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Is Science Writing the right path?

So I've just finished my second year of a Maths BSc and I'm starting to think about career options.

I love writing in my spare time, books and such, mostly fiction, and would love to become an author full time but I know that's really hard to get into.

So, I've been thinking about what job I want to do and something that seems interesting is Science communication, for example writing about mathematics in something like the New Scientist or similar. Firstly, do you think I would need a masters in Science communication to do this or some other masters or even straight from my degree?

On the other hand, this might not be the steadiest of jobs out there so would I need a masters if I wanted to go into something like statistics or biological statistics?

Basically I'm not really sure where to go career wise. Any help would be appreciated.

Also, has anyone been in a similar situation and has any ideas of jobs I haven't mentioned that were surprisingly good or not commonly heard of?
Original post by Becka-la
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I think this is a really good idea. There's a lack of people who can write both interestingly and knowledgeably about science, with the chief problem seemingly the need to make the information accessible to a general audience without scientists protesting that the topic has been dumbed down beyond reason. Imperial College London is one of several schools now offering a course for would-be science writers: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/humanities/sciencecommunicationgroup/masters/mscinsciencecommunication

With regard to Statistics, an alternative to a masters might be the examinations and professional qualifications offered by the Royal Statistical Society: http://www.rss.org.uk/site/cms/contentChapterView.asp?chapter=12 And these can be studied for in your own time, with you entering yourself for the exams when you feel ready.

The RSS as well has a terrific magazine devoted to making stats accessible to a general readership: http://www.significancemagazine.org/view/index.html This is a good read in itself and has writing competitions you might want to enter: http://www.significancemagazine.org/details/magazine/4370911/Young-Statisticians-Writing-Competition-Celebrate-the-International-Year-of-Stat.html
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Original post by cambio wechsel
I think this is a really good idea. There's a lack of people who can write both interestingly and knowledgeably about science, with the chief problem seemingly the need to make the information accessible to a general audience without scientists protesting that the topic has been dumbed down beyond reason. Imperial College London is one of several schools now offering a course for would-be science writers: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/humanities/sciencecommunicationgroup/masters/mscinsciencecommunication

With regard to Statistics, an alternative to a masters might be the examinations and professional qualifications offered by the Royal Statistical Society: http://www.rss.org.uk/site/cms/contentChapterView.asp?chapter=12 And these can be studied for in your own time, with you entering yourself for the exams when you feel ready.

The RSS as well has a terrific magazine devoted to making stats accessible to a general readership: http://www.significancemagazine.org/view/index.html This is a good read in itself and has writing competitions you might want to enter: http://www.significancemagazine.org/details/magazine/4370911/Young-Statisticians-Writing-Competition-Celebrate-the-International-Year-of-Stat.html


Wow, thank you so much, I didn't expect this much information so fast. Thanks for the RSS link, might not have found that on my own. :smile:

Just as a follow up, you say several schools offer a course in science communication or similar, i was wondering if you knew many of them as I know Warwick, the one you mentioned, Leeds, Sheffield and Bristol do something in the way of that but if you know any more I would love if you could let me know.

Thank you again.

p.s. If you know about any more writing competitions like that I would love to know also. :-P

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