Science Writing

FRAMELIA V. ANONAS
Editor-in-Chief, S&T Post | DOST Digest
Department of Science and Technology

National Training of Trainors

October 24, 2018| Baguio City
What is science news?
DOST- Science and Technology Information
Institute
Platforms for science writing:
- Print
- Broadcast (radio, TV)
- Web

5
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
1987 –
1958 - 1982 1982 - 1987
present

NSTA DOST
NSDB

National Science Department of

National Science
and Technology Science and
Development Board
Authority Technology
RA 2067 EO 784 EO 128
June 13, 1958 March 17, 1982 January 30, 1987

6
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

DOST
3 Sectoral Councils
7 R&D Institutes 6 S&T Service
Institutes

ASTI
PCAARRD
PAGASA

FNRI
PCHRD PHIVOLCS

FPRDI
PSHSS
PCIEERD
ITDI
SEI

16 Regional Offices MIRDC

STII

PNRI
TAPI
80 PSTCs
PTRI

7
MANDATES of DOST-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION INSTITUTE

1. To establish a science and technology databank and library

2. To disseminate science and technology information
3. To undertake training on science and technology information

Your school 
Science news vs other news

 it makes people  It explains  It should relate

aware of the science concepts science or
wonders of in common technology to the
science & language lives of people.
technology • is an effort to  It should answer
• Examples: Sex make science the question SO
reversed fish, interesting WHAT?
video call, • is storytelling  It should relate to
• goes beyond people.
facts  It should put a
human face.
PH may soon make banknotes with locally available fibers
After decades of depending on imported world and is the main raw material in making
fibers, the Philippines may soon be able to specialty paper for producing paper money.
make its own paper money using locally “It is one of the Philippines’ biggest exports,
available plant materials. with the country supplying 85 percent of the
total global abaca demand equivalent to 90
Researchers at the Department of Science metric tons. Despite this huge volume
and Technology-Forest Products Research though, the country still imports about
and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) 780,000 kilos of currency base paper a year,
recently developed quality currency base which the BSP turns into paper money,” said
paper (cbp) from combining the fibers of Torres.
abaca (Musa textilis), salago
(Wikstroemia spp.) and mangium (Acacia Salago, meanwhile, is a shrub whose bast
mangium). fibers are similar to those used in Japan’s
specialty papers while mangium is a fast-
“Our banknote or paper money is printed on growing wood species found in local
imported cbp made from 20 percent abaca plantations.
and 80 percent cotton. With our promising Sample currency base paper
research result, we are planning to team up Banknotes last from one to five years, made from combining abaca,
with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) depending on how they are handled. salago, and mangium. (Photo
to make Philippine banknotes using 100 “Producing our own paper money using from DOST-FPRDI)
percent locally available fibers,” said Adela locally sourced materials will not only
S. Torres of DOST-FPRDI’s Pulp and Paper promote our local fibers but will save us
Products Development section. billions,” said DOST-FPRDI Director Romulo
T. Aggangan. According to the BSP, the
Torres explained that fibers from abaca and government spends P3 bilion annually to
salago, and wood chips from mangium were print new banknotes to replace deteriorated
cooked, bleached, and formed into sample or demonetized ones.
cbp at the FPRDI Pulp and Paper Testing
Laboratory. “With the right policy support, the pulp and
paper industry together with abaca and other
“Tests showed that its folding endurance is bast fiber-producing farmers, plus local tree
similar to that of imported currency base plantation owners, can work together to
paper. It was also found to be tear resistant,” realize the dream of ‘bringing home’ the
she added. Philippine peso,” said Aggangan.
EXERCISE
What do you think is the SO WHAT? In the article
presented?

Prepare a one paragraph science news using

the “So what?” on the lead paragraph.

10 minutes
Different types of science (and health) writing

1. News story
- covers something that happened just now or recently
- usually (but not always) shorter than other types of
stories
- structure: "who, what, when, where, and how"
- short paragraphs and sentences
- Example
2. Feature article
- usually written with more depth than a basic news story
- can cover a news item but provides more information
and covers more ground
- Parts:
• interesting introduction that grabs the reader's
attention
• a 'nut graf' to focus the story
• main body of the piece containing background
information
• conclusion, a final climax or joke, or an unusual side
story to draw the piece to an end.
EXAMPLE:
Greening Desert
[ http://www.unep.org/OurPlanet/imgversn/171/Nadia%20el%20Awady.pdf ]
3. Investigative report
- involves extensive and original research and investigation
into a particular topic
- finds an answer to an important and often controversial
question ("Does an apple a day really keep the doctor
away?” “Does eating an egg everyday bad for your
health?”
- Sources are experts and scientists who may not necessarily
share the same views
- usually takes more time (more difficult to find people who
have the answers, or who are willing to be interviewed)
- quality of the research will certainly influence the final
piece
- may result in a single article or in a series of in-depth
articles and reports
- example
TAKEAWAY

1. What is the difference between regular news

and science news?

2. How will you coach your science writers to

provide the answer to the question “so what?”

