How to Write about Your Science

"[S]cientists are increasingly asked to reach wide audiences, so making science understood and appreciated is a sought-after skill. Writing for the public brings many rewards..."

Noting that engaging the public in research requires something other than the technical language and impersonal style of scientific journals, Marina Joubert here provides strategies and tips for writing popular science articles.

To get started, Joubert recommends writing about your own research. Reading popular science to understand how others structure their stories will provide some ideas. "In all cases, turn your research, or a scientific development, into a story with a narrative. The opening paragraphs must entice the reader to carry on reading - if it's difficult to understand from the start, readers will give up right away." She provides specific suggestions for how to structure an article, as well as how to choose language - providing questions to ask oneself as a writer, such as: How can you relate the science to readers' personal experiences? What are they likely to know about this subject, and why should they be interested in your story? In Joubert's words: "The tyranny of jargon is the single biggest barrier separating science from everyday life. I recently interviewed someone researching school feeding schemes. I asked for a 'plain English' summary of his research, and his reply included: 'Optimum nutrition is the physiological basis for effective education'. A much better way of putting it is: "You can't teach a hungry child"; or even 'if you eat well, you learn well'." It is noted that analogies and metaphors that readers can relate to may help, as will making sentences shorter, writing in the active voice, and avoiding use of long words.

Joubert offers several ideas for "selling science". For example, "while people are less interested in the daily research processes, they are interested in your human side - what obstacles did you have to overcome? How did you feel? Portraying a 'real person' breaks down barriers, bringing the reader closer to science. Convey your excitement and pride, but don't hype and never lie." She also recommends thinking creatively about the inclusion of images and catchy, informative captions.

Prior to submission of the story to a publication, Joubert suggests asking a non-scientist friend to read the piece and to point out parts they don't understand or find boring. Then, the scientist can pursue approaches such as contacting research councils that publish magazines - e.g., the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's ScienceScope. Pegging a piece to a particular event, such as World Water Day or the International Day for Biological Diversity, can increase its chances of publication.