The new generation of online and data-savvy science writers now have a new sandbox to play in, testing new ideas and experimenting with science writing, thanks to newly launched Scientific American 'Creatology' and 'Incubator' blogs.

The Incubator blog aims to "highlight the work of upcoming superstars of science writing, in the hope that they will be seen, noticed, recognized, and most importantly be hired", according to its founder and blog editor at Scientific American Bora Živkovic. It has featured publications from two UK institutions, the University of Aberdeen (Au Science Magazine) and Oxford University (Bang!).

A separate blog, Creatology, gives upcoming science writers an opportunity to experiment with science writing and online media. It will host blogs from science journalism students at a different institution each year. In its first year, Creatology is hosting bloggers from London's City University science journalism programme.

Živkovic told ABSW that although seasoned science writers are doing a great job, he felt responsible for helping new writers and promoting their work so they are able to make "the science media world better, sooner".

Živkovic sits on the boards of various science communication and journalism organisations including the Science Communicators of North Carolina, and is a two-year visiting scholar in the NYU School of Journalism. 

Within academia there is "an incredible wealth of talent among students of science writing programs", he said, adding that content produced by students for the Guest Blog on Scientific American was "some of the best material on the blog". 

"Unlike the previous generation, many of whom came from liberal arts backgrounds, got into journalism, and then focused on science, the new generation is mostly coming from science departments," Živkovic said. 

A number of people quit scientific research and embark on a full-time freelance writing career without entering journalism school programmes, he said, adding that the new generation are "digital natives" who mostly "feel natural with blogging, social media and self promotion. They welcome readers' comments and regularly engage … they write 'with' their readers, instead of 'for' and 'to' them."

One key area that science journalism schools could improve is data journalism, he said.

"There is a huge hunger in media organisations of all kinds for quality data journalists ... Students from scientific backgrounds have experience with data; they have already collected, managed and analyzed large datasets back in the lab. They already know their statistics. They should make it look easy and fun to switch to data journalism and become hot commodities in the shrinking media markets."

On the topic of how established writers can help new writers Zivkovic quotes Robert Kruliwch’s Berkeley graduation speech, "the new generation needs to find 'friends in low places', they have each other and they can help each other take over the world. The best we oldsters can do is let them take over, and not put barricades in front of them. And we can read and promote their work to help them take over faster."

 

 

 
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