SANDSWA

April 20, 2021May 6, 2021

SANDSWA Racial Justice Statement

The board of the San Diego Science Writers Association (SANDSWA) condemns violence and racism, and we are angered by the increase in hate crimes across our country targeting communities of color.

In the past year, there have been 3,800 reported anti-Asian racist incidents — only a fraction of the incidents that actually occur due to underreporting — and women comprised 68% of those reports. On March 16, mass shootings at three different businesses in the Atlanta, Georgia area left eight people dead, six of whom were women of Asian descent. These women were Hyun Jung Grant, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park and Yong Ae Yue. Delaina Ashley Yaun and Paul Andre Michels were also killed in the attacks.

February 10, 2021February 10, 2021

3 Easy Ways to Find Diverse Sources for Your Stories (or Press Releases)

By Monica May

Many of us want to include more people who are underrepresented in science in our stories, but may not know where to begin.

To help this process become easier—and hopefully at some point second nature—SANDSWA’s Social Justice in Science Writing club recently read the Open Notebook piece “Finding Diverse Sources for Science Stories” and brainstormed ways to incorporate these ideas into our daily work.

February 9, 2021February 10, 2021

SANDSWA book club recap: The Perfect Predator by Steffanie Strathdee

By Deborah Bright

My husband found out he had cancer for the third time at the age of 25. I didn’t know him then, and I’ll be forever grateful to the team of doctors at the Mayo Clinic for saving his life. But even though he’s been cancer-free for five years now, he still wakes up with debilitating stomach pain most mornings. It’s left him unable to work and constantly searching for a sense of purpose. I often find myself wishing I could cure him. The Perfect Predator by Steffanie Strathdee inspired me to try.

December 8, 2020December 10, 2020

Transcending (Human) Nature: What Emerson Can Teach Us About Science Communication

By Tiffany Fox

Although it’s an unlikely source of guidance for science writers, Transcendentalist philosophy — made famous by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and other 19th century thinkers — is surprisingly relevant for anyone seeking to persuade readers to take an interest in the natural world.

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020

You’re Working from Home Now

I’ve been freelancing from my home office for around eight years, and I would be reluctant to trade back. I enjoy the freedom and flexibility. On the other hand, it wasn’t an easy transition. I missed having colleagues close by and sometimes had trouble budgeting my time. For those who are working from home for the first time, here are a few tips.

The Office
Take time to set up your office right. You may want to pick up a second monitor – I find it indispensable. But also spend some time (and money if you can) on good ergonomics and a comfy chair. You’re going to be there a lot.

You will also have to learn new skills. Maybe Zoom wasn’t your best talent. It is now. And nobody from IT is coming to your home to troubleshoot your network problems. If you’re trying something new, test it before the interview/meeting. There’s nothing worse than facing technical failure while you’re trying to do something important.

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