Covers field-adapted color illustration techniques including watercolor, colored pencil, inkwash, and mixed media. Field trips to various natural environments provide opportunities to sketch plants, mammals, birds, insects, landscapes, and other subject matter. In addition to in-class assignments, students produce a field sketchbook and a final project. Appropriate for students with demonstrated interest in science illustration through previous course work in science and art or through extracurricular activity in the field or a strong desire to learn the skills of the field. Enrollment process differs for Summer Session.
Introduction to graphite, pen and ink, coquille, and scratchboard, along with training in essential skills for creating accurate and dynamic scientific illustrations. Attention to the demands of the printing process along with basics of proportion, perspective, and composition. Appropriate for students with a demonstrated interest in science illustration through previous course work in science and art, or through extracurricular activity in the field, or a strong desire to learn the skills of the field.
A rigorous examination and practice of the skills involved in writing articles about science, health, technology, and the environment for the general public. Covers the essential elements of news writing and explanatory journalism, including developing a story idea, interviewing scientists, fact checking, composition, and editing of multiple drafts about scientific research.
Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.
Instructs science students in communicating about their work with the non-scientist public, including written, visual, and audio forms of communication. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in science and engineering studies or advanced undergraduates in declared science and engineering majors. Enrollment is by interview with the instructor to confirm level of scientific training and writing experience.
A survey of the conventions of newspaper journalism and the special application of those conventions to scientific and technological subjects.
A survey of selected feature articles in the current national science magazines, with attention to strategy, level of complexity, explanation technique, and style. Writing assignments include a publishable feature article.
A survey of science and nature profiles and essays. Purpose, content, form, and style are considered. Writing assignments include original profiles and essays on current issues in science, technology, and society. (Formerly The Science Essay.)
Rigorous examination of techniques for reporting topics where science and technology meet public policy and society. Covers essential skills of investigative reporting, including obtaining documents through Public Records Act requests, using online reporting resources, and writing about ethical and legal issues.
Introduces web-media tools for reporting science stories and enhancing coverage for broad audiences, including video packages, narrated slideshows, podcasts, blogs, and still photography. Laboratory sections address skills for handling equipment and online editing.
Theory and practice of writing and editing articles on scientific, medical, environmental, and technological subjects for newspapers, magazines, and special publications directed at non-technical readers.
A media internship is completed with faculty tutorial assistance, to satisfy a need for the student when a regular course is not available. Enrollment restricted to graduate students formally accepted into the writing track of the Science Communication Program.
Independent Study