We won an award
Some of you may know that I write for another blog – Cancer Research UK’s Science Update blog – as part of my day job. There, I write about new cancer research together with my colleagues Kat and Henry. Tonight, we won a Science Communication award from the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) for our work on the blog, in the category of Online Research.
Blogging for an organisation is a very different ball-game to this – you have to still be readable and engaging while exercising a certain amount of restraint in order to maintain the charity’s reputation and tone of voice. Still, it’s a very rewarding experience and the judges tonight praised the blog’s chatty tone, excellent writing, direct engagement with supporters, and in particular, its myth-busting headline-correcting posts. We’re all really proud.
I rote for teh Grauniad
In other news, a couple of weeks ago, I was approached by the Guardian about the post I wrote on suicide attacks and religion. Andrew Brown, who edits the Belief section of the Comment is Free site liked the piece and asked me to respin it for the Guardian. It’s a great case-study of the mainstream media taking the blogosphere more seriously. I’ve seen few examples in the past of a blog post being converted into a piece for the MSM. Hopefully, it won’t be the last.
It may also interest readers here to compare the comments in the original post and the Guardian one. Quite frankly, this blog’s readers (that’ll you fine people) more clearly understood the study and and were generally better at keeping the discussion on topic. You all rock.
Buy OpenLab
And finally, OpenLab 2008 is finally available for sale! Jenny Rohn did a wonderful job in editing it and Dave Ng and Glendon Mellow have designed by far the most attractive cover yet. A worthwhile purchase for your bookshelf and if it’s any extra incentive, there’s a piece from this blog in it.
Related Topics
Go Further
Animals
- Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
- Animals
- Feature
Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them? - This biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the AndesThis biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the Andes
- An octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret worldAn octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret world
- Peace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thoughtPeace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thought
Environment
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
- Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security, Video Story
- Paid Content
Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security - Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?
History & Culture
- Strange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political dramaStrange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political drama
- How technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrollsHow technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrolls
- Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?
Science
- The unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and MounjaroThe unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and Mounjaro
- Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.
- Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of yearsJupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of years
- This 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its timeThis 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its time
Travel
- How to plan an epic summer trip to a national parkHow to plan an epic summer trip to a national park
- This town is the Alps' first European Capital of CultureThis town is the Alps' first European Capital of Culture
- This royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala LumpurThis royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur
- This author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomadsThis author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomads