#13616
Shaping Written Knowledge: The Genre and Activity of the Experimental Article in Science 
In Shaping Written Knowledge, Charles Bazerman traces the history and character of the experimental article in science, calling attention to the social and rhetorical forces that shaped its development. Truly a landmark in writing studies, this book provides a broadly interdisciplinary exploration of an important genre and offers insights that extend far beyond its immediate focus of study.
Bazerman, Charles. Academic.Writing (1988). Books>Scientific Communication
#25996
Looks at a number of institutions that are finding ways to insert plain English into communication between scientists and the public, as well as among scientists of different disciplines.
Whiteman, Lily. Science (2000). Articles>Writing>Scientific Communication>Minimalism
#24157
Slides to Teach Scientific Presentations
Given here are free PowerPoint slides from The Craft of Scientific Presentations (Springer, 2003). These slides have been requested by more than 200 instructors around the world.
Alley, Michael. Virginia Tech (2003). Academic>Course Materials>Presentations>Scientific Communication
#10786
So You Want to be a Science Writer?
This is the text of a booklet prepared by the Association of British Science Writers and edited by Richard Stevenson (editor, Chemistry in Britain). Particular thanks are due to Fabian Acker (freelance and NCTJ tutor), Wendy Barnaby (freelance), Ted Poulter (Edward Poulter Associates), Martin Redfern (BBC World Service), Peter Beer (freelance) and, not least, the late Anthony Tucker (formerly science editor, The Guardian). While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the ABSW cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.
Stevenson, Richard. Association of British Science Writers (1997). Articles>Scientific Communication
#10792
Society of Environmental Journalists
The Society of Environmental Journalists is the only U.S.- based membership organization of working journalists dedicated to improvements in environmental reporting. SEJ programs are designed to build a stronger, better-educated, and more closely connected network of professional journalists and editors who cover the environment and environment-related issues. SEJ's primary goal is to advance public understanding of critically important environmental issues through more and better environmental journalism.
Society of Environmental Journalists. Organizations>Scientific Communication>Environmental
#30700
Review: Starring the Text: The Place of Rhetoric in Science Studies 
Given Alan G. Gross's substantial contributions to the rhetoric of science, most recently with Joseph E. Harmon and Michael Reidy (2002) in Communicating Science, I looked forward to reading Gross's latest work, Starring the Text: The Place of Rhetoric in Science Studies--until I read the preface. In the preface, Gross notes that Starring the Text is not a new con- tribution but a 'major refiguring' (p. ix) of his earlier work The Rhetoric of Science (1990). Like most readers, I am decidedly less enthusiastic about reading a revision of an older contribution than I am about reading a new contribution.
Paul, Danette. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (2008). Articles>Reviews>Rhetoric>Scientific Communication
#14094
STC Scientific Communication SIG
The Scientific Communication SIG provides a forum in which STC members can exchange information about publications and presentations related to science or scientific research for a variety of audiences. Scientific Communication SIG activities include publishing The Exchange (the SIG's newsletter), promoting sessions on scientific communication at STC conferences, and developing articles on issues in scientific communication for Intercom and Technical Communication.
STC Scientific Communication SIG. Organizations>Scientific Communication
#29043
Structuring and Evaluating Scitech Communications
The basis for effective scitech communications is formed by: focusing on the needs of the audience; structuring the substantive and language content accordingly; concentrating on accuracy, clarity and brevity; meeting logical requirements; and presenting in a communicative style and layout, including the use of visuals. In many scitech communications, the Appendix is the right place for detail not of immediate interest to most readers; this option is grossly under-utilized.
Mandersloot, Wim G. B. and Clive G. Bruckmann. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2000). Articles>Scientific Communication>TC>Assessment
#13110
Few studies have addressed processes of collaborative invention of discourse among experts. Experts engaged in a collaborative process of invention will express ideas, thoughts, and attitudes that shape other contexts. These other contexts may include those that engage risk communication and policy formation. If this process contributes to discourse formation in other areas, then it becomes critical to study the interactions of these experts.
