Arab science journalists think local

"We want our journalists to focus more on covering local science and have the skills to cover science from an informed perspective." That quote could have come from just about anywhere outside the USA. In this case it came from Nadia El-Awady of the Arab Science Journalists Association (ASJA) in an item on CRDF Conversations from the US Civilian Research & Development Foundation.

Nadia was talking about a partnership that the ASJA has started with the National Association of Science Writers in the United States. As well as learning a few things from the American science journalists, Nadia also hopes that "American journalists will learn from us a little bit about covering science in the developing world because the context is different".

Dealing with Arab science isn't just about blowing local trumpets. "We think that it’s important to cover local science because it sheds light on the deficiencies as well as the good things that are happening. So we really want to see more coverage of local Arab science happening in science columns and science articles in specialized and popular magazines."

This is easier said than done. Nadia also talks about some of the problems they face. "We have to do a lot of footwork to get the research," she says. "In Egypt, you get information out of ministries and government institutions; sometimes you have to go through a process of getting permission, so deadlines are often hard to keep. It’s often impossible to quote government officials in the article because you might have to take about a week or two to get the permission to actually speak to these people."

Remember this the next time you hear someone moaning about getting to sources.

Editor – Chemistry World

Chemistry World
Cambridge

Chemistry World is the business-to-business magazine for the chemical sciences. Its 65,000 readers include the members of the Royal Society of Chemistry, business executives and leading scientists around the world, including China, who read its new and highly-successful sister edition, Chemistry World China. Globally, our readers look to the magazine for a unique international perspective on current developments in a fast-changing environment.

Editor

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on editor, tasked with further expanding the magazine in print, online and digitally. We want you to share your vision of how best to develop all the magazine's editions and fully expand the brand in order to engage readers and advertisers.

A successful track record in science publishing along with a chemical science background is essential. You will also need experience of team leadership (with proven experience as a deputy editor or section head), as well as involvement in business management. Ref: 08-40.

We offer competitive salaries together with an attractive benefits package, including 26 days holiday, contributory pension scheme, free life assurance, private healthcare provision and, where appropriate, relocation allowance.

For further information about the RSC, this post and how to apply, please visit www.rsc.org/AboutUs/rscwork/Currentvacancies.asp quoting the relevant reference number. Please advise us of your current salary and salary expectation.

Closing date: 21 July 2008.
Agencies need not apply.

We welcome applications from all sectors of the community and value diversity.

www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Nº 207890

Business Editor – Chemistry World

Chemistry World
Cambridge
Chemistry World is the business-to-business magazine for the chemical sciences. Its 65,000 readers include the members of the Royal Society of Chemistry, business executives and leading scientists around the world, including China, who read its new and highly-successful sister edition, Chemistry World China. Globally, our readers look to the magazine for a unique international perspective on current developments in a fast-changing environment.

Business Editor
As part of the ongoing development, Chemistry World is changing fast and is now expanding its business coverage.

As a result, we're looking for an experienced journalist who's familiar with the chemical or pharmaceutical industry and keen to find a new and high-profile challenge. You'll have the freedom to shape our new business news section and regular business features, ensuring that the publication continues to have a wide reach beyond academia.

We'll expect you to research and commission news and features, plan story concepts and develop ideas for both our magazine and website. But you'll still be someone who enjoys hands-on writing, editing and proofing and will also be happy to generate ideas for images that can be used alongside articles.

All the time, you'll be on the look out for stories - using your contacts, visiting companies, attending conferences and conducting interviews. Communication skills and customer focus are therefore just as important as your knowledge of business and science. Ref: 08-16.

We offer competitive salaries together with an attractive benefits package, including 26 days holiday, contributory pension scheme, free life assurance, private healthcare provision and, where appropriate, relocation allowance.

For further information about the RSC, this post and how to apply, please visit www.rsc.org/AboutUs/rscwork/Currentvacancies.asp quoting the relevant reference number. Please advise us of your current salary and salary expectation.

Closing date: 21 July 2008.
Agencies need not apply.
We welcome applications from all sectors of the community and value diversity.

www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Nº 207890

Elsevier joins battle against plagiarism

It is probably a coincidence that the press release Elsevier to contribute 9 million articles to CrossCheck comes hot on the heels of Raj Persaud's unfortunate run in over plagiarism. Crosscheck describes itself as a "new initiative from CrossRef to help the scholarly publishers verify the originality of submitted manuscripts".

