Over the next two years I found myself enjoying communication hobbies (such as editing the newsletter of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, presenting a climate segment on 3RRR every couple of weeks, even presenting seminars on my PhD work) much more fun than research, so I began looking for other options.In 1995 I completed a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication through ANU, which involved traveling around Australia doing science shows, and other projects on the communication side of things. (I wrote up my PhD during spare time). What really helped though, were the contacts I made and through them I had a number of articles published in newspapers and magazines over the year on a freelance basis.

At the end of the year, a job came up for a Communication Manager in a CSIRO Division that did research along the line of my science background, and I was fortunate that they were looking for someone with a scientific background. I finally submitted my PhD late last year. I have just been appointed editor of The Helix, which is the science magazine for Double Helix Club members.

My advice would be to start writing on scientific topics with which you are comfortable, especially if your area of science is very newsy — both as features for science magazines and by approaching local and national papers. (Note that I’d be interested in my Helix role to receive snippets of news, as long as a photo is available). Use your scientific contacts to get some newsy stories, and start trying to make contacts on the newspaper side, especially science editors. The thing is, during this stage of trying to get things published, you need to have a source of money as you’ll be lucky to get paid — so don’t give up your day job.

A science communication course would be helpful, but again there is the question of money — the ANU/Questacon course that I did comes with a scholarship. I guess you need to look for a ‘bridging year’ where you show future employers that you have experience and skills in communication. It might feel like a backward step though, depending how far into a science career you are. I didn’t feel that way after a PhD though.

I’d like to think that science institutions will be looking for more communicators who can appreciate the science, the culture of science, and interpret it for other audiences. So with a heavy science background, plus either a further qualification or work experience in communication, you will be well placed to be picked up as a science communicator/journalist. There are a number of fellowships around for science graduates to do journalism, but they are highly sought after (e.g. the ABC, Science, The Economist). CSIRO are big employers of communication people (and I suppose CRCs, although I haven’t seen them advertised).

It’s a great job, very interesting and you keep abreast of a range of topics, rather than being focused on one area.