Gooch, John C. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Scientific Communication>Workflow
#10663
Taylor/Blakeslee Science Writing Fellowships
CASW awards fellowships to students enrolled in graduate-level science writing programs to help defray the cost of tuition. The fellowship honors the memory of Rennie Taylor, a science writer for Associated Press, whose estate provided funds for the establishment of the American Tentative Society, and Alton Blakeslee, former science editor of AP, who served as ATS's longtime president. Awards of $2,000 are available to fellows selected on the basis of a national competition.
#24243
Teaching students how to write about science for the general public involves helping them research subjects, publications, and audiences. They should learn about research, organization of articles, audience analysis, and writing strategies, and use human interest, background information and examples, proper terminology and pace, and techniques to motivate readers to read the article.
Samson, Donald C., Jr. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Education>Writing>Scientific Communication
#30175
Advanced technical communication students analyzed information about pediatric AIDS that was designed for dtrerent segments of the public. They then produced individual projects for local segments of the university and surrounding community. Through this assignment, students learned the importance of community standards in designing accurate and locally 'acceptable' communication about a difficult subject.
Porter, Lynnette R. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Education>Scientific Communication>Biomedical
#23754
Teaching Technical Writing to University Students Using the Medical Report 
Technical and medical writing share many similar properties. Using a medical report assignment, in which students research and write about a physical or mental disease, is an effective tool that introduces the principles of technical writing. The assignment for lower division students is to write in the IMRAD format, while upper division students compose a report integrating multiple sources cited in CBE documentation style. In each case, adhering to fact-based, clear, audience-appropriate language in a technical format provides the student with valuable practice writing in this important genre.
Mizrahi, Janet. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>Scientific Communication>Biomedical
#18188
Technical and Scientific Communication Research Guide
Selected online databases for locating journal articles and other materials on technical communication.
James Madison University (2000). Resources>Directories>Scientific Communication
#29094
While debates continue over the effectiveness of innovative communication technologies to bring information and services to populations that have been underserved by such new technologies, a federally-funded program at the University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care (FAHC), Burlington, Vermont, has enabled trauma specialists to link with rural emergency room health care providers through a synchronous videoconferencing (telemedicine) network. Analysis of patient histories and surveys completed by the participating physicians after each use of the computer conferencing system as well as interviews and observations indicate that the FAHC consulting trauma specialists and the remotely located physicians felt the linkups do not interfere with standard ER procedures, that communication was at least adequate for all consultations, and that the consults improved the quality of care, for over half of the cases. Furthermore, interviews with rural ER physicians indicated that they saw the program operating as the first stage of FAHC's management of a patient to be transferred to that facility.
Doheny-Farina, Stephen, Peter W. Callas, Michael A. Ricci, Michael P. Caputo, Judith L. Amour and Fred B. Rogers. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2003). Articles>Scientific Communication>Videoconferencing>Biomedical
#29241
This article argues that technical communicators are uniquely poised to function as public intellectuals. To demonstrate this point, the author offers the example of her work on a major AIDS prevention program report. Situating this work within the history of technical communication, the current discussion of rhetorics of risk, and the writing classroom, the author argues that technical writers don't have simply the opportunity to engage in textual activism; in many cases they have no alternative.
Bowdon, Melody. Technical Communication Quarterly (2004). Articles>Scientific Communication>Biomedical>Case Studies
#18155
Technical Editing and the Effective Communication of Scientific Results
The communication of scientific results--whether for professional journals, poster sessions, oral presentations, or the popular press--is an essential part of any scientific investigation. The technical editor plays an important role in ensuring that scientists express their results correctly and effectively. Technical editing comprises far more than simple proofreading. The editor's tasks may range from restructuring whole paragraphs and suggesting improved graphical aids to writing abstracts and preparing first drafts of proposals. The technical editor works closely with scientists to present complex ideas to different audiences, including fellow scientists, funding agencies, and the general public. New computer technology has also involved the technical editor not only with on-line editing but also with preparing CD ROMs and World Wide Web pages.
