Scientists write!

Friday, August 25, 2006

Welcome to Scientists Write!


Pictured: Helen and Andrea


We are pleased to present a series of workshops for aspiring science writers. Over the coming five weeks, the Learning Advisers at Mawson Lakes, Library staff, Lecturers and students will share their experiences of what it is like to write in the sciences.

This blog will accompany a series of five Friday workshops - the first of which was Finding and Using Information in the Sciences (see Wynton's posting below). These workshops will be held between 12.00pm and 1.00pm on Fridays from August 25. Mostly they will be held in the MC building, but sometimes these will change.

'Science' and 'writing' are not always percieved to have a natural co-existence. That is those studying science often gravitated towards numbers - rather than words.

Let's challenge this assumption! Why IS writing important to sciences and scientists? Are 'writing' and 'science' natural born enemies or is this a nasty stereotype?

What do you think?

Welcome to our community.

posted by Andrea Duff at 1:51 PM

8 Comments:

  • I think that writing well is important regardless of the discipline - therefore I agree with the 'nasty stereotype' image.
    Carole
    Library

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:22 PM  

  • Writing is important to the science and scientists - I don't think there is any argument about that - we need to have persuasive language to win grants, journal writing skills and presentation skills so that we can share the great work that we do with our peers and the community for whom we research.

    But does it come naturally to people who gravitate towards the sciences? Perhaps not.

    I have had the fortune of working as a scientist as well as working with people who have a love of humanities and they do approach the task of writing differently. Perhaps their brains are wired differently?
    Diana

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:25 PM  

  • Thanks for your excellent post, Diana. The Wiring resource is excellent.

    As a humanities person, I find the words come easy but I have learned so much about the ORDER (logic and cohesion) of words from my scientific friends like Monica.

    http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/Staff/homepage.asp?Name=Monica.Behrend

    Andrea

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:50 PM  

  • Like most professionals, scientists these days need to be able to write in a number of styles. The academic style that is required for professional journals and scientific grant applications is very different from the expression needed to communicate with the public and business community. Can scientists do this? Yes, definitely, as long as they can learn how to translate science into commonly understood concepts.

    These days scientists need to be flexible communicators with a range of styles 'up their sleeves'. Forget the old image of the haggard scientist in the dusty laboratory. Modern scientists, even the very quiet ones, are emerging as entrepreneurs and business leaders..... and of course I'm there to help!

    Judy

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:50 PM  

  • I think in terms of plagiarism and essay writing, it would be hard to be creative when you are meant to have specifics.
    That might suggest they have to be extra diligent to their work, would that be fair to assume?

    amy

    By Blogger Amy, at 11:05 AM  

  • Hi Amy

    I am going to answer your question, but in our new blog (which is brighter, snazzier and more up-to-date.)

    Look for the response here:

    http://writinginthesciences07.blogspot.com/

    Andrea

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:52 AM  

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