Whether you’re a scientist interested in science writing, science communication (SciComm), marketing, journalism, and/or policy, you’ll find a lot of free, helpful information here.
Science doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it occurs in conversation with society. Break down silos and gain insight needed to apply science knowledge to writing, #SciComm, marketing, journalism, and policy in this guide.
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Fancy Comma, LLC was founded by Sheeva Azma, a scientist turned science writer and communications strategist. Recognizing that her versatile skill set merging digital marketing, political work, science expertise, and writing is rather unique among scientists, Sheeva seeks to help others seeking these rewarding (and, perhaps surprisingly, highly overlapping) paths.
If you’re curious about ways you can apply your scientific knowledge in the communications/writing, marketing, journalism, and/or policy worlds, keep reading.
By the way, Fancy Comma, LLC works to simplify complex concepts and make them understandable and impactful. We are a boutique SciComm firm providing tailored solutions to meet clients’ needs. If you’re interested to learn about the many things a science communications, policy, marketing, and journalism firm can do, check out our list of services.
Quick navigation menu:
– Science writing and science communication (SciComm) resources for scientists
– Science-informed marketing: A new application of SciComm
– Science journalism
– Science policy (SciPol)
Science Writing / Communication Resources for Scientists
- We’ve blogged often about science communication (also known as SciComm) and science writing.
- Read our answers to frequently asked questions about SciComm.
- Check out our SciComm interview series for advice for aspiring SciCommers and the origin stories of professional science communicators.
- Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for SciComm tips!
- Learn SciComm, or teach it as a science educator, with our FREE 12-week science communication curriculum.
- Check out books we’ve written about science writing and communication: “How to Get Started in Freelance Science Writing” and “Amplifying Science Communication with Public Relations,” both available on Amazon.
- Find Sheeva’s recommended reads for freelance science writers at your local library or at a bookstore.
- Read our book reviews of texts in science communication which contain tidbits of academic SciComm knowledge.
- Being a freelance science writer or communicator is as much about entrepreneurship as it is about writing or science. Check out the resource pages we put together for writers and entrepreneurs.
- Watch our videos about SciComm on YouTube.
- Talk to us about SciComm training and/or mentoring.
Science-Informed Marketing: A New Application of SciComm
The pandemic has changed the way we interact with science, revealing a need for science-literate marketers to communicate key scientific takeaways for the general public.
Combining scientific knowledge with marketing or communications helps break down silos, rebuild public trust in science, and boost science literacy. Marketing isn’t taught in science programs in undergraduate and graduate school, so we hope to serve as a resource for others interested in this field.
Check out these resources for more:
- Learn more about science copywriting. Science copywriting exists at the intersection of science communication and marketing. It involves explaining scientific concepts in marketing materials such as blogs, white papers, social media content, and more.
- Read all our posts about science copywriting and marketing more generally.
- Read our explainer on how Google Search works and incorporating search engine optimization (SEO) into your writing.
- Improve your skills with one-on-one mentoring with Fancy Comma. We’ve worked with some of the most well-known brands and organizations in the science, health, and technology spaces.
- Check out our YouTube interviews with science marketers on our YouTube channel.
- Read our blog on marketing books we recommend for scientists.
Science Journalism
Sheeva Azma, Fancy Comma’s founder, is a bylined science journalist. Check out her portfolio on her personal website. Here are her favorite science journalism resources:
- We’ve blogged about science journalism: read all our posts on the subject.
- Check out our own science journalism pieces, republished on our blog, as well as Sheeva’s recommended journalism reads.
- In order to publish scientific journalism, you’ll need to learn to write a compelling article pitch. Read our guide to pitching (and feel free to pitch us!).
- Read The Open Notebook (and our interview with its co-founder, Siri Carpenter).
- Sign up for free with the Boston University SciCommers Network to learn about all things science journalism and SciComm. In the SciCommers network, you can edit fellow SciCommers’ journalism pieces and develop the skills needed to pitch your own pieces to top-tier, well-known publications!
- Sign up for science journalism mentoring with Sheeva or sign up for free mentoring sessions at Digital Women Leaders or Journalism Mentors (two of Sheeva’s favorite free websites to learn about communications and journalism, respectively).
Science Policy (SciPol)
- Sheeva wrote a seven-part series about her involvement in the political world as a scientist called “A Scientist in Politics.”
- Join our free LinkedIn group, “Friends of SciComm and SciPol,” to chat with others interested in sound policymaking through science communication. We post about science policy opportunities, free events, blogs, and more.
- Read all of our posts about science policy, including Sheeva’s guide to science advocacy on Capitol Hill.
- Check out Sheeva’s post about getting an internship on Capitol Hill.
- Read Sheeva’s article for the Union for Concerned Scientists blog about science advocacy, and her piece about bridging political divides using SciComm for the Association of Science Communicators.
- We’re always looking to expand our science policy resources to help facilitate better living through science. Wish something was here but it isn’t? Feel free to reach out and we’ll do the best we can to answer your questions.
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