News-ed Students Learn to Translate Science For The Real World
By Gloria Bucco
With Nebraska ranked first among Midwestern states and 11th nationally for its technology and science workforce, a fledgling program at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications is right on target.
Beginning fall semester 2003, two students working with two professors embarked on a new curriculum emphasizing science journalism. "There is a terrific need for people to explain what is going on in the sciences to the general public," said Will Norton Jr., dean of the college.
The idea for a science journalism program came from Prem Paul, vice chancellor for research and dean of Graduate Studies. Paul, who has a doctor of veterinary medicine degree along with his Ph.D., has experience dealing with journalists as a scientist. "I've interacted with journalists, and I've had the feeling that some journalists have a good understanding of science and technology but others haven't had formal training or exposure to science," he said.
Paul believes giving journalists an understanding of the latest achievements in science and technology could put them in a better position to communicate the excitement of these advances to their readers. "Research shows that the general public is often not aware of the importance of research," Paul added.
After Paul discussed his idea with Monica Norby, assistant vice chancellor for research, who has a background in science writing, the two brought the plan to Norton who then approached news-editorial teachers Charlyne Berens and Joe Starita. The five became the core committee promoting the project and began brainstorming ways to work with students and secure funding. Paul gave the college $5,000 to jumpstart the program.
The committee then identified two students to participate in the kick-off semester: Rachael Seravalli, a graduate student in news-editorial, and Jeremy Gallant, a senior news-ed/premed major. Both were immediately attracted to the idea.
"I've been interested in science writing for a long time," Seravalli said. "This class is allowing me to pursue a dream. I think it's very cool that I get the experience to work with Charlyne and Joe to build this new program."
Being both a journalism major and premed, Gallant saw the science writing program as an opportunity to combine both of his academic pursuits. "I was really excited. The whole reason I'm doing a dual major is to be able to write about medical research," he said.
Each student is writing nine stories and has received a $1,000 stipend. The stories they wrote included a profile of a new virologist at UNL, a description of the research UNL oceanographers are doing on the Earth's crust, how the College of Engineering and Technology is working with the Medical Center to redesign surgery tools, and a look at a Psychology Department study into the behavioral effects of drug use.
Gallant and Seravalli said their stories have been well received, and both have been challenged by the edit and rewrite suggestions from Berens and Starita. "The feedback has been very positive," Seravalli said.
Gallant added, "They are challenging me to rewrite to make my stories as good as they can be."
The course continued during spring semester as another independent study. "Right now we're revising our curriculum and I don't know where science writing will fit," Berens explained. "But we're staying with the process to assure that what we started will continue. We want to build this into much more than an independent study."
Starita agreed. "There is a burgeoning market for science-based journalism, and we see this as another avenue in which our students can succeed. They will be very employable if they're trained in this specialty," he noted.
Early in the semester, Paul, Norton, Norby and Starita visited the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. They met with its director to promote their idea and search for funding.
"The visit was exploratory," Paul said. "We met with program officers and found them to be very interested in what we're doing. We are now thinking about a proposal to the NSF and the possibility of placing some of our students there for an internship. This is an exciting program. I have a feeling we're going to attract resources."
The college also hopes to bring professional science writers to campus for short institutes where students can be exposed to their skills and experience. "Lots of people think they don't like science. If we can build on the interests and skills our students have to make them proficient in this specialized area, we'll be serving our students and the public," Berens said.
"Science is everywhere, Seravalli added. "Most people consider it outside their grasp because they can't read and understand it straight out of a scientific journal. The job of the writer is to translate important information to them making it easy to understand but also enjoyable to read. It's important for the college to offer a program in this."
