Chemists communicating chemistry to the public in the 21st century

PROF 13

John K. Borchardt, jkborchardt@aol.com, Southhaven Commuication, 8010 Vista del Sol Drive, Houston, TX 77083-5039
Chemists constantly complain about inaccurate and biased reporting of chemistry to the public. This reporting helps shape public attitudes towards our profession and indirectly to research funding and entry of young people into our profession. It is time chemists take more responsibility for communicating chemistry to the public. Technological developments in the communications industry can facilitate this movement.

The author will summarize his own experiences as a science writer since 1987 to illustrate how to begin writing about science while continuing a research career and achieving success in this profession. He will explain how Dr. Helen Free had a significant effect on both his chemical research and science writing careers. The author will advocate parallel careers that will provide chemists will more career options. Today the author is a full-time science and technology writer.

The author will also describe the technological changes that have affected his science writing career and evolving trends that will affect how science is communicated to the public in the future.