Beginning a career in scientific writing
Katharina Witting
Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:56 UTC
Hello,
Currently I am pursuing my masters degree in chemistry and intend to do some scientific writing. I don’t have any experience in scientific writing apart from what is required in the coursework.
How do I begin? Do I just write an article ( according to the authors guidelines of the journal) and submit it?
greetings, Katharina
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Replies
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Katharina:
To write a paper you either have to have a good theoretical idea or you must do an experiment that yields new results.
Your Master’s degree should be able to supply you with either one.
Your supervisor will likely be happy to help you if you make her/him a co-author.
Best wishes,
Peter Martel -
Hi Katharina, are you talking about publishing your research in a journal, or writing science news and features?
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HI All,
I am currently a Masters by Research student in Neuroscience. I would like to start science writing/blogging as I would like to get into this field. I wonder what the first step is – I currently follow a lot of neurobloggers online. How does one really start – do you start summarising and simplfying journal papers you have read?
Is a Masters degree required in Science Communication to assure people take you seriously? I listen to Neuropods from Nature Neuroscience. Keri Smith the neuro podder/host studied for a masters in science communication before starting work – I reckon she’s got my dream job! :)
Cheers
Heena -
I don’t think a degree in science communications is necessary, as much as your science degree and writing experience. You have to start writing somewhere, so a blog would be a good way to build your experience. Also consider freelance assignments for science magazines (not journals), but that’s a very competitive field, at least in the US.
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