Curious Science Writers

Last year TISB Grade 11 student, Manya, applied for a summer internship with the Curious Science Writers to further her interest in science writing. Manya went through the selection process of filling out forms, an interview and an on-the-spot writing task, and finally made it to the batch of 2020. We got in touch with Manya, to find out more about her passion for science writing and the Curious Science Writers 

Science writing is extremely important because scientific discoveries are related to the day-to-day problems we face. If these solutions do not reach the general public, then it completely undermines the role of these discoveries – Manya, Grade 11

Curious Science Writers is an extracurricular programme, training curious and creative high school students to bring otherwise complex science to the general public through the power of story. The program consisted of a week of training in scientific writing, conducted by professors from all over the world, followed by a month of researching on a specific topic and writing an article. “Mine was how fire ant venom can be a remedy for psoriasis”, explains Manya who had a mentor who accompanied her on her journey. Manya’s mentor, Alisa Machalek, is Science Communicator at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and the team leader of the Science Communication and Outreach branch. She and other professors and scientists, who have been involved in scientific breakthroughs, were in contact with Manya throughout the program period, helping her improve her writing.

The program is based in America, but due to the pandemic, students living abroad were able to participate because the program had shifted online. Manya decided to take part in the program because of her passion for science and because she thought it would give her a better ability and understanding of how to express scientific findings in a more precise manner and help her become a better writer in general. “Because scientific writing is such an important genre of article writing, I think this will help me reach many people and help them understand what scientists do and why is it important to the public”, says Manya who is thrilled to have gotten her article accepted for the August 2021 issue. It will be published on Curious Science Writers website, as well as social media channels and circulated to the programs database with contacts.

To find out more about the program, visit the Curious Science Writers website.