Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Mar 06, 2020 •
It’s the cruellest Catch-22 in science: you spend years learning intricate jargon about your specific area, then this jargon makes it nearly impossible for ‘outsiders’ to understand what you’re on about. Anyone who has submitted a blog to Sciblogs in the past few years has probably received an email back from me pleading for them to remove or explain jargon. Read More
Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Feb 05, 2020 •
I’m about to start teaching science communication to tertiary students, which is equally hilarious and terrifying to me. (Hi to my students who have Googled me and found this post.) I loved English at high school, but we spent most of our time reading The Outsiders, discussing the differences between metaphors and similes, and pondering the thematic meaning of King Lear. But … Read More
Guest Author • Mar 15, 2018 •
by Jean Balchin Yesterday I was incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of world-renowned cosmologist and pioneer in theoretical physics, Stephen Hawking. Here are a collection of tributes to the great man. Professor David Wiltshire, Theoretical Physicist, University of Canterbury, comments: Stephen Hawking. Wikimedia Commons. “Stephen was the most courageous person I have known. He had … Read More
Guest Author • Nov 22, 2017 •
Reviewed by Susan Rapley. If you’re hunting for Christmas gifts for the scientific or technically inclined, Laurie Winkless’ first book Science and the City will be a must-have. Science and the City takes you on a journey (in various forms of transport) through the past, present, and future of metropolitan living. Now New Zealand-based, Winkless has taken her own … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Nov 07, 2017 •
A quick introduction to Cat Zero and lablit. Some of us like the science in our fiction to be real. Don’t get me wrong. I can take a premise to buy into a story, even real doozies (well, up to a point…!)[1] But once I’ve done the deal with the author to buy into their plot, I prefer the science … Read More
Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Dec 31, 2015 •
Another year end, another “best of” list. For your reading pleasure, I’ve pulled together what I consider some of the best pieces of science journalism or science writing from this year. The really big one The New Yorker, Kathryn Schulz From the first word, this piece is captivating. Make a cuppa and settle in … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Feb 20, 2014 •
I’m guessing most of those that follow this blog like reading. (Given time to read!) Coming soon is the annual ScienceOnline (un)conference. They’ve just put out their list of books for this year’s meeting. I can imagine reading all of the 37 books, but I don’t have that sort of time… It’s a … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Nov 14, 2013 •
The Access to Understanding science writing competition is back. You’ve 800 words or less to explain in plain English one of 10 Europe PubMed articles. The competition is open worldwide. The prizes are: Winner: an iPad. 2nd place: an iPad mini … Read More
Peter Griffin • Aug 08, 2013 •
if you have read The Poisoner’s Handbook, or any of Professor Deborah Blum‘s science features, you’ve probably marveled at how she spins a gripping story woven through with well laid-out scientific concepts. Professor Deborah Blum Take, for instance, her Slate feature about the US Government’s little-known Prohibition-era bid to stop people drinking – poisoning the industrial alcohol … Read More
Peter Griffin • Jul 09, 2012 •
If you are a blogger writer or science communicator, you should seriously consider checking out the upcoming Writing Science event being held at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in Auckland in October. I’ll be there and the programme looks pretty impressive. What’s the workshop about? The following quote from the workshop promotional material pretty much sums it up: “..There is increasing … Read More