From NEIL HARRIS
People who write for a living about science tend to get their job satisfaction
by communicating their enthusiasm for science to others. Writing about science
requires entirely different skills from theorising, experimenting or teaching
it; it is a job for those who can make words work rather than those who
can make numbers meaningful or have a way with equipment. It is a job for
the few scientists who have strong literary abilities in addition to a broad
knowledge of science.
In many occupations writing about science plays a major part. They include
scientific and technical journalism, editing, public relations, technical
writing, patent agency work and drug registration. A vast range of technical
publications exists. They include popular magazines such as New Scientist,
the more learned Nature, academic journals, publications of the scientific
institutions such as Physics Bulletin and Chemistry in Britain, trade journals
and publications of the professional institutions.
Most people who decide on a career in writing are not qualified scientists.
Three postgraduate courses in journalism – those at City University in London,
University College Cardiff and the London College of Printing report few
scientists among their students. ‘Some apply, especially those with degrees
in environmental science,’ says David English, deputy director of the Cardiff
Centre for Journalism Studies. ‘Last year only 2 of our 115 students were
scientists. We would welcome more but scientists don’t seem to think of
journalism as a career.’ City University offers courses in newspaper journalism,
periodical journalism and broadcasting journalism, but again only 2 per
cent of its students took science degrees. Competition for these courses
is stiff and you will need a portfolio of published articles to get an interview.
A new MSc course in Science Communication has just started its second
year at Imperial College, London, and is already attracting many more scientists
than all the other courses. In its first year there were 11 full-time and
2 part-time students. Now there are 28, nearly all full-time, and the Science
and Engineering Research Council has given two of them awards to help them
complete the course. Topics include developing skills in self-presentation,
interviewing, researching, public speaking, desk-top publishing and the
use of illustrations. All students undertake a supervised project involving
a short period of work experience.
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‘Our students benefit by learning new skills relevant to the media,
such as writing, producing TV packages, designing and evaluating museum
exhibits,’ says Ros Herman, the course organiser and a former member of
New Scientist’s editorial team.
Vacancies in science journalism and editing are regularly advertised
in New Scientist, The Guardian and occasionally in The Bookseller. Several
organisations offer training courses for people wanting to join this profession.
IPC, the largest of Reed International’s magazine publishing groups, offers
a comprehensive in-house editorial training scheme including ‘courses on
everything from interviewing and copy preparation to printing and production’,
according to one of its training executives.
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, which is also based in London, is typical
of many publishers of scientific, technical and medical books and journals,
in that it is a regular recruiter of new graduates. On the other hand, the
Institute of Physics, based in Bristol, is representative of a learned society
with strong publishing interests. It publishes three magazines, and four
research journals carrying scientific papers. Sally Croft, who leads a team
of journalists and editors at the institute, says her working week usually
includes visits to research establishments and a number of press conferences,
besides chasing specialists for articles, and finding book reviewers and
referees for academic papers.
Valerie Southgate, desk editor at Current Opinion in Genetics and Development,
says: ‘Wipe from your brow the picture of an executive office, relaxed lighting
and a pile of punctual scripts. It’s a world of caffeine, a screaming environment
with manuscripts which need editing overnight, others that never arrive
and a room full of ringing telephones and flashing photocopiers. The qualities
required are tact, patience, the ability to work to deadlines, organisational
skills, discipline and dedication.’
Science writers have their own organisation, the Association of British
Science Writers, with more than 350 members, which is based at the British
Association for the Advancement of Science. Some science writers progress
to editorial jobs, such as commissioning editors, and managing journalists
and administering editorial budgets. Others may join the science departments
of newspapers, such as The Times, The Independent, Financial Times or The
Observer.
Some people become science writers via other routes. One of these is
to join a company as part of a team producing in-house publications. These
include newspapers and magazines, videos, annual reports and recruitment
literature. Many writers working in industry join the British Association
of Industrial Editors, based in Sevenoaks. Other science graduates start
their careers as technical authors, many of whom are employed in the electronics
and computing industries or engineering. They write specifications, manuals
for training, maintenance and the operation of equipment, as well as producing
technical briefs for people working in marketing departments. Once they
have become fully experienced and with good contacts, many choose to work
freelance on a contract basis. Their professional organisation is the Institute
of Scientific and Technical Authors, based in Slough.
The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services published a Survey
of Postgraduate Courses in Journalism last month which has a list of courses
in journalism and details 15 centres. It is available from most university
careers services.
Neil Harris is deputy director of the University of London Careers Advisory
Service and head of the Careers Service at University College London.
