By Deborah Illman

"Visibility of Team Science: A Case Study of Media Coverage of NSF Science and Technology Centers," Deborah L. Illman and Fiona Clark, Science Communication, 30(1), September 2008.

"A Longitudinal Study of the New York Times Science Times Section," Fiona Clark and Deborah L. Illman, Science Communication, 27(4), 496-513 (June 2006).

"Portrayals of Engineers in 'Science Times,'" Fiona Clark and Deborah L. Illman, IEEE Technology and Society, 25(1), 12-21 (Spring 2006 cover article).

"Perceptions of Accuracy in Science Writing," Laura D. Carsten and Deborah L. Illman, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 45(3), 153-156 (September 2002).

"Water Analysis in the Developing World: New technologies coupled with human factors are key to reaching safety goals," D. L. Illman, Analytical Chemistry, 5266-5272, August 2006.

Profiles in Team Science

"Organic thin-film transistors make a splash," Analytical Chemistry Online News, Deborah Illman, Oct. 9, 2008.

 

September 15-19, 2009

Seattle, Washington

An intensive, hands-on communication experience
for postdoctoral researchers in chemistry 

Sponsored by: The National Science Foundation,
The American Chemical Society, and the University of Washington

This week-long course will prepare early-career scientists to communicate more effectively with general audiences, journalists, and policymakers about chemistry — the central science.

Enhance the success of your scientific career by learning to communicate more effectively with diverse audiences:  granting agencies, industry leaders, management, and students.

View or Download pdf of Program Flyer

Program (updated 9/1/09)

--  View Hotel Information.

Interact with leading science communicators and media experts. Guest speakers include:

• Ivan Amato, Chemical & Engineering News
• Robert Service, Science
• Alan Boyle, MSNBC.com
• Jim Gates, KUOW Radio
• Vince Stricherz, UW News & Information
• Leila Gray, UW Health Sciences News

Sampler of Topics:
Media interviews 
Writing a press release
Pitching a freelance story idea  
Radio and podcasting
Writing for the Web 
Developing an "elevator talk"
Effective explanations for lay  audiences 
Interact with science journalists and  chemistry communicators

Participants will receive a chemistry communication resource guide to take back to their home institutions for use in follow-on activities with colleagues, students, and community members.

Postdoctoral researchers are eligible to apply. Project funds are expected to cover travel expenses and stipend. 

Participants may receive a group rate at the Sliver Cloud Hotel near the University of Washington campus--or make their own arrangements. More information about the hotel is available here.

Applicants should send a letter of application describing their preparation to serve as chemistry communication leaders, how the program would further their career goals, a 2-page CV, and a letter from the advisor and/or department chair signaling that the department will be supportive of activities applying the program materials during the following year.

Materials and inquiries to: Dr. Deborah L. Illman, illman@u.washington.edu, 206-616-4826, University of Washington, Box 353740, Seattle, WA 98195-3740. Applications received by Aug. 24, 2009 will be given priority.  EOE

Lead instructor: Deborah L. Illman, Ph.D.

Deborah Illman's recent research and teaching activities at the University of Washington have focused on science communication and media coverage of science and technology. During  2006-09, with funding from an NSF Discovery Corps Senior Fellowship, she has worked on a project entitled "Team Science," focused on communicating about large and long-term multidisciplinary research efforts using the NSF Science and Technology Centers as a case study. She organized and chaired a symposium at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on the subject of team science.

          Illman is former Associate Editor of Chemical & Engineering News, the official news publication of the American Chemical Society. Based first at the Washington D.C. headquarters and then serving as the magazine's West Coast Bureau, Illman covered topics in analytical, environmental, and industrial process chemistry in addition to anchoring chemical education.

Illman teaches a set of three courses for undergraduate and graduate students on writing about science for general audiences as well as a course on scientific writing for graduate students. She is founding editor of an award-winning regional science news magazine called Northwest Science & Technology, launched March 1, 1999 (www.nwst.org). Honored with ten awards including three Best of Show awards from the Society for Technical Communication, the magazine has served as a platform for a science and technology news writing curriculum at the UW.  The program regularly brings practicing science journalists to campus to participate in courses and seminars. Graduates of the UW science writing program have obtained placements at national publications, including Science, Discover, IEEE Spectrum, Dallas Morning News, and the Boston Globe.

Her professional preparation includes a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Washington (UW), and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the State University of Campinas, Brazil.  Illman is former Associate Director of the Center for Process Analytical Chemistry (CPAC), a UW research center that she helped found in 1984.  CPAC was established with a grant from the NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center Program and is aimed at developing new sensors for on-line monitoring of chemical processes and in-situ analysis. During 1988-89, she served as a Science, Engineering, and Diplomacy Fellow of the AAAS, conducting an evaluation study of an international research grants program.  

Writing For General Audiences:

Fall 2008:

Ocean 506 A, Writing about Science & Technology for General Audiences

Winter 2009:

Ocean 506 A, Science & Technology News & Feature Writing

Spring 2009:

Ocean 506, Science & Technology Creative Nonfiction Writing

For Technical Audiences:

Winter 2009:

Ocean 506 B, Scientific Writing

Writing Workshops--Offered on Request

Writing Statements/Essays for Job or Fellowship Applications

- Given June 2008 for upper division undergraduate and graduate students in FHCRC summer research program

This course is aimed at improving overall scientific writing skills and has a particular focus on writing a research statement, essay, or personal statement in the context of applications for graduate school, fellowships, or employment. We cover issues of structure in scientific writing, audience analysis, the writing and editing processes, writing style and tone, and grammar and usage.

Workshop on Scientific Writing   

This workshop covers the principles and practice of preparing research manuscripts, reports, and proposals. We cover effective style and language usage, structure and clarity in scientific writing, creating effective tables and graphs, and issues relating to authorship and peer review. Participants learn techniques to enhance the entire writing process, from drafting an article and overcoming writer's block to revising and refining the finished product. Participants may share a writing sample with the group and receive feedback from participants and the instructor.

Writing Science News & Narrative  

- Taught as half-day workshop for UW graduate students 2/07, organized with Jim Kenagy, Biology

- Given as two short sessions for FHCRC graduate students and postdocs

Participants learn to communicate more effectively about science and technology with general audiences. We cover basic concepts and techniques of crafting news and narrative stories, and students learn how to pitch a story idea to an editor with a query letter. Topics include audience analysis; newsworthiness and identifying story ideas; the structure of news writing; crafting effective leads and transitions; headlines; and the narrative form.