This weekend, I'm going to be teaching some science journalism at the following event hosted by Johns Hopkins and the Smithsonian:
Science Writing: From Eureka Moment to Digital Publishing All Day Seminar -- Saturday, May 15 - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. From cells to stars, from evolution to swine flu, writing about diverse and complex scientific topics is an engaging, challenging endeavor requiring special skills. Today, well-known practitioners discuss how to find ideas, develop essential skills, and thrive in the digital age. Their ideas resonate with people currently working in the science or medical fields, writers who want to re-direct their work toward science or medicine, or anyone interested in how scientific information is communicated to the public. 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Getting Started Challenges of science writing. How to target audiences and choose an area of concentration. Ann Finkbeiner, writer, columnist, critic, and director of the Master of Arts in Science Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University; Chris Mooney, author and Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT; Nancy Shute, contributing editor and blogger for U.S. News & World Report and vice president of the National Association of Science Writers. 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Finding and Developing Ideas Writing about advances in science and medicine, science policy, and the scientists themselves. Chris Mooney. ...
Other panels later in the day feature Carl Zimmer, our very own, and Jon Hamilton, a correspondent for NPR. You can see the full roster here. Unfortunately the event isn't free, but, well, if you visit me on Facebook you might learn something about an, er, discount.... So maybe I will see some folks there.
