Science & Health Writing

SCIENCE & HEALTH WRITING

Simple Rules • Understand the jargon

Scientific names and technical terms (sometimes called jargon) are necessary for scientists. It enables them to speak more accurately to one another about things they have in common.

• Use concrete words where

possible People understand solid, concrete things which they can feel, smell, see, touch, taste or hear. Because much of science is about ideas, where possible you should explain the scientist's abstract ideas in concrete words your ordinary readers or listeners can understand.

Example:

•Scientists in China have

invented a sewing thread so strong that it could take the weight of a fullygrown elephant.

•Do not overload with

figures Do not overload your stories with large numbers or lots of figures

•Write brightly

Keep your words clear and simple. Do not use too many scientific terms and explain them in simple words.

Pig farmers on New Ireland are battling an insect plague which has already killed more than 500 pigs on the island.

Farmers on New Ireland are battling a plague of the new insect species penetrens lugoles which is related to the horse fly and has devastated large herds of pigs in The insect, which is related to Africa and South East Asia and the horse fly, has already already killed 527 pigs on the devastated herds in Africa and island by laying eggs in their ears South East Asia. which eventually hatch into maggots which burrow their way The new species called penetrens into the animal's brain in search of lugoles lays its eggs in pigs' ears. food. When the eggs hatch, the maggots burrow into the animal's brain in search of food.

•Do not sensationalise

To sensationalise means to state something in such a strong and extreme way that it has an effect on people's emotions

•Give background details

Your job is to place all developments in context. Explain how we got to the situation today.

• they help your readers or

listeners to understand what has happened and how important (or disappointing) the latest development is

You must understand the basic principles of any scientific field before you can report in it; you can get that understanding by: •Having a basic scientific education •Reading books and magazines about science and technology •Taking an interest in scientific and technological developments •Establishing good contacts with experts who can help you with information

The perfect intro… • newsworthy

-“Anong nangyari?” • short & simple (KISS) -20 words or less • attract the reader • approriate style

When writing your intro… • List the keypoints

-Is it new? -Is it unusual? -Is it interesting or significant? -Is it about people?

At 2 a.m. yesterday morning, meteorologists at the Nadi Weather Centre detected a cyclone developing rapidly near Nauru and moving quickly south-west across the Pacific towards the Solomon Islands. They named the cyclone "Victor". At 3 a.m., they contacted the Solomon Islands government warning of the approach of Cyclone Victor. Government officials immediately put emergency plans into operation. They warned all shipping in the area of the cyclone's approach. They broadcast warnings on the radio, and alerted the police, who in turn sent officers to warn the people. By 10 a.m., winds in Honiara were blowing at more than 140 kilometres per hour. At about midday, the centre of the cyclone passed directly over Honiara before tracking into the Coral Sea, where it blew itself out. In Honiara, more than 20 houses were destroyed and a number of other buildings sustained considerable structural damage. More than 100 people are now homeless. Six people were killed. Another 18 people have been treated in hospital for minor injuries. Mopping-up operations have started in Honiara. The emergency services are still awaiting news from outlying districts but believe that Honiara has been the worst affected. Police say that of the six people who died, three men drowned when their car was blown off the road into a river, and two women and a man were killed by flying debris.

When writing your intro… • Put the keypoint in order of

importance • Choose the main key points as

your news angle for the intro

• Dr Michael Kai is a scientist with the

Papua New Guinea Department of Primary Industry. He has been working for ten years on a project to breed larger pigs. One of his pigs, an adult male, has been weighed at 350 kgs. This is the heaviest pig ever to have been bred in Papua New Guinea. Mr Kai hopes to use this animal to breed other very large pigs.