Diana Steele's Home Page | Science Writing | Photography

Diana Steele
Freelance Science Writer

 

The immune system's robustness depends on the remarkable diversity of this protein -- immunoglobulin. The key is the mutability of the molecule's two "arms." 

Science writing

I write regularly about cosmology, astrophysics, neuroscience, geophysical sciences, chemistry, paleontology and complex systems for a variety of general-interest publications. Some of my recent feature stories include:

(Note: some of these links point to stories posted on other Web sites; please use the "back" button on your browser to return to this page)

"Making Truth From Illusions," Dallas Morning News,Feb. 19, 2001
"About Face," Muse Magazine, Jan. 2001
"Research Reveals Estrogen’s Importance in Brain," Dallas Morning News, Dec. 18, 2000
"Tuned Out," Dallas Morning News,Nov. 13. 2000
"Evolution Bursting Forth," Dallas Morning News,Nov. 13, 2000
"Scientists Search for Secrets of Robust Systems," Dallas Morning News,Sept. 18, 2000
"Flat Universe Revealed," Astronomy magazine, August 2000 
"HummingAlong," Dallas Morning News, July 3, 2000 
"Morning Sickness May be Way to Avoid Tainted Food," Dallas Morning News, June 5, 2000
"Cosmic Attraction," Dallas Morning News, May 22, 2000 
"New Drug Sources Are Vast as Seas," Dallas Morning News, April 24, 2000
"Green Machines," Dallas Morning News, Mar. 13, 2000 
"In Your Face," Seattle Times, Jan. 11, 2000 
"A Familiar Face," Dallas Morning News, Dec. 20, 1999 
"Matters of Some Gravity," Dallas Morning News, Nov. 15, 1999 
"Mystery of the Man-Eaters," Dallas Morning News,Oct. 18, 1999
"Surviving in Space," Astronomy magazine, October 1999 
"Meltdown," New Scientist, Aug. 7, 1999 
"Cool Physics," Dallas Morning News, May 3, 1999
"Advanced Physics, Accelerated for Mass Consumption" (profile of Columbia University string theorist Brian Greene), 21st C, Fall 1999
"Explaining Traffic Jams," Seattle Times, Nov. 17, 1998
"Life on Ice," University of Chicago Magazine, February 1996
 © 2000 Diana Steele


 I love photography. For more images, browse my photo gallery.

Grant writing

I have written or edited several scientific grant proposals.  Recent projects include University of Chicago proposals for National Science Foundation programs "Information Technology Research" (Jan. 2000) and "Partnerships for Innovation" (July 2000). 

I am an expert in formatting and submitting proposals under the National Science Foundation's electronic grant-submission service, Fastlane. 

For more information, including rates, please send me e-mail.

Technical writing

I have co-authored two software manuals for Lighthouse Design (now a division of Sun Microsystems).

Radio production

I have reported and produced science news and features stories for radio broadcast, including:
  • "Physics of traffic" - WBEZ Chicago
  • "Science of breakfast" - WBEZ Chicago
  •  variety of news briefs - Living on Earth
  •  variety of brief features -  AAAS Science Update
  • "Norplant in Baltimore" - WAMU (D.C.), Pacifica Radio News, Wings (international news service)
  • "Women in Science," (three-part series) - KUNC, Greeley, CO

Background and education

I studied chemistry at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. (B.A. 1985) and then pursued graduate education in organic chemistry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (M.A. 1991).  I studied the biosynthesis of clavulinic acid with my advisor, Craig Townsend, Ph.D.

In 1991, I received a AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship. This summer-long fellowship, awarded to advanced students in the sciences, engineering or medicine, sent me to radio station KUNC in Greeley, Colorado. I fell in love with science writing and haven't looked back.

I freelanced in the Washington, D.C., area for two years, writing and producing news and feature stories on science for National Public Radio’s "Living on Earth," Pacifica Network News, Reaction Times,WAMU-FM, New Scientist,The Scientist, Nature and Mutual Broadcasting System’s "Science Update." 

From 1993 to 1998 I was science writer (and then editor) in the University of Chicago News Office. I served as a liaison between university faculty and print and broadcast journalists from specialty science and general publications. I wrote press releases and feature stories, and attracted local, national and international publicity for the university's physical sciences division. 

Since 1998, I've been a freelance science writer, first in Chicago and now in San Diego.

I am a member of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW), the National Writers Union (NWU) and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ).

Photography

I studied photography at Columbia College in Chicago (1999-2000) and love black & white and color slide photography. Browse my photo gallery.
© 2000 Diana Steele
Eighty-five percent of normal human ears emit sounds of their own. Read more in "Humming Along."
© 2000 Diana Steele


One of my favorite places: Promontory Point on Lake Michigan in Chicago.

Diana Steele's Home Page | Science Writing | Photography