27 October – first of the new ABSW lunches

The first of the new ABSW lunch dates has been fixed for the favourite choice, Tuesday 27th October.

Venue is Doggett's Coat and Badge, overlooking the Thames on Blackfriars Bridge. We will have our own bar, with balcony overlooking the river, from 12 noon to 4 pm. Lunch will be served at 1pm.

I hope that some of those who preferred other dates will still be able to come - we need at least 20 people to make it a success.

I am trying to fix up a speaker but can't say any more until that is confirmed. Whatever happens, it will still be a great chance to meet other science writers and do some networking.

Price for a three-course lunch, to include wine and tea or coffee is a very reasonable £25.

Hurry along to the special webpage to confirm your attendance and pick your menu. To avoid embarrassment on the day, please make a note of your choice!

Not a member the ABSW? Sign up now!

Paul Sutherland

Science journalism and libel laws – ABSW annual lecture

This year's ABSW annual lecture, on 15the October, will be a debate about science journalism and the libel laws. The event is being produced in association with City University, to celebrate the launch of City's MA course in Science Journalism.

ABSW members have up to 100 guaranteed places at this event on October 15th, but they must book their places by the end of the month (September 30th). After this, unused places will be released to the public.

Booking is through City University's website, entry is free.

To ensure that you reserve one of the guaranteed places, when you are filling in the booking form please provide the information "I am an ABSW member" in the drop down box which asks "Where did you hear about this event".

Science Fact – science journalism and libel law

• Simon Singh, freelance science journalist and author of Trick or Treatment?

• Ben Goldacre, columnist, doctor and author of Bad Science

• John Kampfner, Chief Executive, Index on Censorship

• Duncan Lamont, libel lawyer and Head of Media & Entertainment at Charles Russell

• Tracey Brown, Managing Director, Sense About Science

Science journalists Simon Singh and Ben Goldacre have both been sued in the past year for libel. They challenged the scientific method and evidence behind the use of chiropractic treatment for children (Singh) and the role of multivitamins to combat HIV/AIDS in South Africa (Goldacre).

After long court battles, Goldacre won his case, with the financial support of the Guardian, but Singh lost and faces the prospect of mounting an expensive appeal.

Should scientific debate be silenced by the use of English libel laws, thereby keeping the public in the dark? What are the wider implications for journalism and is there a pressing need for reform of the English libel laws?

Date:
Thursday October 15 2009 Time:7:00 PM

Location:
Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre, City University London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB

Google Map

ABSW briefing

ABSW Briefings 2008 are sponsored by - The Geological Society of London

How to write a popular science book

Thursday 13th March 2008
Welcome drinks: 6.30pm
Talk: 7.00-8.00 pm
Venue: The Council Room, The Geological Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, LONDON W1J 0BG

(Entrance on Piccadilly, opposite Fortnum & Mason
+44 (0)20 7434 9944. W: www.geolsoc.org.uk)

Aimed at science communicators, writers, broadcasters and students this year’s briefings aim to provide an introduction or refresher to some of the basic skills that underpin the daily activities of a writer and broadcaster to help you develop your career.

Writing a popular science book can be a daunting challenge. Many journalists and communicators talk about wanting to write a popular science book; few manage to do so successfully.

We’ve found some that have. Joining us to share their expertise and anecdotes about how they wrote their successful science books are:

Gabrielle Walker

Gabrielle Walker is an author and broadcaster specialising in environmental science. She has a PhD from Cambridge University and has been visiting professor at Princeton University, Associate Editor at Nature, and Features Editor at New Scientist. She is a frequent presenter for BBC radio, and writes for many newspapers and magazines. She has written three popular science books: ‘Snowball Earth’ (2003), ‘An Ocean of Air’ (2007) and The Hot Topic (January 2008, co-written with Sir David King). She is currently working on her fourth book, which will be about Antarctica

Peter Tallack

Peter Tallack studied Genetics with Steve Jones at University College London, before working for nearly ten years on the editorial staff of NATURE, where he was, among other things, book review editor. He left to become Science Publishing Director of Weidenfeld and Nicolson, and, more recently, a partner of the London-based literary agency Conville & Walsh Ltd, where he specializes in popular science. Peter is also the author of IN THE WOMB (National Geographic, 2006) and the editor of and contributor to THE SCIENCE BOOK (Cassell, 2000).

Richard Hollingham

Richard Hollingham is a BBC current affairs presenter, author and writer, specialising in science and environment. He has filed stories from more than 40 countries including Antarctica (twice), Libya and Vietnam. He presents the BBC World Service environment programme One Planet and regular series on the network including Science Hotspots and Discovery. Richard is a former senior producer on the BBC’s flagship news programme, Today, and was its first dedicated science producer. Together with his wife, Sue Nelson, also a successful journalist, they wrote How to Clone the Perfect Blonde.



We hope to see you there.
Please RSVP by email to: briefings@absw.org.uk

London's WCSJ web site

It was only while browsing the web site of the World Federation of Science Journalists that we discovered that someone has quietly assembled a site for the 6th World Conference of Science Journalists. It isn't just a marker in the sand either, there is some real detail there of the aspirations for the programme.

We'll have to add a link to the ABSW's various web sites. Then we can ask them to put all link back to use on the page about the ABSW.

Only two years to go before the big event. Start preparing now! Especially if you can sponsor the event in some way.

Ugandan Agenda

Our Uganda twin association, the Ugandan Science Journalists' Association, has developed an agenda for action over the coming year. William Odinga, the Association Chair, would value anyone's comments! He writes:

Dear Twin, these are the ideas we are grappling with (at least to take USJA through the coming year). I am sharing them with anybody who cares to listen:

1. A retreat to develop the USJA constitution: A small group of journalists and scientists, plus a facilitator (a lawyer) should see to the success of this. This should take place in December 2007.

2. A secondary schools science challenge (read "quiz") on TV for January - June, 2008. It will run one hour a week. We have the technical capacity to make it both educative and entertaining. If the show becomes popular, we carry on with it even after June.

3. Four science journalism training workshops per quarter, starting early 2008. We have divided our target group into four regions (Central, North, East and West). Each region will have a workshop per quarter.

4. The Uganda National Conference for Science Communication (the first of its kind) in November 2008. Lessons learned from the 5th World Conference of Science Journalists and Barbie’s book on setting up science journalism associations. If it goes as I wish, this event shall take place every year preceding the WCSJ. During the 2008 conference we shall hold our Annual General Meeting and elect a new executive committee.

5. A science communication workshop for scientists facilitated by experienced science communicationists -- preferably our counterparts from developed countries. Emphasis is to be put on how scientists can enhance their communication skills.

Item No.1 is the most urgent as it establishes the association (recruitment of members depends a lot on that).

Please join us in developing the concepts for the items mentioned above. We have started making local alliances and hopefully they will pay off to a substantial degree.

William Odinga

Syngenta's final fling for the ABSW Science Writers' Awards

A good time was had by all who attended the Syngenta ABSW Science Writers' Awards, the last year of the company's sponsorship of the event. Check the web site not just for the details of who picked up this year's prestigious awards, including the new awards for "The best writing on a healthcare bioscience subject." but for pictures of all the schmoozing and boozing.

Want to join the fun? Start filing away stuff for next year's competition. Or you could, if you can afford it, become a sponsor.