By Anton Holland. Science writing is about people, not so much science Human problems and solutions Their curiosity and discovery.

by Anton Holland

Science writing is about people, not so much science

Human problems and solutions

Their curiosity and discovery

Since science transgresses the average literacy curve, most people fail to see the human aspect of science and how it affects their daily lives

Science writing! It fills the gap between what scientists

know and do and what the public understands

In a survey conducted by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) in the United States, 70 percent of respondents rated their understanding of science and technology as adequate to very good

Many believe that science includes astrology, yoga, and ESP

In a survey conducted by Johns Hopkins University’s Genetics and Public Policy Center, it was found that people assume that the promise of a scientific breakthrough equates with its reality

I.e. while genetic therapy for many diseases looks promising now, no effective treatments have actually been developed, though many assume that they have

A survey by Northern Illinois University reported that one third of the respondents did not know what a molecule is, two thirds did not know what radiation is, and five sixths did not grasp the basics of genetic engineering

63 percent said that dinosaurs and humans occupied the earth simultaneously

73 percent thought lasers focus sound waves rather than light waves.

A study on scientific literacy by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), indicated that slightly over 10 percent of the population in industrialized countries has a good understanding of scientific concepts and methods

To act as the bridge between scientists and the general public

To make it easier for general readers to read about science and technology

They have to introduce complex subjects, i.e. black hole and space-time, in a friendly way that engages the reader

Not only do they have to tackle difficult subjects to talk about, but they need to bridge the scientific illiteracy gap

Science writers need to be objective and uninfluenced by the biases of scientific research

Such biases can produce incorrect information

In the news media With only a short amount of time, the

scientist has to be sure to discuss things quickly but accurately so as not to confuse the public

In the media there are different groups of scientists and each may have a different view of what “science” is

This too may confuse the audience

Journalists who understand science issues and events and how to share them with the public play an important role in education the public

In turn, the readers, in order to understand what they are learning, need critically evaluate the science news they read or hear

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