National Association of Science Writers
1997 Seattle Workshop Schedule
(12-18 February 1997)

and related events at the AAAS Annual Meeting
and Science Innovation Exposition 1997

• Schedule at a glance
  The short version of the schedule with dates and times for quick reference.
• Full Schedule
  The long version of the schedule with session descriptions and speakers.
• Seattle information
  A few web sites with lots of good stuff about Seattle.

Updated February 10, 1997. Note: This is a working plan; the schedule is subject to change.
Special thanks to Ellen Cooper/Associate Director for News and Information/AAAS.

Full Schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 12

1:30 pm-6 pm
NASW visit to Microsoft

• Tom Pilla, public relations manager, Microsoft, (organizer)

As a special event for early-arriving members of NASW, Microsoft is hosting a visit to their nearby campus in Redmond. The purpose of the visit is to brief NASW members on the cutting-edge research being performed by their Advanced Technology & Research group and to meet some of the researchers who comprise ATR. There will be a reception at Microsoft before a return bus ride to Seattle in time for dinner.

The visit is free, but advance registration is required. Buses will depart from the Union Street side of the Seattle Sheraton Hotel at 1:30 p.m. and return about 6 p.m. Participation is limited to NASW members only. (For late arrivals who may wish to drive themselves or take a cab, the presentation will be in the Olympic Room in Bldg. 27.)

Thursday, Feb. 13

8:15-9:45 am
NASW plenary session I: Science writing and the future of electronic journalism, or Max Headroom is alive and well and a card-carrying member of NASW
West Ballrooms A&B at the Sheraton Hotel

Jane Stevens, videojournalist (organizer)

Elizabeth Aoki, online content development specialist, Seattle Times

Jeff Herr, managing editor, Outside Online

Charlene Laino, health editor, MSNBC on the Web

Richard Stone, editor, Science Now, Science magazine's daily news service on the Web

David Tenenbaum, staff writer, The Why Files, a biweekly web science magazine

Science journalism will change drastically during the next decade as the new medium of Web-based interactive multimedia redefines the way information and news are presented. Soon, if not now, science journalists must regard themselves less as writers for the printed page and more as storytellers with a plethora of methods -- video, text, audio, still photos, interactive graphics and animation -- to stimulate curiosity in the amazing worlds within, around and beyond us. Pioneers in cutting-edge Web-based interactive multimedia news and information will show how to think differently for the new medium, how to weave Web stories and how to recognize opportunities and pitfalls.

9:45-10:00 am Break

10:00-11:30 am
NASW plenary session II: The business of science: How does business shape science, and what does that mean for science reporters?
West Ballrooms A&B at the Sheraton Hotel

Bruce Lewenstein, associate professor of communications, Cornell University (organizer and moderator)

Keith Benson, medical history and ethics professor, University of Washington

Terry McDermott, columnist, Seattle Times, winner of the 1995 AAAS science journalism award

Paul Raeburn, science correspondent, Business Week

Mike Widmer, vice president of biological sciences, Immunex Corp.

Science and business have a long interrelated history, and in recent years this relationship has become even more intertwined. Is scientific research becoming even more powerful in driving local, statewide and even national economies? What are the implications for science writers? Should they pay more attention to the business of science--who profits from research? How do economic cycles affect business decisions when science is involved? How does science factor into business strategy?

11:30 am-12:15 pm Break

12:15-1:30 pm
NASW workshop: The best of the university web pages and how they got that way
West Ballroom A at the Sheraton Hotel

Susan Gaidos, Purdue University news service (co-organizer)

Jeanne Norberg, Purdue University news service (co-organizer)

A look at some of the best web sites that research universities have to offer. Check out their workshop web site, Science in Cyberspace.

