Helpful (and free!) info on science writing, science communication (SciComm), marketing, journalism, and policy
Fancy Comma, LLC provides a versatile range of services in science communications and policy. If that sounds like a cool job to you, keep reading to learn the same skills we have … for free. You know you want to.
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Quick navigation menu:
– Science writing and science communication (SciComm) resources for scientists
– Science-informed marketing
– 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. Sheeva taught the curriculum in a series of lectures.
- Check out books we’ve written about science writing and communication: “How to Get Started in Freelance Science Writing,” “Amplifying Science Communication with Public Relations,” and “SCIENCE X MARKETING,” all 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.
- Watch our videos about SciComm on YouTube.
- Talk to us about SciComm training and/or mentoring.
Science-Informed Marketing
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:
- Check out our book, SCIENCE X MARKETING, about the space shared by science and marketing. You can check out the first 37 pages online for free in Amazon’s book preview, or check out an excerpt published on our blog.
- 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)
- 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.
- Peruse Sheeva’s blog on the importance of SciComm for science policy.
- Check out our science policy playlist on our YouTube, including a vlog in which Sheeva visits DC to advocate for health care reform on Capitol Hill!
Here’s our latest science policy video:
- Check out Sheeva’s blog series about her involvement in the political world as a scientist called “A Scientist in Politics.”
- Whether you win or lose, working on a political campaign can help you develop important skills and increase visibility for your causes. Check out our guide to plugging in to political campaigns as a scientist, science communicator, student of science, or science fan as a free, downloadable PDF.
- You can also work in Congress as a scientist – to help you do that, we’ve written “A Scientist’s Guide to Staff Roles in the US Congress.” It’s a free, downloadable PDF that overviews the Congressional structure and where scientists can work to help build up the scientific legislative workforce.
- 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.
- Learn about informational interviewing and ways you can use it to make connections in the science policy world.
- Read Sheeva’s book, SCIENCE X MARKETING, to learn about her experiences in policy, including but not limited to science policy, and ways she united the two spheres of science and policy, informed by her experiences in marketing. Peruse the first 37 pages online for free in Amazon’s book preview, or check out an excerpt published on our blog.
- 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.
- 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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