During more than 30 years in daily journalism, I realized how rarely science writers have an opportunity to experience scientific research. Science writers usually work in a virtual environment. We experience journals, teleconferences, webcasts, press conferences, briefings, telephone and email interviews while seldom having any contact with the people, the cultures, the mindsets, or the instrumentation.
My own breaks from that isolation were invaluable – and memorable. I joined scientists on three expeditions in Antarctica; on an ice station near the North Pole; a deep-sea drilling voyage off the coast of Japan; and several ancient Maya archaeological expeditions to the Central American rainforest.
So I’m delighted that the ACS Office of Communications is offering reporters a more convenient opportunity to experience one of the most important fields of science.
With nanotechnology affecting so many fields, reporters who cover chemistry, materials science, medicine, health, environment, and business are following the small science in a big way.
How many of you have actually set foot in a nanotech laboratory? Have you ever seen nanoparticles or nanodevices or the instruments used to create and investigate nanomaterials?
We’re offering reporters an opportunity to do all that with some of the world’s foremost nanotech researchers standing by to answer questions. We’re planning a nanotech tour for news media on September 12 in San Francisco. The tour is open to news media attending the ACS National Meeting September 10-14. We’ll also welcome other members of the media from the Bay Area.
We’ll join Paul Alivisatos, University of California-Berkeley, at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s new Molecular Foundry. Paul is a renowned nanotech pioneer who edits the premier scientific journal in the field, ACS’s Nano Letters. We’ll tour the Foundry and hear presentations by researchers. After a Q&A session, we’ll adjourn for beverages and other refreshments and a chance to chat informally about this exciting field of science. An email (m_woods@acs.org) or phone call (202-872-6293) will put your name on the sign-up sheet.
Due to space limitations, we’ll be able to host a limited number of reporters, so sign up early. An email (m_woods@acs.org) or phone call (202-872-6293) will put you on the guest list.
-- Michael Woods
