What is this newsletter all about?
If you’re a scientist, you know that one of the most daunting aspects of our job is not the pressure to publish or the endless grant applications… It’s trying to explain the work you do and what it means to your friends and family in a way that won’t make their eyes glaze over. Science communication is arguably one of—if not, the most—important skills we will ever need, and yet it is one that is frequently left out of our curriculum and our professional development.
If you’re not a scientist, you know that listening to one can sometimes feel like you’re listening to someone speak in a completely different language. Science is an intimidating subject for us all, but it is especially intimidating when you’re not coming from a place of familiarity with it. The desire and eagerness to learn more can be easily extinguished by the barriers that exist between the public and the scientific world—the highly specialized jargon, lack of accessibility, etc.
This newsletter hopes to bridge these two communities together through four unique sections with different aims and styles of content. Through The Latest, you can learn about exciting new research in language accessible to non-experts. Thoughts On…, on the other hand, is a more relaxed space where we discuss recent issues in science and society as well as the general importance of science communication. Looking Forward: Women in STEM focuses on highlighting the contributions of women to the sciences and bringing awareness to barriers of discrimination against women pursuing these careers. Lastly, Everyday Science aims to describe the science underlying everyday life phenomena.
If this of interest to you, you can subscribe using the button below! You can expect to receive two to three pieces in your inbox and/or through the Substack App each month.
Who are you?
Currently, I’m a postbaccalaureate researcher based in Washington D.C. working on topics related to regeneration and developmental biology. I graduated from the University of Chicago in 2023 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a specialization in developmental biology.
In addition to being a scientist, I am also a writer with preLights, a community initiative that works to highlight preprints for the scientific community. If you’re interested in more technical writing about science, you can view my previous preLights here. I was also a member of the Arts section of The Chicago Maroon, the university’s independent student newspaper, for most of my undergraduate career. You can view my previous pieces here.
I hope to bring these experiences—the journalistic and the scientific—together through this newsletter.
Why should I read this?
Scientists, have you struggled to communicate your research to your friends and family? Are you looking for ways to interface with the public and make your work more accessible?
Non-scientists, are you hoping to learn more about a scientific interest without going down a Wikipedia rabbit-hole? Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of how science works and what the main issues preventing open science are?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions—and, honestly, even if you haven’t—read this newsletter! Our hope is to foster a space where scientists, the public, and communicators alike can meet and work to improve the efficacy of science communication and reduce barriers. We will always be open to your feedback and your thoughts, and we look forward to interacting with you throughout this journey!
How can I contribute?
Do you want to gain science writing experience? Would you like to be part of a new model of science communication and community-driven publishing? Become a guest writer or contributor with us! You can submit a pitch or written piece using this Google Form. Guidelines for content and expectations can be found here.
