Scientists receive pressures from every angle to perform and justify their existence (parents, deans, students, bureaucrats, politicians, you name it..). One reason for re-vamping my lab website was to keep a chronicle of lab activities as well as provide a more digestible version of our science to the public. Since our work is sometimes highlighted by science writers and reporters, I had always assumed it was the scientists who had a tough time getting recognised. Then I read the blog of a Science Writer, Diane Crow, who had contacted me a few months ago, interviewed me about our work on tegus. She writes about how she tried to pitch her writing to news-outlets. Sounds similar to a scientist’s challenge to get their work published.
For anyone interested in science writing and the challenges inherent to it, check out Diane’s blog: http://dianacrowscience.com/543-2/
She gives an excellent and frank account of how a science writer has to make what scientists write interesting and friendly to readers. Sadly, in the case of the tegu story, this was a pitch that did not work, but that is one of the reasons why I wanted to post a link to her blog! We appreciate your work!
Here’s to you Diane! Keep up the good work and engagement on science!