Scientific studies are regularly published in various scientific journals. Science journalists who have contacted the journal and registered have prior access to them under an embargo that they undertake to respect. This is an advantageous system, but it is not without its critics.
Not all studies are revolutionary and not all researchers are free of conflicts of interest. This Decalogue of common mistakes aims to help you write about science with rigour and, above all, putting the public first.
Having a PhD is not synonymous with omniscience or infallibility. The fields of science are very small and scientists do not know everything, even about their general area. This guide aims to help identify reliable sources away from the noisiest social media profiles.
"At present, it is not possible to know exactly when and how a volcano may erupt," explains the National Geological Institute (IGN). In other words: it pays to be prepared. Even if you are a journalist. These resources make it easier.
Volcanic monitoring in the Canary Islands must be constant. Not only because the archipelago is "one of the most interesting active volcanic regions on the planet", according to the IGN, but above all because "volcanism in the Canary Islands poses a potential risk to some two million people" who live on the islands or visit them as tourists.
The monographs of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) cause controversy in the public debate when they analyze topics such as meat and cell phone radiation. Interpreting their work rigorously is not easy: in this guide we try to help contextualize their studies.
Every day, all over the world, hundreds of press releases about scientific studies travel from the communication offices of research centres to the computers of journalists. Their mission is to attract the attention of their recipients and eventually get their stories published by the media. Here are some tips on this process.
Arriving at an interview without nerves helps to convey messages clearly and, if the topic calls for it, with some emotion. Communication is human: the warmer it is, the more powerful. It is worth taking a moment to prepare.
More and more scientists are becoming aware of the need to improve the relationship between the public and science, and of the fact that contributing to improving the scientific culture of society is for the good of all of us. The popularisation of science is experiencing a magnificent golden age. It is, however, a different activity from science journalism. Here we explain why.