• Wordsmith by Cobi Smith

    Australian journalist turned university researcher, who found going from hourly broadcast deadlines to peer-reviewed publishing quite a change of pace.

    • The obligatory introduction

      Monday, 19 Oct 2009 - 03:17 UTC

      I’ve been told I’m supposed to write an introductory entry before I launch into the juicy stuff. I’m going to keep it simple and cover who, what, when, where and why, just like a well trained journalist should.

      Who

      I’m Cobi. Nice to meet you.

      What

      This is becoming increasingly complicated. Once I was a broadcast journalist, mostly radio, some TV production. Then I went freelance, to pursue my interest in science supporting sustainable international development. Then I edited some books for a publisher. Then I decided I needed to try my hand at peer-reviewed research, so I started a research degree in science communication through Australian National University. I’m (hopefully) near the end of that now.

      So I’m a journalist/editor/researcher – mostly.

      When

      I’m starting this blog now because all I have to do for the next few months is to write for academic publications. I’m craving the regular high I get from finishing a piece of work, whether for broadcast or print. So I thought dedicating a bit of time to writing a blog amongst the heavier, drawn-out pieces I’m working on will keep me sane motivated.

      Where

      I live in Adelaide, Australia. I work for the University of Adelaide. My research degree is through Australian National University, so I travel to Canberra every few months to meet with my supervisor and peers at the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. I’ve previously been based in Cambridge, UK; near Seville, Spain; Calgary, Canada; and Turin, Italy. Adelaide is my home town.

      Why

      This is half covered in what, but you might wonder why I’m writing on the Nature Network. The reason is to keep on topic. This blog is about my professional interests, which sit nicely with Nature. My portfolio and my travel blog are hosted on WordPress.

      Last updated: Monday, 19 Oct 2009 - 03:17 UTC

      • Comments

        • Date:
          Monday, 19 Oct 2009 - 11:55 UTC
          Bob O'Hara said:

          Welcome! Sounds like you’re going to get us all stimulated.

          I should warn you, though. Sometimes the wrong crowd get attracted by a post. It’s not that they’re bad, it’s just what it does to your sanity might not be pretty.

        • Date:
          Monday, 19 Oct 2009 - 13:14 UTC
          Maxine Clarke said:

          Welcome, Cobi! Though after that comment by Bob I’m a bit scared to comment, in case I am part of the “wrong crowd” to which he mysteriously alludes.
          Very nice to have another Aussie blog at NN.

        • Date:
          Monday, 19 Oct 2009 - 15:28 UTC
          Samantha Alsbury said:

          Hi Cobi ;)

        • Date:
          Monday, 19 Oct 2009 - 16:07 UTC
          Cath Ennis said:

          Welcome, Cobi! I look forward to reading your posts.

          I have no idea what Bob is talking about ;)

        • Date:
          Monday, 19 Oct 2009 - 18:04 UTC
          Bob O'Hara said:

          Wow, spammed already!

          Don’t worry, Maxine. You’re part of the Good Crowd that stops this place going totally off the rails.

        • Date:
          Monday, 19 Oct 2009 - 23:08 UTC
          Darren Saunders said:

          woohoo, another Australian around here!

        • Date:
          Tuesday, 20 Oct 2009 - 02:06 UTC
          Cobi Smith said:

          Thanks everyone! I feel very welcome now. I’ve already discovered a result of being based down south is that I wake up in the morning to a whole bunch of comments. Nice!

        • Date:
          Tuesday, 20 Oct 2009 - 02:25 UTC
          Caryn Shechtman said:

          Welcome Cobi! Looking forward to your posts!


Search blogs

web feed Want a blog?

Submit this post to

Advertisement