The First Step to Becoming a Better Science Writer: Write for All

Science might not be the love of everyone’s life, but as a science writer you want it to be. Every day, you hope that many people read your work, reflecting on your thoughts and research from the first word to the last. However, this does not always happen, causing a dilemma for both the writer and the readers. One solution: write for all.

As Alexandre Dumas said in The Three Musketeers, “All for one, and one for all!” A science writer has one shot, one chance to let readers understand the topic and believe in that written subject. This one shot MUST be for all. People need to read and understand the topic and heed its warnings.

Now, realistically, is one article going to touch every person? Probably not. Science writers need to come together and recognize this as a problem. Here are some ideas:

-Write as if your reader knows nothing about the topic. Give them background information. Make them feel as if they did the research themselves.

-Understand that not everyone is going to agree with your opinion. Write without a bias so that more people can appreciate your work.  

-Don’t use superfluous and perplexing words! People just get confused.

-Don’t choose sides. People have many political views. If your views shine through your work, others make decide to reject your news.

-Read this blog. More tips will be posted as I become a better science writer myself.

This problem may not be fixed overnight. Certain people do not like to read about science and as science writers, our goal is to change that train of thought. The more readers who are able to interpret, understand, and appreciate science, the more scientific articles will be read. 

The First Step to Strengthening Democracy: Educate Liberally

Education can be said to be the most powerful weapon of a human. However, through the proper use of an education, vaccines can be created, treaties can be signed, and discoveries can be made. Much debate occurs as to the most efficient way to educate American students. Some believe that the best education still follows the 3R’s: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Others believe in strict trade school learning, to be taught only what you will need to become a good citizen to society or to enter a career. However, there is a third school of thought: a liberal education.

As Robert M. Hutchins said, “A liberal education... frees a man from the prison-house of his class, race, time, place, background, family and even his nation.” What America needs is to break each and every one of these barriers in order to strengthen our democracy. People need to learn to break the status quo. Education is becoming more of a way to transfer the government’s ideas to the people, without learning to think for oneself.

From the words of Albert Einstein, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” Students may not retain the lesson on the area of a trapezoid or the depth of the ocean floor. However, students will remember the liberal arts aspect of their education. When we teach students to think for themselves, they will have more ideas. As people have more ideas, more problems can be fixed in society. As we fix more problems, our democracy has the chance to be strengthened. Liberal education alone will not strengthen democracy, but it will provide our students with the means to fix it.

The First Step to Blogging: Think

"I think; therefore I am." - Rene Descartes

Thinking outside the box.