3. How will you determine if a story is worth a

news story or a feature story?
Basics of science writing in any style
1. Bring the science down to earth
- explain how your subject relates to your readers'
everyday lives.
- e.g., how stem cell research has the potential to
discover cures for disease; how solar-panel
project means to the local economy and
peoples' daily lives.
- No need to report details about the materials used,
how it was done in the lab – focus on the relevance
to people’s lives
- bring out the human in the scientist (personality profile)

- highlight aspects of his or her personality that everyone can

relate to:
• a hobby
• a certain thing he or she does when going into deep
thought before answering a question
• usual outfit
• kind of a laugh
• how he or she relates to colleagues at work
• How he or she looks when talking about research
• A doting grandparent?
• Stage mother?
2. Simplify the science
- Use metaphors, comparisons, similes
- very important in science writing
- relate concepts to everyday life and cultural references so
science becomes easier to understand
- Examples:
 the atmosphere is a greenhouse
 the brain of a chess player is a computer
 stars send out their "last cry" in the form of X-ray
emissions
 the immune system is like an army defending its home
country
 scientists work like detectives to solve a problem.
- Make a picture out of numbers
- weight, area, size, volume, length, etc – help your
audience visualize the numbers by comparing them with
things that we see or use in our everyday lives.
- e.g., 20-mm rainfall – what does it mean?

- simplify: 52.6753 percent = “about half”

- Check if you need to quote a number exactly or just
round it off

How many soccer fields are there in 6000 square meters?

How many atoms fit on the head of a pin?

- be skeptical of statistics — make sure you understand

what they actually mean, and how certain they are.
- Deal with jargon
- don’t assume that your readers know
- explain the meanings of terms but beware of oversimplifying
– a trap that journalists sometimes fall into.
- e. g., low pressure area: “namumuong sama ng panahon”
(weather disturbance)
Storm surge – lack of understanding led to calamity
- described as “five-meter high waves”
but Filipinos do not usually visualize it, instead

you can say “two floors high”

EXERCISE
Rewrite the following sentences. The difficult words have
been highlighted in bold and you may research for their
meaning over Google.

• The researchers grew a few lines of transgenic rice in field

trials between 2001 and 2003.
• "There are drugs to treat this early chronic stage, but the
parasite also causes a process similar to autoimmunity
against which the drugs are not effective."
• Tom Cruise had dyslexia as a child which made it difficult
for him to read.
• The telescope lies at an altitude of 5,300 meters.

15 minutes
MAKE YOUR ARTICLES MORE ENGAGING:
1. Offer something new. Don’t repeat what everyone else is
saying.
- look for studies, more information, and statistics
- Use research as a primary source of evidence, not as a
primary source of news.

2. Use quotes. Interview experts- you get fantastic quotes or

learn something new. You can also search forums and social
media (use hashtag or tweet)

3. Use an angle that readers can easily relate to. You can find a
main character and build a dramatic structure.
4. When writing about a difficult medical issue (e.g.,
antibiotic resistance or obesity) highlight possible solutions
to the problem. This makes readers feel more empowered.

5. Use interesting headlines, an appealing image, and a

catchy intro.
Important resources
TAKEAWAY

1. What is the devise you often teach your

writers to use to make their articles more
engaging? Why?
SOURCES OF SCIENCE STORIES

 Primary sources
 Scientists/experts
 Non-scientists: politicians, neighbours, other journalists, etc.
 Press conferences
 Scientific conferences
Interview 101

Research
Do as much research as possible. Study terminologies that your
source uses. A well-prepared reporter inspires confidence in the
source.

Develop questions
Once you’ve thoroughly researched your topic, prepare a list of
questions to ask. That will help you remember all the points you
want to cover.

Interview the right people

Make sure you get all sides of the story, not only the scientist’s.
You might also want talk to NGO members, politicians, companies,
people, patients, etc. Cover as many people as possible. But do
not waste your time on sources or aspects of the issue that do not
enrich your story.

Science and Technology Writing | National Training of Trainors on Campus Journalism

December 12, 2017 | The Oriental Leyte Hotel, Baras, Palo, Leyte
During the interview
•Ask open-ended questions.
They tend to start sources talking (who did what
to whom and how and why?)
You can get the best quotes.

•Avoid asking long questions.

You can use quick follow-up questions, but ask
one at a time.

• Check spelling of names with

sources.
Some notes

• Always take notes.

• It’s safer if you record
an interview but always
ask permission.
• Just take down notes on
the stuff you will use.
EXERCISE
We need volunteers for a mock presscon on Diwata-2:

- Young engineer of the team who developed Diwata

- DOST official (funding agency)
- Disaster management chair
- Science writer to interview engineer
- Science writer to interview DOST official
- Science writer to interview disaster management
chair

Respective resource person and writer shall pair and

talk how you will proceed with your Q&A. You may use
the information on Diwata-1 to frame your questions
and develop your answers.

? minutes
References:

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-mix-humor-into-your-writing
http://seduc.csdecou.qc.ca/sec-anglais/files/2015/01/MS_FeatArtWrtgPerRdg.pdf
https://www.dogonews.com
http://region1.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181
&Itemid=86
http://seduc.csdecou.qc.ca/sec-anglais/files/2015/01/MS_FeatArtWrtgPerRdg.pdf
https://kathrynaragon.com/blog/writing-better-blog-posts/
https://
en.ejo.ch/ethics-quality/10-ways-to-write-reliable-and-engaging-health-articles-re
search
http://www.wfsj.org
https://
en.ejo.ch/ethics-quality/10-ways-to-write-reliable-and-engaging-health-articles-re
search
THANK FB: DOST-Science and Technology Informaion Institute

YOU  DOST Philippines

#ScienceJournoAko #ScienceForThePeople #dostPH
SCIENCE NEWS
 it makes people  It explains  It should relate
aware of the science concepts science or
wonders of in common technology to the
science & language lives of people.
technology • is an effort to  It should answer
make science the question SO
interesting WHAT?
• is storytelling  It should relate to
• goes beyond people.
facts  It should put a
human face.

Let’s now write your

story.
Are you ready?