Before I Die...

I know I promised a post on medical writing and it is on it's way, but I might have the opportunity to pop to a company to check out what they actually do in person, so I'm waiting until I've been there before I give you the low down.

Meanwhile...

I was strolling down Borough High Street during my lunch break last week (a heady mix of students, foodies and busy people) when I saw that they've installed the chalk board below. The idea is that the general public add their own take on the starter 'Before I Die...' Whilst I thought it was quite cool and more than a little bit beautiful in a 'ten-year-olds-left-with-the-blackboard-whilst-teacher-leaves-the-room' way, I also (without looking for it) came across the musings on the below right. 
                  
                    'I want to be a scientist'. It takes all sorts, I suppose. 

 

In other news...

Nature Blogs
Nature continues to provide a number of helpful blogs that I've been perusing this week

One on Career Transitions is particularly interesting: It covers people who've had unusual career paths after science degrees and PhDs, as well as people who've had lucky breaks!

Here are some choice quotes/advice lifted from the articles...

From a Post-Doc..

'There is pressure from a variety of sources to work longer and harder.'
'Social dynamics in a lab have a huge impact on the quality and creativity of the work produced.'
'Call your mom (or other non-scientist relation). Try to explain your work. It is very good practice.'

From a Medical Writer
'...communicating science is just as important as doing it.'
'You never know what you might learn when you listen to voices very unlike your own.'

From a PR specialist
'...go the extra mile by doing internships and attending events. Apply for writing competitions, training days and fellowships. You have nothing to lose!'


How to get a job in scientific communication is effectively a summary of one of the talks given at the Naturejobs Career Expo recently, including advice from a senior press officer, a science correspondent, a public astronomer and the director of the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST).

and

The dos and don’ts of communicating with editors and reviewers

This introductory 'abstract' is followed by three posts on submission for publication including How to write a cover letter, How to write a rebuttal letter and How to write an appeal letter

Miscellaneous from t'internet...

#IAMSCIENCE a twitter page dedicated to unusual career paths in science

This is what a scientist looks like a Tumblr page centred on scientists who work away from the bench

#Jobinaweek Top tips and advice for jobseekers

Eat my science Fellow blogger Andy Swale (btw, I don't know him, so this isn't a 'plug') writes about his experiences as he moves from bench to scientific communication

On Twitter...

@LauraWheelers - regular 'tweeter' on all things SciComm (Communities Co-ordinator at NPG)
@LaurieWinkless - Physicist tweeter, lots of SciComm stuff...


For some Australian inspiration

Baz Luhrmann puts some good advice with some good music. Urban Myth spoiler - this is NOT a real graduation speech,

This is...Tim Minchin's - 9 Life Lessons (I don't know why this clip is titled in Spanish, it's in English. I promise)


I'll be back soon with some Medical Writing stuff and summarising the variety of careers that are open to science PhDs using material I've picked up these last few weeks.