science writing

Book Review: The Universe in Zero Words

Posted 26 October 2012 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: In this book, mathematician Dana Mackenzie provides a quick tour through the history of mathematics, from ancient to modern times, with short vignettes about 24 equations. A closer look at the dust jacket for Dana Mackenzie's book, The Universe in Zero Words [embiggen]. Whilst a child, my male teachers informed me that "girls are terrible at math" and "teaching maths to girls is a waste of time". Undeterred by their fondness for their own opinions, I've always been fascinated... Read more

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Royal Society seeks young people to choose prize-winning science book

Posted 9 February 2012 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: The Royal Society is inviting youth groups to help select the winner of the 2012 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize You may recall the video I recently shared with you about the Royal Society’s 2011 Young People’s Book Award. But maybe you are wondering how your child can help the Royal society choose the 2012 winners of their award. Well, wonder no more because the Royal Society is asking for your help! ... Read more

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Nature’s Building Blocks [Book Review]

Posted 14 September 2011 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: My review of a book that is an alphabetical examination of all the elements in the periodic table Because 2011 is the International Year of Chemistry, I have been searching for a book about chemistry that I could recommend to the general public. After learning about or browsing through several such books, I chose what I thought would be the best amongst them. Written by award-winning science writer and former chemistry lecturer, John Emsley, I thought I had found... Read more

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Prize your science out of the lab

Posted 18 April 2011 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: Stephen Curry, a professional scientist, specifically talks to his colleagues about the value of entering the Wellcome Trust/Guardian/Observer science writing competition Image courtesy of The Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize 2011. There is a very real danger that the number of articles written to encourage people to enter the 2011 Wellcome Trust Science Writing Competition will exceed the number of entrants. We have already had commentaries and advice from luminaries such as Alok Jha, James Randerson, Henry Gee and... Read more

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In Your Own Write: The ten rules for excellent writing

Posted 14 April 2011 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: I asked my friend, Henry Gee, to share some of tips about effective science writing with aspiring entrants into the Wellcome Trust/Guardian/Observer science writing competition. His advice was distilled into these ten rules Image courtesy of The Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize 2011. News has reached mes oreilles of the science-writing competition bruited forth by the Wellcome Trust in collaboration with The Guardian and The Observer. As I don’t read The Guardian or The Observer very often (being closeted... Read more

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Labby Multimedia Awards for communicating life science to the public

Posted 14 April 2011 by GrrlScientist

This announcement zoomed into my email box in the wee hours, so I thought I’d share it with you. The Scientist magazine is hosting the 2011 Labby Multimedia Awards for communicating life science to the public. If you are a writer, videographer, or you build interactive websites to share information about life science research with the public, then it looks like this competition is for you. These awards are open to scientists or research groups, science teachers and biological sciences... Read more

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Wellcome Trust/Guardian science writing competition: choosing your topic

Posted 13 April 2011 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: How to choose a topic to write about for the 2011 Wellcome Trust/Guardian/Observer science writing competition Image courtesy of The Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize 2011. So you’ve been thinking and dreaming about the Wellcome Trust/Guardian/Observer Science Writing Prize for a few days now, you’re inspired and ready to go, so you open your laptop and suddenly … you’re stuck. Your brilliant ideas either fade away or don’t seem as brilliant they were when you were discussing them with... Read more

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Dare to dream

Posted 8 April 2011 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: Make your dream into reality by entering the Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize competition Image courtesy of The Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize 2011. We all have a dream. For some us, this dream is the shining star that guides our actions, our choices and indeed, our lives. For others, perhaps many others of us, this dream is a tightly-held secret that we rarely think about, as we allow the worries of the world to consume our waking hours.... Read more

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Some Thoughts About Embargoes

Posted 16 March 2010 by GrrlScientist

Inspired by my latest rejection to access embargoed literature by EurekAlert!, I wrote an opinion piece about embargoes and how I think the real-life enforcement of embargoes misses the spirit of what they were intended to accomplish. In that essay, I write: ... Read more

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