12:15-1:30 pm
NASW workshop: How to write a science book
West Ballroom B at the Sheraton Hotel

Blake Edgar, associate editor, Pacific Discovery (organizer)

Sandy Blakeslee, New York Times, author of The Good Marriage and Second Chances

Deborah Blum, science writer, Sacramento Bee; Pulitzer-winning author of The Monkey Wars and Sex on the Brain (summer 1997)

Keay Davidson, science writer, San Francisco Examiner; author of Wrinkles in Time and Twister: The Science of Tornadoes and the Making of an Adventure Movie

Virginia Morrell, correspondent, Science magazine, and author of Ancestral Passions

James Shreeve, Discover magazine, author of Lucy's Child and The Neandertal Enigma

1:35-2:50 pm
NASW workshop: Copyright law, electronic publication and the freelancer (click here for more details)
West Ballroom B at the Sheraton Hotel

Stephen Hart (organizer)

Sandra Davidson, journalism professor, University of Missouri

Tim Perrin, freelance writer & lawyer, Periodical Writers Assoc. of Canada copyright defense committee & American Society of Journalists and Authors contracts committee.

With the advent of electronic publication and republication, understanding and sharing accurate information about copyright law and contract language has become even more crucial for freelance writers. We've brought together two experts in the field to help us answer myriad questions about copyright. Check out Hart's Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights Web Sites.

1:35-2:50 pm
NASW workshop: Don't get tangled in the Web
West Ballroom A at the Sheraton Hotel

Mary Hanson, head of media section, National Science Foundation (organizer)

Glennda Chui, science reporter, San Jose Mercury News

Ellen Cooper, associate director for news and information, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Doug Levy, science & medical reporter, USA Today

Barbara Rice, deputy director, news and information, National Academy of Sciences

Peter West, public information officer, National Science Foundation

A discussion of the latest web sites and other useful information-disseminating tools from NSF, AAAS, ACS and similar scientific societies and organizations. Another look at EurekAlert!

2:50-5 pm Break

5-6:15 pm
NASW workshop: Reflections -- veteran science writers discuss the future of the profession
West Ballroom A at the Sheraton Hotel

Cristine Russell, freelance and special health correspondent,
Washington Post (organizer)

Bob Cooke, Newsday

Ira Flatow, host, National Public Radio's "Science Friday"

David Perlman, San Francisco Chronicle

5-6:15 pm
NASW workshop: Freelancers: Meet the editors (click here for more details)
West Ballroom B at the Sheraton Hotel

Stephen Hart (organizer)

Peter Alhous, news editor, New Scientist

Josh Fischman, editor, Earth

Bonnie Gordon, editor Astronomy

Dawn Stover, Popular Science

Laura Van Dam, senior editor, Technology Review

Take this opportunity to hear what six editors have to say about their current and future needs for freelance contributions. We have arranged a full front table of editors, each responsible for making assignments, each looking for freelance writers. In addition to those on the panel, we hope to invite other editors to attend the workshop, or be available for informal chat afterward.

6:30 pm
All-class reunion: University of California, Santa Cruz, Graduate Science Writing Program party (click here for more details)

Lynn Parker (class of '82) (organizer)

Friday, Feb. 14

10 am-Noon
NASW Internet workshop: How to design a personal web site
Room 210, Washington State Convention Center

Merry Bruns, freelance web producer and webmaster/director for The Center for Anthropology and Science Communications (organizer)

A web page can advertise your talents to editors and potential employers. It can serve as a handy reference site with notes to use and share with colleagues. See how easy it is to speak basic web-talk. Check out software programs that make it even easier. Discuss concepts for designing your site to serve your purposes.

Noon-2 pm
NASW workshop: "When worlds collide" or "Whose press release is this, anyhow?"
Room 210, Washington State Convention Center

Renee Twombly, associate director, Duke University Medical Center (organizer)

Gary Barton, communications director, Monsanto Corp.

Carol Fox, news service director, University of California, San Francisco

Earle Holland, associate director of university communications,The Ohio State University

Ann Watzman, director of public relations, Carnegie Mellon University

How to deal with pr agencies, university administrators, outside companies, financially interested faculty and all those other folks who wish to assist you with writing, editing and marketing your research release.

5-6:30 pm
AAAS reception celebrating the new NASW book "A Field Guide for Science Writers."
Metropolitan Ballroom at the Sheraton Seattle

Co-sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Oxford University Press.

Saturday, Feb. 15

7 a.m.
NASW regional organizers breakfast meeting
Seattle Sheraton Pike Street Cafe

Laura van Dam, senior editor, Technology Review magazine (organizer)

If you help run your local science writers group -- formal or informal -- or if you'd like to organize a local group, please drop in. The agenda is open ended for folks who want to schmooze about meeting ideas, etc.

