Science Writing - Career Brief

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Science Writing - Career Brief

. . . Is a broad-based field
Science writers describe discoveries and commercial developments in all branches of science, engineering, medicine, and environmental science. They explain the benefits of these discoveries to the lives of the average individual. Science writers usually fall into one of four career areas-science journalism, public communications, technical writing in industry, and editing.

Science journalists write articles for general circulation magazines, science magazines geared to the general public, trade magazines for scientists and engineers, and newspapers. Some are employed by television and radio networks.

Science writers specializing in public communications hold jobs in federal and state government agencies, research universities, research institutes, and professional societies preparing press releases and reports. Those working at universities and research institutes often assist researchers with the preparation of grant proposals. Industry employs science writers to prepare technical bulletins, technical advertising, press releases, and assist corporate researchers in writing technical papers. Editorial science writers edit articles for work science and technology journals, magazines, and books as well as government reports.

. . . Is communicating with the public
Large newspapers employ writers with educational backgrounds in science, technology, health and medicine, and the environment. Magazines such as "Business Week" publish weekly sections on science and technology. Others such as "Fortune" and "U.S. News and World Report" run frequent science and technology stories. Each of these magazines employs science writers with expertise in the technical sciences. Industry trade magazines usually employ several science writers.

Pam Zurer, assistant managing editor, Science, Technology and Education for Chemical & Engineering News, notes, "I have a Ph.D. in chemistry, but I was attracted to journalism as an alternative career because I didn't want to stay in the lab." A summer writing fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science was the beginning of her science writing career.

Nancy Enright Blount became a science writer for the American Chemical Society News Service after receiving her Master of Science degree in chemistry. She now heads the ACS Department of Media Relations/Local Section Public Relations. Her department's mission includes providing information to the print and broadcast media. ACS writers annually prepare dozens of press releases-mainly in conjunction with ACS national meetings and research reported in ACS journals. At national meetings, ACS science writers operate a media press room assisting print and broadcast reporters in covering meeting events and arranging interviews. The ACS responds to 700-800 calls annually from reporters looking for experts and information.

Duties of science writers at companies and universities include preparing press releases about new discoveries made in their laboratories.

. . . Includes technical writing for industry
Industry needs technical writers to prepare scientific bulletins, procedures manuals, technical, advertising, and other scientific documents as well as press releases. Increasingly, industry is outsourcing these activities to freelance writers and advertising agencies.

Ph.D. organic chemist John Borchardt writes technical bulletins and trade magazine articles for his employer, Shell Chemical Company, in addition to developing new chemical products. He also writes material for his employer's corporate web page. "My writing projects add variety to my job and help keep it interesting," he notes. "They give me opportunities to work with people that I'd never even meet if all I did was laboratory research."

. . . Involves editing too
Publishers of science books and journals employ chemists and other scientists as editors. Editors may rely on scientists as reviewers, but editors themselves need a general understanding of the manuscript subject area to edit text for clarity and readability while not changing its meaning.

Jacqueline Kroschwitz and Mary Howe-Grant are executive editor and senior editor, respectively, at John Wiley & Sons. Both Ph.D. chemists, they have been involved with publishing the new edition of the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Science of Technology, coordinating the process of identifying hundreds of authors and commissioning articles, interacting with tardy authors, identifying reviewers and overseeing the manuscript review process, advising authors on needed revisions, and editing the revised manuscripts for style and format. In addition to technical expertise, such projects require excellent organizational and people skills.

. . . Offers opportunities for the self-employed
Many technical writers are self-employed. They work for private companies, government agencies, and professional societies on specific writing projects. Employment ends when specific projects are completed. Those seeking to start a career as a self-employed science writer should compile a track record of writing accomplishments while employed full time for a company or the media. Some salaried writers and editors do freelance work outside of their full-time jobs.

Newspapers and magazines as varied as "Discover" and "The Rotarian" publish articles written by freelancers on science, engineering, medical, and environmental subjects. Many freelancers for corporate web sites. Some freelancers edit and review technical articles and documents for publishers and private industry. For example, Geoffrey Dolbear, a Ph.D. chemist and specialist in oil refinery technology, left Union Oil Company to become a consultant after 24 years in industry. He also takes on writing projects such as science articles for the World Book Encyclopedia.

. . . Offers part-time income opportunities
Science and technical writing also offers many part-time opportunities. Aside from his research and writing assignments at Shell, Borchardt freelances part-time. Some of his writing projects include chemistry articles for Colliers International Encyclopedia; Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia yearbooks; and articles on various technical subjects for magazines, newspapers, and books. "I like laboratory research too much to give it up. But my part-time writing has added a lot to my professional life," he states.
Copyright 1997 American Chemical Society

WORK DESCRIPTION
Science writers and editors spend most their time writing or reviewing articles and article proposals. They must keep up-to-date on major scientific and technical developments by reading press releases, articles, and original research papers. They attend science and technology conferences to report discoveries. They often interview scientists and engineers by telephone or in person. They usually conduct their own on-line literature searches for background information.

Editors often work closely with scientists, editing their manuscripts. They attend science and engineering conferences to meet with book authors and prospective authors. Staying abreast of what topics are of interest helps them develop ideas for new books.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Science writers spend most of their time in offices but occasionally travel to conferences, production plants, and remote locations where scientists are at work. Work days are often much longer than eight hours and meeting deadlines can be stressful.

PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT
Some writers work for science magazines, major weekly magazines, and big city newspapers. Many large firms employ science writers. Others use freelance science writers on a project-by-project basis. Science writers also work at universities, research institutes, government agencies, and professional societies.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Science writers must have a good imagination and the ability to see the implications of scientific discoveries. They must be fast learners, capitalizing on their basic science education, to quickly master the basics of various technical fields and communicate effectively with scientists and engineers. They must be self-motivated and good time managers. Good verbal communication skills are essential when conducting interviews. Having good business skills is an asset for freelancers since they are running their own small company.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Science writers need at least a bachelor's degree in science or engineering. Undergraduate courses in science writing and journalism are very helpful. Science magazines and professional societies often offer internships and workshops for beginners. Excellent photography skills are useful.

JOB OUTLOOK
Overall, the employment and career outlook for science and technical writers is quite good. Besides the traditional markets for their work-magazines, newspapers, and books-the Internet is offering many job opportunities for science writers as companies develop their websites. The number of science writers employed by magazines, newspapers, and books appears to have stabilized after a period of decline.

SALARY RANGE
Median full-time starting salaries for science writers in 1996 was $30,000-per-year. Median salaries for science writers with a bachelor's degree was $41,000-per-year; $45,000-per-year for a master's degree; and $47,000-per-year for a doctorate. Full-time jobs usually provide the standard benefits of health and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, and retirement benefits. Freelancers incomes range from less than $10,000 for part-timers to more than $100,000-per-year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
National Association of Science Writers
P.O. Box 294
Greenlawn, NY 11740
(516) 757-5664

Society for Technical Communication
901 North Stuart Street, Suite 904
Arlington, VA 22203-1854
(703) 522-4114

American Medical Writers Association
9650 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20814-3998
(301) 493-0003

Education Writers Association
1331 H Street, NW, Suite 307
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 637-9700

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Students interested in science writing should take elective courses in science and technical writing and journalism. These and internships, particularly at science magazines, are the best way to determine if a writing career appeals to you. Take all your standard chemistry courses to develop a strong chemistry background. In addition, a polymer chemistry course is recommended. With the many developments occurring in biotechnology and medicine, biology and biochemistry courses can be very useful.

American Chemical Society, Education Division, 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 452-2113. Production of career material was funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.