writing course

Just compiling a few links here to use them later at a writing course I will be teaching.

• science writer in residence - an early account of my adventures in science writing
• Mein Weg zum Wissenschaftsjournalismus - more recent account in German, paywall.
• The birds, the bees and the platypuses
• Is science reporting turning into fast food? Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics, published online on October 21, 2008, doi: 10.3354/esep00094
• The deep sea under siege. Current Biology, Volume 24, Issue 4, R137-R139, 17 February 2014 doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.01.062. (Open archive)
• Wellcome Trust video (2013): How to write about science
• One reason to get the hump - the story of camel antibodies
• Ben Goldacre: Science journalists? Don't make me laugh
• EurekAlert PR: Current atmospheric models underestimate the dirtiness of Arctic air
• EurekAlert PR: Couples study ties anger to heart problems, stonewalling to back pain
• EurekAlert PR: Louisiana Tech University computer scientist to present groundbreaking research
• EurekAlert PR: When dung beetles dance, they photograph the firmament
• EurekAlert PR: Bearded dragons show REM and slow wave sleep
• EurekAlert PR: Clouds provide clue to better climate predictions
• Schoenfeld, Robert: The Chemist's English Wiley-VCH, 3rd ed. 1989
• Ebel, Hans Friedrich / Bliefert, Claus / Russey, William E.: The art of scientific writing Wiley-VCH 2004

lumbricus terrestris

Earthworms have found very little appreciation in mainstream biology ever since their biggest fan, Mr Charles Darwin, died. Now, however, several projects are underway aiming to reveal the ecology, diversity and economic benefits of worms and other soil invertebrates - including a new Earthwatch-sponsored "citizen science" project encouraging you to survey the earthworms in your garden. Read all about it in my latest feature which is out now:

Putting earthworms on the map

Current Biology Volume 26, Issue 10, pR387–R390, 23 May 2016

restricted access to full text and PDF download
(will convert to open access one year after publication)

Darwin’s interest in earthworms led to the publication, in the last year of his life, of a book about them. This is a caricature of Darwin’s theory in the Punch almanac for 1882, published at the end of 1881, just after publication of his book, The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms with Observations of their Habits. (Image: PD-ART(cc PD-old-100)/Wikimedia Commons.)

drawing life

I always wanted to do something on scientific illustration, so the current exhibition of Maria Sibylla Merian's Suriname insects, and the forthcoming 300th anniversary of her death were a good excuse to give in to that. My feature on biology illustration from Merian to this day is out today:

Putting biology in the picture

Current Biology
Volume 26, Issue 9, pR343–R346, 9 May 2016

FREE access to full text and PDF download

Maria Sibylla Merian, Grape Vine with Gaudy Sphinx Moth, 1702–3, is on display as part of the exhibition Maria Merian’s Butterflies at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace until 9 October. www.royalcollection.org.uk. (Image: Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016.)