Salon 30: Learning to Write in the Sciences: How Our Communication Practices Shape Future Scientists

Dr. Megan Callow (English)

How did you learn to write in your field? Did you take courses in science writing? Or have you learned by osmosis, so to speak, picking up best practices of writing as you go along? During this session, Megan Callow, a lecturer in science writing at UW, will present some of the research on the essential relationship between our disciplinary backgrounds and our approaches to writing and communication. Megan will then solicit responses from participants about their own histories with science communication, using this feedback as grounds for discussion about how and whether novice scientists should be taught to communicate. Note: at this session participants will be presented with a written survey containing questions about writing in science. If they consent, participants’ anonymous responses may be used for research. Consent is not mandatory for participation!