Do you like writing? Do you dislike writing? Do you wish you could improve your writing? Come hear from a former neuroscientist who pivoted after grad school to science communications and discover her top resources to help you write better.

Everyone can benefit from learning how to communicate more clearly, especially in writing. Good writing is clear thinking. Freelance scientific editor Ellen Kuwana will provide insight into what a career in science writing looks like and how to get there.

Participants will learn:

• Common pathways to a career in science communications
• The range of careers
• How to get clips (your first published article)
• Ways to improve your writing
• Professional science communication organizations
• Tools and resources for guidance on language (e.g., style guidelines)

This information will better position you to explore science writing, get your first assignment, and know where to network and find mentoring.

WATCH THE RECORDING (You must be an AWIS member. Join today or contact [email protected] for group screening information.)

Meet the Speaker

Ellen Kuwana is a trained scientist (MS in neuroscience from the University of California San Francisco) with more than 10 years of basic, clinical, and translational research experience. Her areas of subject matter expertise include neuroscience, molecular biology, cancer biology, and bioethics. She worked at the University of Washington for 14 years and Seattle Children’s bioethics center for 6 years.

She has edited more than 400 scientific articles and dozens of successful grant applications (Ro1, R34, K08, P50, STTR/SBIR). She has worked with English as a second language (ESL) authors. She is an expert in plain language, appropriate reading levels, and inclusive language.

She is President of the Northwest Science Writers Association, host of a twice-monthly coffee chat for freelancers for the National Association of Science Writers, and VP of the Congress of Regional Science Writers Groups.

Ellen founded WeGotThisSeattle, a COVID-19 emergency relief project, and has fed more than 56,000 frontline and essential workers since March 13, 2020. She has fundraised more than $125,000 and has helped keep more than 150 Seattle restaurants in business. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Seattle Times, Seattle Met Magazine, CBS This Morning, Mother Jones, High Country News, and has been drawn by David Horsey as one of 2020’s local heroes.