

"In 2025, the ASC Mentorship Program is transitioning into a full-fledged annual program.
We are looking for SciComm professionals of all careers and fields to be mentors. And we are looking for early and developing career people to be mentees, especially those that don't have other traditional routes of mentorship and training.
Time commitment is a minimum of 1-3 hours a month from September to April. We are looking for our amazing mentors and mentees to apply by July 31."

Mentor program

Association of Science Communicators’ Mentorship Program

Summary:

"In 2025, the ASC Mentorship Program is transitioning into a full-fledged annual program.
We are looking for SciComm professionals of all careers and fields to be mentors. And we are looking for early and developing career people to be mentees, especially those that don't have other traditional routes of mentorship and training.
Time commitment is a minimum of 1-3 hours a month from September to April. We are looking for our amazing mentors and mentees to apply by July 31."

Organization:

Association of Science Communicators

Category:
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Organizations

Trans Journalists Association

"The Trans Journalists Association is a professional membership organization that promotes accurate, nuanced coverage of trans rights and communities in the media and fosters the careers of gender-expansive journalists. The TJA offers a number of programs and resources to support journalists. Some are limited to active TJA members; others are open to all applicants or participants." The Trans Journalists Association is offering Summer 2025 professional development stipends to any journalist who qualifies for membership. Deadline: August 11.
Organizations

Trans Journalists Association

Summary:
"The Trans Journalists Association is a professional membership organization that promotes accurate, nuanced coverage of trans rights and communities in the media and fosters the careers of gender-expansive journalists. The TJA offers a number of programs and resources to support journalists. Some are limited to active TJA members; others are open to all applicants or participants." The Trans Journalists Association is offering Summer 2025 professional development stipends to any journalist who qualifies for membership. Deadline: August 11.
Category:
For:
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Organization

Science Writers and Communicators of Canada

Science Writers and Communicators of Canada

"Science Writers & Communicators of Canada (SWCC) was founded in 1970 as the Canadian Science Writers’ Association by a small group of science and medical reporters who recognized their role in helping other Canadians better understand rapid changes occurring in our world." You'll find resources for members and nonmembers for starting or expanding a career in science communication, an annual book awards contest (next deadline is Oct. 31, 2025) and annual conference. The 2025 SWCC Annual Conference took place June 12-13 at the Wu Conference Centre on the University of New Brunswick Campus.
Organization

Science Writers and Communicators of Canada

Summary:
"Science Writers & Communicators of Canada (SWCC) was founded in 1970 as the Canadian Science Writers’ Association by a small group of science and medical reporters who recognized their role in helping other Canadians better understand rapid changes occurring in our world." You'll find resources for members and nonmembers for starting or expanding a career in science communication, an annual book awards contest (next deadline is Oct. 31, 2025) and annual conference. The 2025 SWCC Annual Conference took place June 12-13 at the Wu Conference Centre on the University of New Brunswick Campus.
Organization:

Science Writers and Communicators of Canada

Category:
For:
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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.
Article

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

Summary:
"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.
Author:

Joachim Eeckhout

Published By:

The Science Marketer

Date:

May 27, 2024

Category:
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Book

Special issue on careers in scientific editing and publishing

Council of Science Editors (CSE)

"The focus of this issue of Science Editor is on careers and roles in scientific editing and publishing. In 2017, we published a similar special careers-focused issue, and it seemed a good time to explore what has shifted in the past 6 years. This issue includes interviews and articles covering an array of editor roles and positions, many of which are new, have increased in prominence, or significantly changed in the last few years. There are also articles on the importance of training and preparing the next generation of researchers and editors, increasing diversity and equity, and the transition to remote work."
Book

Special issue on careers in scientific editing and publishing

Summary:
"The focus of this issue of Science Editor is on careers and roles in scientific editing and publishing. In 2017, we published a similar special careers-focused issue, and it seemed a good time to explore what has shifted in the past 6 years. This issue includes interviews and articles covering an array of editor roles and positions, many of which are new, have increased in prominence, or significantly changed in the last few years. There are also articles on the importance of training and preparing the next generation of researchers and editors, increasing diversity and equity, and the transition to remote work."
Organization:

Council of Science Editors (CSE)

Published By:

Science Editor

Date:

March 15, 2023

Category:
For:
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Video

Science journalism in the digital age – online lecture series

German Science Journalists' Association, Science Media Center Germany

The German Science Journalists’ Association and the Science Media Center Germany organized a 2020-21 virtual lecture series on "future-proofing" science journalism in response to structural change in the media environment. A 2023 version of the series included 10 lectures on digital transformation in journalism and practical solutions. That series culminated in a November 2023 conference. Videos of the lectures, some in English and some in German, from the first two series as well as transcripts and additional commentary in English and German are available online in this "knowledge reservoir," and documents from the conference are expected to be added.
Video

