The Exchange: Volume 16 Number 1
Posted by Matthew Hunt on March 6, 2009 10:05 PM
Geoff Hart entertains us with the first issue of The Exchange for 2009. This includes the usual mix of articles, book reviews and some more whimsical quotes along with a little of the fun to be had on the web. Available, as usual, in HTML and PDF. Enjoy!
In this issue:
- The rewards of writing for the medical device industry
- Editorial: Selling the problem (or: 43.3% of the message)
- Book review: How to Write for a General Audience
- Book review: Microsoft Word for Medical and Technical Writers
- Fun on the Web
- Parting thoughts
AMWA chapter conference, 27-28th February
Posted by Kathie Gorski on February 1, 2009 1:29 PM |
Lori Alexander, a fellow member of the Scientific Communication SIG, asked me to forward this information to you. Lori is also a member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and the Educational Coordinator for the Florida Chapter of AMWA. In her words:
I want to invite STC SciCom SIG members to our AMWA chapter conference at the end of February. Our annual conference will be held 27-28 February in Orlando, Florida, and features an outstanding program of three hour workshops, short sessions, and special lectures:
- Workshops: Correlation and Regression Analyses, Writing Clinical Study Reports, Patient Education Materials, and Medical Terminology
- Short Sessions: Job Hunting Tips, Is Freelancing Right for You?, Covering Medical Meetings, Handling Journal Supplements
- Special Lectures: Plain Language and National Patient Safety Goals
For the past few years, the Florida Chapter conferences have been very successful, with outstanding faculty and great networking opportunities. Last year, we collaborated with the STC Orlando Chapter and had some STC members serve as speakers. While we didn’t collaborate this year, we enjoy meeting STC members and think that networking between the two associations offers benefits to all.
For more details on the conference, visit the AMWA Florida Chkapter website.
New web skite
Posted by Matthew Hunt on December 21, 2008 1:49 AM |
The holiday season seems like as good a time as any to release the first version of a new web site for the SciCom SIG. Let us know what you like or don’t like about it, what it could do with more or less of, and any other suggestions you have. Feel free to email us (addresses on the contact page) or use the comments on this announcement to start a discussion.
The Exchange: Volume 15 Number 4
Posted by Matthew Hunt on December 21, 2008 1:04 AM
The final issue of the the Exchange for 2008 is now available. Thanks to Geoff Hart and all the contributors for keeping us informed and putting so much work into making an interesting newsletter for the SIG. This issue is available for download in HTML and PDF formats.
In this issue:
- Using Open Journal Systems to publish an online scholarly journal
- Editorial: When metaphors become myths
- Book review: Linguistic and Cultural Online Communication Issues in the Global Age
- Book review: Punctuation Matters: Advice on Punctuation for Scientific and Technical Writing
- Parting thoughts
New Science Writing
Posted by Matthew Hunt on October 8, 2008 3:22 AM |
Some recently released books that may be of interest to SIG members:
The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, edited by Richard Dawkins. The book features writing from almost 100 scientists and science writers (including – to name just a few – Albert Einstein, Douglas R. Hofstadter, Steven Jay Gould, and Rachel Carson), this anthology has been receiving generous reviews from the established press and the internet community.
The Best American Science Writing 2008, edited by Sylvia Nasar. This features a selection of nineteen pieces and, if you’d like to try before you buy, Harper Collins have a preview of the book available on their web site.
Do you have any other recommendations? Add them in the comments.
The Exchange: Volume 15 Number 3
Posted by Matthew Hunt on September 29, 2008 6:44 PM
Geoff Hart has produced another interesting issue of the Exchange. The newsletter is available for download in HTML and PDF formats.
Back issues of the Exchange are also available in the Newsletter section of this web site. The archive goes back to 2000, so there’s plenty of interesting reading if you’ve missed any issues.
In this issue:
- Metrication policies and technical communication, Ron Stone
- Editorial: Everything has limits, Geoff Hart
- “What’s in a word?” redux, Katherine Haramundanis
- Book review: A practical guide to graphics reporting, Beth Lisberg Najberg
- Book review: Cite right: a quick guide to citation styles, Thomas Warren
- Parting thoughts
The Beauty of Science
Posted by Matthew Hunt on September 28, 2008 6:57 PM
National Geographic magazine have announced the winners of their Best Science Images of 2008 competition with some beautiful and inspiring results. The images are in a variety of categories including illustration, photography, informational graphics, and interactive and noninteractive media.
Among the honorable mentions are a modern visualization technique that provides a whole new way to look at the Bible, and an electron micrograph image of the tentacles of a squid that exposes the hidden world around us to great effect, and considerable humor.
Head on over to the National Geographic web site to see the images and the full competition results.
Got announcements?
Posted by Geoff Hart on June 30, 2008 3:55 PM
Here at the newsletter, we’re always eager to include information submitted by our readers. So if you’ve got anything to announce, something to brag about, or something you think other readers might be interested in, please send it along. We’ll be happy to find space for you.
You can find the address to send it to on the contact us page.
The Exchange: Volume 15, Number 2
Posted by Matthew Hunt on June 30, 2008 10:31 AM
Geoff Hart has completed the second of this year’s four issues of the exchange, including his own reflections on the annual conference. Grab a copy now in HTML or PDF format.
In this issue:
- Web site quality—beyond usability testing, Diane Evans and C. Shannon Brown
- Editorial: annual conference report, Geoff Hart
- Book review: Rhetoric in(to) science: style as invention in inquiry, Jackie Damrau
- Book review: Scientific style and format: the CSE manual for authors, editors, and publishers, Geoff Hart
- Explaining the need for donors is also scientific communication
- Parting thoughts
The Exchange: Volume 15, Number 1
Posted by Matthew Hunt on January 30, 2008 10:00 AM
Hot off Geoff Hart’s press is the first issue of the Exchange for a new year. As usual, you can choose to download in HTML or PDF format for your reading pleasure.
In this issue:
- The mathematics of persuasive communication, Philip Yaffe
- Editorial: What’s in a word?, Geoff Hart
- Book review: Exploring Medical Language: a Student-directed Approach, Nicole St. Germaine-Madison
- Book review: How to prepare defense-related scientific and technical reports: guidance for government, academia, and industry, Andrea Sutton
- Parting thoughts
