Science writing news

Double X Science LLC, a consortium of science writers spearheading the 'Women in Science Writing: Solutions Summit,’ which is sponsored by an NASW Idea Grant, has designed a survey to gain an understanding of the attitudes, experiences, and the role of gender for all science writers. Read more and consider participating in the survey by May 12.

Results are now available from the NASW-funded Science Writers Compensation Survey, conducted by the Freelance Committee. NASW members can check out the Spring 2014 issue of ScienceWriters magazine for a summary of results or use the "read more" link for details on the survey and a link to the full report and two tables of highlights. Thank you to all the volunteers who worked on this project during the last year.

Retiring Council for the Advancement of Science Writing Executive Director Ben Patrusky was honored during a surprise event during ScienceWriters2013. Patrusky was hailed during a celebration at the Harn Museum of Art, at the University of Florida, and presented with a citation that acknowledged his “decades of brilliant contributions to the council, to science writing, and to the public understanding of science and technology.”

In Scatter, Adapt and Remember, Annalee Newitz explores what humans would have to do to survive a mass extinction. Newitz’s book is a finalist in the science and technology category of this year's L.A. Times Book Award competition.

In The Soil Will Save Us, Kristin Ohlson tells how plants and soil microorganisms created our lush world, how humans disrupted that partnership, and how visionary scientists, farmers, and other land managers are working to create healthy, carbon-rich soil to restore ecological health.

In Animal Wise: How We Know Animals Think and Feel, Virginia Morell explores the inner lives of wild and domesticated animals, and tells how animal behaviorists gain such knowledge. In February 2014, Morell’s book was chosen as a finalist in the science and technology category of this year's LA Times Book Award competition. It previously was named a Kirkus Reviews’ "Best Book of 2013" and an American Library Association "Notable Book for 2014."

Multiple events that came to light in late 2013 revealed that the science-writing community is not immune to professional issues of sexual harassment. A ScienceWriters2013 session titled The XX Question served as a forum for a broad range of issues related to professional status and recognition for women in the field. This post is a commentary from “LadyBits” blogger Rose Eveleth on issues raised in the session. From the Winter 2013-14 ScienceWriters.

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A rectangle graphic with a yellow background. The text reads Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award, Honoring a midcareer journalist. Deadline April 30. CASW.org. There is an image of Sharon Begley.

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