8:30-11:30 am
AAAS session: Stormy Weather: Weather, Science, and Journalism

Lynne Friedmann and Rick Borchelt (organizers)

Linda Roach Monroe, freelance science writer
"Hurricane Andrew: A triumph for the TV weatherman"

Kris Wilson, University of Kansas school of journalism
"What the public understands about weather"

Jack Williams, USA TODAY weather page editor
"How to get science on the weather page"

William Dietrich, Seattle Times
"When science provides the why of weather: Winter of 1996"

Steve Pool, KOMO Television
"Millibars or umbrellas: What the public really wants to know"

Dennis Smith, The Weather Channel
"The Weather Channel: The forecast for the year 2000"

12:30-2 pm
NASW workshop: Coping with Carpal Tunnel Syndrom and repetitive stress injuries
Room 210, Washington State Convention Center

Linda Roach Monroe, freelance (organizer)

Barbara Silverstein, Washington State Dept. of Labor and Industry

Repetitive stress injuries that affect increasing numbers of writers. This session offers a look at latest research, some tips for working with it, and a discussion of workplace issues affected the afflicted.

Noon
NASW Board Meeting

4 pm
NASW Business Meeting

7 pm
NASW Banquet

Sunday, Feb. 16

8:30-11:30 am
AAAS Session: Accuracy in Science Reporting I

Deborah L. Illman, University of Washington, (co-organizer)

Sharon Dunwoody, University of Wisconsin-Madison (co-organizer)

JoAnn Byrd, Poynter Institute
"Ethical obligations of journalists to accuracy"
"What is accuracy in science news reporting?"

Sharon M. Friedman , Lehigh University
"Use and abuse of numbers"

Ron Hedlund, University of Rhode Island
"Case study I: Chicago Tribune article"

10-11:30 am
NASW Internet workshop: Taming the Internet
Room 210, Washington State Convention Center

Randy Reddick, director of FACSNET, author of the books The Online Journalist, The Online Student, Saunders Internet Guide for Astronomy, and Saunders Internet Guide for Earth Science

Fine-tune and upgrade essential online skills with these expert tips for using the Internet efficiently and effectively. Make different search engines and other online tools work to find what you want when you want it. Level: beginning/intermediate.

1 pm - 2:30 pm
NASW Internet workshop: Conquering the Internet
Room 210, Washington State Convention Center

Randy Reddick, director of FACSNET, author of the books The Online Journalist, The Online Student, Saunders Internet Guide for Astronomy, and Saunders Internet Guide for Earth Science

This is the place to find answers to those nagging questions that have accumulated over your months and years of Internet use. How can you check your email accounts from anywhere in the world? Why do different search engines give different results? How can you customize email, web browser and other Internet software for your best uses? Why is your email box still full after you deleted all your messages? Bring your questions to this workshop, which will be tailored to your specific needs. Level: intermediate/advanced.

2:30-5 pm
AAAS Session: Accuracy in Science Reporting II

Steve Weinberg, University of Missouri
"Challenging the conventional wisdom about fact-checking practices"

Deborah L. Illman, University of Washington
"Rx for accuracy: What can scientists do?"

Mary-Claire King, University of Washington
"Reasonable expectations: A lesson from Margaret Chase Smith"

Bruce Margon, University of Washington
"The annual demise of the Big Bang: Media and astronomy "

Joe Palca, National Public Radio

Robert M. Roseth, University of Washington
"Improving interactions with the media"

3-4 pm
NASW Book Reception at Elliot Bay Bookstore

Deborah Blum, science writer, Sacramento Bee; Pulitzer-winning author of The Monkey Wars

Keay Davidson, science writer, San Francisco Examiner; author of Wrinkles in Time and Twister: The Science of Tornadoes and the Making of an Adventure Movie

Laurie Garrett, medical writer, Newsday; Pulitzer-winning author of The Coming Plague

Richard Harris, science correspondent for National Public Radio

Mary Knudson, author of a series of children's science books

A reception and brief talks by some of the NASW members involved with the new book, A Field Guide for Science Writers (Oxford Press, 1997).

7 pm
Science writers party (hosted by Puget Sound Science Writers Association)

Surf Seattle by Internet