In its press release, Elsevier says that it "is now in the process of integrating CrossCheck into its editorial workflows as part of its efforts to support the peer review process and assist the scientific community in all aspects of publishing ethics". A whole raft of other publishing houses have also taken part in the beta stage of CrossRef, including Nature, JAMA, the BMJ and the IEEE.

One of the excuses that Persaud put forward was that the people editing his work had been careless and had "dropped" all his acknowledgements. Clearly, the General Medical Council didn't buy this explanation.

It is unlikely that CrossCheck would have picked up this particular spate of plagiarism. Book editors are not in the same club as the learned journals. And how can editors check articles that are a million miles from the peer reviewed literature?

Anyone who has written the same story for more than one publication – a perfectly acceptable tactic for freelance writers, so long as their editors know what they are up to – knows that you have to work at not plagiarising yourself, let alone other writers. It would be interesting to see if something like CrossCheck can handle that sort of thing.

2008 book winners announced

There it is, screaming atop the page at the Royal Society, Winners Announced. The puff of white smoke has gone up, and Six Degrees by Mark Lynas (Fourth Estate/Harper Collins) picks up this year's General Prize in the 2008 Royal Society Prizes for Science Books.

The Junior Prize goes to Big Book of Science Things to Make and Do by Rebecca Gilpin and Leonie Pratt, (Usborne).

For some reason, the detailed account of the event is over on Flickr, along with some pictures. (That's where you land if you follow the links in the above.)

The general prize is for a book on climate change. The title of the book that collected the junior prize explains itself.

Honourable mentions

The arrival of the Queens Birthday Honours List always provides a few minutes entertainment. This year's set of gonged individuals is no exception.

A quick search on "science" throws up a bunch of names that will be familiar to at least some ABSW members:

• Jim Al-Khalili, well known media physicists and Professor of Physics and Professor of Public Engagement in Science, University of Surrey. "For services to Physics."
  
• Frances Rosemary (or Fran as she is also known) Balkwill, who has won more than her fair share of awards for the books that started off as an attempt to explain science to her kids, Professor of Cancer Biology, Queen Mary, University of London. "For services to Science Communication to Children".
  
• Sheila Scott Anderson-Witty, who used to run communications at the Natural Environment Research Council. "For services to Science."
  

The list is a bit thin on media folks this year, unless you count tabloids and fashion mags.

Earth Science Communicator post - advertisement

THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON

Earth Science Communicator

Up to £25,000 per annum including London Weighting

Mayfair, Central London

The Geological Society of London wishes to recruit a science communication specialist to develop the Society’s media profile through the promotion of its published research and cutting-edge conferences, and to assist in communications activities aimed at parliamentarians and departments of state.

The successful applicant will be responsible to the Society’s External Relations Committee, and will be expected to develop under the guidance of author and science journalist Ted Nield (Editor, Geoscientist) with a view to becoming the Society’s principal media contact in April 2009, subject to satisfactory performance.

The duties of the post holder will include reactive and proactive media relations; drafting responses to Government and other consultations; managing certain of the Society’s international relations (principally with the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and the Association of European Geological Societies); drafting speeches for the President and providing administrative assistance to the External Relations Committee. These responsibilities will require some foreign travel, mainly in Europe.

The successful applicant will be a fluent and talented writer, able to assist fellow members of staff as required in the creation of leaflets, brochures and other documents aimed at a general audience - including buying in design and print services, and bringing these documents to publication.

Preferably with a background in the Earth sciences and a postgraduate qualification in science communication or journalism (or equivalent experience), you will be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the popularisation of science in general and Earth sciences in particular.

Further Information

For further information about the post and how to apply, please click this link to the Society’s Web Site.

www.geolsoc.org.uk/sco

Application will be by CV and written exercise, with a covering letter explaining why you think you would be ideally suited to this position. If you have a portfolio of published science writing, please include this also.

• Closing date for applications: Monday 30 June
• Interviews will be held on: Thursday 10 July

You will be informed if you have been successful in gaining an interview by the end of Friday 4 July. Unfortunately it is not possible for us to write to all applicants.