Definition and Examples of Science Writing
The term science writing refers to writing about a scientific subject matter, often
in a non-technical manner for an audience of non-scientists (a form of journalism
or creative nonfiction). Also called popular science writing. (Definition No. 1)
Science writing may also refer to writing that reports scientific observations and
results in a manner governed by specific conventions (a form of technical
writing). More commonly known as scientific writing. (Definition No. 2)
Examples and Observations
"Because science writing is intended to be entertaining enough to capture
the continued interest of potential readers, its style is much less somber
than the usual scientific writing [i.e., definition No. 2, above]. The use
of slang, puns, and other word plays on the English language are accepted
and even encouraged. . . .
"Distinguishing between science writing and scientific writing is reasonable
—they have different purposes and a different audience. However, one
would be ill-advised to use the term 'science writing' or 'popular writing' in
a disparaging way. Writing (or providing consultation for others who are
writing) popularized accounts based on scientific research should be an
important part of every scientists' outreach activities. The wider community
is essential to adequate support for scientific endeavors."
An Example of Science Writing: "Stripped for Parts": "Sustaining a
dead body until its organs can be harvested is a tricky process requiring
the latest in medical technology. But it's also a distinct anachronism in an
era when medicine is becoming less and less invasive. Fixing blocked
coronary arteries, which not long ago required prying a patient's chest
open with a saw and spreader, can now be accomplished with a tiny stent
delivered to the heart on a slender wire threaded up the leg. Exploratory
surgery has given way to robot cameras and high-resolution imaging.
Already, we are eyeing the tantalizing summit of gene therapy, where
diseases are cured even before they do damage. Compared with such
microscale cures, transplants—which consist of salvaging entire organs
from a heart-beating cadaver and sewing them into a different body—seem
crudely mechanical, even medieval."
On Explaining Science
"The question is not "should" you explain a concept or process, but "how" can
you do so in a way that is clear and so readable that it is simply part of the story?
"Use explanatory strategies such as ...
- "People who study what makes an explanation successful have found that while
giving examples is helpful, giving nonexamples is even better.
"Nonexamples are examples of what something is not. Often, that kind of
example will help clarify what the thing is. If you were trying to explain
groundwater, for instance, you might say that, while the term seems to suggest
an actual body of water, such as a lake or an underground river, that would be
an inaccurate image. Groundwater is not a body of water in the traditional sense;
rather, as Katherine Rowan, communications professor, points out, it is water
moving slowly but relentlessly through cracks and crevices in the ground below
us...
"Be acutely aware of your readers' beliefs. You might write that chance is the
best explanation of a disease cluster; but this could be counterproductive if your
readers reject chance as an explanation for anything. If you are aware that
readers' beliefs may collide with an explanation you give, you may be able to
write in a way that doesn't cause these readers to block their minds to the
science you explain."
The Lighter Side of Science Writing
"In this paragraph I will state the main claim that the research makes, making
appropriate use of 'scare quotes' to ensure that it's clear that I have no opinion
about this research whatsoever.
"In this paragraph, I will briefly (because no paragraph should be more than one
line) state which existing scientific ideas this new research 'challenges.'
"If the research is about a potential cure or a solution to a problem, this
paragraph will describe how it will raise hopes for a group of sufferers or
victims.
"This paragraph elaborates on the claim, adding weasel-words like 'the scientists
say' to shift responsibility for establishing the likely truth or accuracy of the
research findings on to absolutely anybody else but me, the journalist. ..."
Sources
(Janice R. Matthews and Robert W. Matthews, Successful Scientific Writing: A Step-by-Step
Guide for the Biological and Medical Sciences, 4th ed. Cambridge University Press, 2014)
(Jennifer Kahn, "Stripped for Parts." Wired. March 2003. Reprinted in The Best
American Science Writing 2004, edited by Dava Sobel. HarperCollins, 2004)
(Sharon Dunwoody, "On Explaining Science." A Field Guide for Science Writers, 2nd ed.,
ed. by Deborah Blum, Mary Knudson, and Robin Marantz Henig. Oxford
University Press, 2006)
(Martin Robbins, "This Is a News Website Article About a Scientific Paper." The
Guardian, September 27, 2010)