Science journalism in the digital age – online lecture series

Summary:
The German Science Journalists’ Association and the Science Media Center Germany organized a 2020-21 virtual lecture series on "future-proofing" science journalism in response to structural change in the media environment. A 2023 version of the series included 10 lectures on digital transformation in journalism and practical solutions. That series culminated in a November 2023 conference. Videos of the lectures, some in English and some in German, from the first two series as well as transcripts and additional commentary in English and German are available online in this "knowledge reservoir," and documents from the conference are expected to be added.
Organization:

German Science Journalists' Association, Science Media Center Germany

Category:
For:
VISIT
Resource Database / Guide

Civic Science Career Roadmap

Rita Allen Foundation

This extensive guide provides recommendations, resources, and success stories for anyone interested in a career in civic science, "a growing field of study and area of practice committed to ensuring that all people shape and benefit from science, technology, and innovation." It shares lessons from the Civic Science Fellows, a program that supports leadership and collaboration in this field.
Resource Database / Guide

Civic Science Career Roadmap

Summary:
This extensive guide provides recommendations, resources, and success stories for anyone interested in a career in civic science, "a growing field of study and area of practice committed to ensuring that all people shape and benefit from science, technology, and innovation." It shares lessons from the Civic Science Fellows, a program that supports leadership and collaboration in this field.
Organization:

Rita Allen Foundation

Date:

October 1, 2023

Category:
For:
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Article

Science communication: a career where PhDs can make a difference

"Communicating about science allows researchers to step away from the minutiae of a subdiscipline and to once again explore the breadth of science more fully through an ever-evolving array of stories. A doctoral degree can confer distinct advantages in the eyes of prospective editors and employers. Here I describe those advantages, possible career directions, and steps toward making such a transition."
Article

Science communication: a career where PhDs can make a difference

Summary:
"Communicating about science allows researchers to step away from the minutiae of a subdiscipline and to once again explore the breadth of science more fully through an ever-evolving array of stories. A doctoral degree can confer distinct advantages in the eyes of prospective editors and employers. Here I describe those advantages, possible career directions, and steps toward making such a transition."
Author:

Robert Irion

Published By:

Molecular Biology of the Cell

Date:

October 13, 2017

Category:
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Book

Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower

"Many science students find themselves in the midst of graduate school or sitting at a lab bench, and realize that they hate lab work! Even worse is realizing that they may love science, but science (at least academic science) is not providing many job opportunities these days. What's a poor researcher to do!? This book gives first-hand descriptions of the evolution of a band of hardy scientists out of the lab and into just about every career you can imagine. Researchers from every branch of science found their way into finance, public relations, consulting, business development, journalism, and more - and thrived there! Each author tells their personal story, including descriptions of their career path, a typical day, where to find information on their job, opportunities to career growth, and more."
Book

Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower

Summary:
"Many science students find themselves in the midst of graduate school or sitting at a lab bench, and realize that they hate lab work! Even worse is realizing that they may love science, but science (at least academic science) is not providing many job opportunities these days. What's a poor researcher to do!? This book gives first-hand descriptions of the evolution of a band of hardy scientists out of the lab and into just about every career you can imagine. Researchers from every branch of science found their way into finance, public relations, consulting, business development, journalism, and more - and thrived there! Each author tells their personal story, including descriptions of their career path, a typical day, where to find information on their job, opportunities to career growth, and more."
Author:

Cynthia Robbins-Roth

Published By:

Academic Press

Date:

September 9, 2005

Category:
For:
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Resource Database / Guide

Individual Development Plan

This interactive website (produced by AAAS's Science Careers) provides Ph.D. students in the sciences with exercises to help better understand and start pursuing their career goals. It includes: exercises to help you examine your skills, interests, and values; a list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones best fit your skills and interests; a tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on track; and articles and resources to guide you through the process.
Resource Database / Guide

Individual Development Plan

Summary:
This interactive website (produced by AAAS's Science Careers) provides Ph.D. students in the sciences with exercises to help better understand and start pursuing their career goals. It includes: exercises to help you examine your skills, interests, and values; a list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones best fit your skills and interests; a tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on track; and articles and resources to guide you through the process.
Author:

Science Careers

Published By:

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Category:
For:
VISIT