San Diego is a hub for science stories. This year, our community worked hard to convey the importance of vital research in the midst of declining federal funding.
The San Diego Science Writers Association (SANDSWA) recently asked members to nominate their favorite pieces of local science communications published this year. We are proud to showcase those science stories on our list of 2025 SciComm Highlights:
Feature stories:
‘We’re Not a Line Item’—A Patient’s Plea to Protect Research Funding
Article by Miles Martin and video by Kyle Dykes / UC San Diego Today
From the nominator: “This piece is part of UC San Diego’s ‘Behind Every Breakthrough’ initiative, focusing on the vital importance of research in the face of extraordinary cuts to federal research funding. By focusing on one cancer patient’s experience, the authors bring attention to the power of cancer clinical trials to save lives and improve treatments.”
San Diego Mesa College Research Interns Spread Their Wings in UC San Diego Labs
By Susanne Clara Bard / UC San Diego Today
From the nominator: “This four-part story demonstrates the importance of mentorship between biomedical researchers at a large university and community college students. The three stories linked to the main article profile these students, humanizing their extraordinary journeys to become budding researchers in the health science and pursue careers in medicine and public health.”
By Lynne Friedman / CultureVulture
From the nominator: “A unique perspective and slice of life with a leading figure in science and conservation.”
How the Nurses’ Health Study Transformed What We Know About Public Health
By Anna McTigue / Bench Press
From the nominator: “A strong piece that conveys how passionate scientists drive research forward. Anna interviewed several of the principal investigators of the Nurses’ Health Study — an iconic and longstanding study that has transformed so much of what we know about public health (and women’s health specifically), from diet to cancer to neurodegenerative disease.”
Served on Ice: Polar bears support the entire Arctic food web
Sara Maher / San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
From the nominator: “A great article for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance that weaves together the basics of polar bear biology with new findings showing how polar bears contribute to the food web of the arctic.”
News writing:
Scripps researchers discover what lies within mysterious haloed barrels on the seafloor
Maura Fox / The San Diego Union Tribune
From the nominator: “A weird and slightly spooky story about deep sea science and a mysterious source of pollution.”
Magazine writing:
The Quiet Evolution: How Basic Science Transforms Lives
By Josh Baxt / University of Miami Medicine
From the nominator: “This story dives into the importance of fundamental discovery research. Josh conveys both the urgency of medical research and the patience and determination it takes to bring a discovery from the lab to the clinic.”
Press releases:
Peptide Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Plant Flattery
By Isabella Davis / Salk
From the nominator: “A really great example of how to structure a press release and how to explain technical concepts to a non-technical audience.”
Did Lead Limit Brain and Language Development in Neanderthals and Other Extinct Hominids?
By Susanne Clara Bard / UC San Diego
From the nominator: “In addition to being a solid piece of science writing in itself, this press release also garnered substantial international news coverage. Further, Clara personally advocated behind the scenes to get this research into her team’s editorial calendar to begin with.”
Muscle’s master regulator moonlights as gene silencer
By Greg Calhoun / Sanford Burnham Prebys
From the nominator: “The alliterative headline sets the tone for a press release that mixes a light, lay-friendly tone with very precise scientific language. A great example of how to use analogies and even pop culture references to illustrate technical concepts.”
ALS appears to be an autoimmune disease
By Madeline McCurry-Schmidt / La Jolla Institute for Immunology
From the nominator: “A wonderful story that highlights a major scientific breakthrough led by San Diego scientists.”
Thank you to all who submitted nominations for SANDSWA’s 2025 SciComm Highlights!
Want to check out more great local science writing? Join SANDSWA or renew your membership for 2026 to receive our monthly newsletter, access to our jobs board, and info on fun and fascinating SANDSWA events!
SANDSWA 