Pieper, Gail W. and Susan M. Picologlou. Argonne National Laboratory (1996). Articles>Scientific Communication>Editing
#22640
Plan; know your purpose, audience and scope; leave enough time to write and edit several drafts; don't bore the reader.
Kirk, Elizabeth J. and Mary Wiberg. AAAS. Presentations>Scientific Communication>Writing>Technical Writing
#14663
Technical Writing and the Sciences
This article, the first in a series on the history of technical communication, examines the evolving roles of technical writers and editors in scientific communication.
Rutkowski, Ed. Intercom (2000). Articles>Scientific Communication
#24793
Technical Writing vs. Science Communication: What is the Difference, and Why Should We Care?
Many technical writer/editors at Los Alamos National Laboratory feel that we (and our colleagues at other institutions) do a good job of helping scientists communicate with each other, but we do not do so well in communicating with the general public. We have done a literature search and interviewed target audience members to learn how to better communicate science. Our research falls into the four following areas: the need for this special knowledge, characterization of audiences, communications strategies, and evaluation of the resulting communication products.
Garnett, Anne E., Amy Marie Longshore, Ann Mauzy and Amy Reeves. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Scientific Communication>Writing>Technical Writing
#18811
Technical, Medical, Science Writing Links
A collection of links to advertising, business, technical, science, medical writing and editing services.
WritingNetwork. Resources>Directories>Scientific Communication>Biomedical
#29039
Technocratic Discourse: A Primer
This article describes the linguistic and semantic features of technocratic discourse using a Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) framework. The article goes further to assert that the function of technocratic discourse in public policy is to advocate and promulgate a highly contentious political and economic agenda under the guise of scientific objectivity and political impartiality. We provide strong evidence to support the linguistic description, and the claims of political advocacy, by analyzing a 900-word document about globalization produced by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
McKenna, Bernard J. and Philip Graham. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2000). Articles>Language>Government>Scientific Communication
#19960
Technology Transfer: Science and Industry Working Together
Science and technology are intimately related. The technology sector that drives the modern economy would never have arisen without basic scientific research, and that research is now being funded by companies seeking to gain a technological edge over their competitors. Despite this mutual dependence, technical communication has taken different paths in science and industry. Technology transfer, the communication of research results to an audience that can implement the results, bridges these two solitudes and strongly resembles much of the work done by other technical communicators.
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. STC Proceedings (2001). Articles>Technology>Scientific Communication
#21232
Tips for Scientific Communicators: How to Become a Member of the Research Team
Communicators usually focus on audience needs, and rightly so. But scientific communicators may find it equally important to consider the needs and cultural values of the scientist/engineer researchers they work with. Working within the context of their culture, as well as observing (or at least recognizing) their etiquette and standards, can help us become their trusted collaborators.
Davis, Nancy E. and Mark Hodges. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Scientific Communication>Engineering>Rhetoric
#19443
Toolkit for New Medical Writers
Medical writing is a great career! The work is interesting and often lucrative, and the demand for medical writers is high. Few people start out to be medical writers; most of us fall into it. Some of us have scientific or medical degrees (e.g., MD, PharmD, PhD in a scientific field) and have worked in the field (e.g., as an academic, bench scientist, physician, pharmacist) or in administration and somehow find ourselves doing medical communications work. Some of us have Journalism or English degrees, work in communications, and end up writing about health and medicine. There are two basic types of medical writer: scientific and non-scientific or marketing. In general, scientific medical writers have advanced science-based degrees (science, medicine, pharmacy, etc.) and often learn about writing by becoming a medical writer. Marketing medical writers have a journalism or English degree and often learn about medicine by becoming a medical writer. Scientific medical writers generally do more scientific/technical writing for professional audiences. Marketing medical writers do marketing-oriented writing, often for consumers or lay audiences.
