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April 29th, 2013

Talking about science online at #sciodc

This Wednesday, May 1, ScienceOnlineDC will be holding its inaugural event.

ScienceOnlineDC is one of several local satellites of ScienceOnline, a nonprofit organization that facilitates conversations, community, and collaborations at the intersection of science and the Web. Our goal is to bring together science journalists, bloggers, federal and private research scientists, policymakers, and other science enthusiasts in the DC metro area for dynamic discussions about how science is carried out and communicated online. My co-organizers are Geoffrey Hunt of the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow Jamie Vernon, and Hannah Waters of the Smithsonian Institution.

Our first event will focus on federal agencies’ social media policies – how does government transparency influence the social media activities of scientists and communications staff? Here’s the panelist lineup:

Jamie Vernon, moderator

Gretchen Goldman, analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists (check out her post about Wednesday’s event)

Megan McVey, communications coordinator, United States Global Change Research Program

Sarah Dewitt, communications officer, NASA, Office of the Chief Scientist

John Ohab, public affairs specialist, Naval Research Laboratory

One of the hallmarks of ScienceOnline events is the unconference format. Sure, we’ve rounded up some experts to put in the front of the room, but most of the conversation will be driven by the attendees, both in person and online. Even if you can’t be there in person, chime in via the livestream and twitter (#sciodc). Should be a great discussion.

Of course, you may be wondering why I’m pitching this event to an audience of chemists, most of whom are not in the DC area. I’ll tell you why. Because it’s important for chemists to be involved in these conversations. Because many of you are already having such conversations on twitter and each other’s blogs. And some of those conversations include pondering who could be the chemist version of Neil deGrasse Tyson. But chemistry doesn’t need one deGrasse Tyson; it needs several. So, let’s move those discussions out of the chemistry inner circle and into Science, writ large. Chemistry is the central science, after all.

And you can start by attending any gathering with other people in your community who are interested in how science is communicated. As I said earlier, ScienceOnlineDC is only one of several satellites. Others with regular events include Seattle, Vancouver, and the Bay Area. There are SpotOn events in London and New York. Attend a local #SciTweetUp or Science Cafe. Or participate in the livestreams and twitter conversations that often accompany these events.

And if you are in DC on Wednesday, c’mon by. We’d love to have you.

UPDATE, 5/6: Doh! How could I leave out ScienceOnlineBeantown???

By Rachel Pepling • Posted in Events, Uncategorized • Comments Off
April 26th, 2013

This Week on CENtral Science: Cinnamon #Chemophobia, #SheriSangji update and more

TWO tweets of the week to make up for none on Monday:

To the network:

Cleantech Chemistry: Solar Boom in Japan, with Battery to Match

Grand CENtral: Guest Re-post: “In defense of chemphobia” by Andrew Bissette

Newscripts: Amusing News Aliquots and In Print: ACS Member Finds Success On ‘Jeopardy!’ And Millipedes Light Up and 19th-Century Medicine In New Orleans

Terra Sigillata: The Cinnamon Challenge: On Being Charged with #Chemophobia

The Safety Zone: Preliminary hearing for Patrick Harran in #SheriSangji case: Motion to dismiss or reduce the charges and CSB releases interim report on Chevron refinery fire

The Watch Glass: Celebrating DNA’s 60th and 21st birthdays, the state of marine drug research in 1972, long-term health effects of chemical tests on Army soldiers (1983), and Earth Day back in 1970

By Rachel Pepling • Posted in Uncategorized • Comments Off
April 22nd, 2013

Last week on CENtral Science: #ChemMovieCarnival, #ChemSafety, and #ChemEd

Doh! Apologies for not sending the weekly roundup out on its usual Friday afternoon. Adding insult to injury, there’s no tweet of the week. I’ll try to get a double-helping for you on Friday.

To the network:

Just Another Electron Pusher: #ChemMovieCarnival – The Absent-Minded Professor

Newscripts: Chemistry of the Bar: Amaretto 101 and #ChemMovieCarnival: Dramatic Acid-Base Chemistry in Fight Club and Amusing News Aliquots and In Print: Mosh Pit Simulator

Terra Sigillata: Why Chemistry Should Care About Humanities Higher Education

The Safety Zone: Friday chemical safety round up and Stony Brook chemistry incorporates lab safety into Research Day celebration and Ripped from the pages: DHS lagging on chemical security, CSB has offshore jurisdiction, and hydrofluoric acid concerns

The Watch Glass: Talking about global warming in 1989, chemical forensics trace threat agents, pheromone lures control beetles, a book review of “African American Women Chemists,” and plutonium weighing helped open the atomic age

By Rachel Pepling • Posted in Weekly Round-up • Comments Off
April 12th, 2013

This Week on CENtral Science: @ChemistHulk, #acsnola drug structures, and more!

Tweet of the week:

I know, I know. There were a plethora of #ACSnola gems to choose from. But I wouldn’t want to make CHEMIST HULK angry…

To the network:

Newscripts: In Print: Science Models and CHEMIST HULK Smashes Questions, But Protects Identity and Amusing News Aliquots and Terrence Howard Isn’t A Doctor, He Just Plays One On TV

The Haystack: Liveblogging First-Time Disclosures of Drug Structures from #ACSNOLA

By Rachel Pepling • Posted in Uncategorized • Comments Off
April 5th, 2013

This Week on CENtral Science: #ACSNOLA picks, better beer foam, and more!

Tweet of the week:

I’m baaaaack! Many thanks to Carmen for both overlording in my absence and agreeing to co-overlord in my return. Today we’re mourning the loss of film critic Roger Ebert, but we’re also celebrating the birthday of Terra Sig owner and ubermensch, David Kroll!

To the network:

Artful Science: Gold gilding, ancient amber and a mysterious hidden sculpture: A new cultural heritage journal launches! and A brief hiatus: Onwards to Uzbekistan

Grand CENtral: C&EN Picks for ACS New Orleans #ACSNOLA

Just Another Electron Pusher: Why some women may choose not to enter STEM careers and ACS Webinar: Chemists at U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Newscripts: GZA Drops Verse (And Science) On The Schools and In Print: Chemistry Labs Sound Like Music and Four Tips for Getting the Best Beer Foam and Amusing News Aliquots

The Haystack: Liveblogging First-Time Disclosures of Drug Structures from #ACSNOLA (bookmark this link for next week)

The Safety Zone: Chemical and laboratory safety at #ACSNOLA

The Watchglass: Macromolecules at will and 1980 employment outlook and a glass bulb demonstrates critical opalescence and the state of inorganic chemistry back in ’79

By Rachel Pepling • Posted in Uncategorized • Comments Off
December 7th, 2012

This Week on CENtral Science: cheap ethanol and Gangnam-style chemistry

It’s been a quiet week here on the network, but here’s what has happened on CENtral Science:

Cleantech Chemistry: Fulcrum Promises 75 Cent Ethanol

Grand CENtral: Talkin’ About Climate Science

Newscripts: Chemistry, Gangnam Style (it was only a matter of time) and Amusing News Aliquots

On a side note, this will be my last stint with the roundup for a while, as I’m due to go out on maternity leave, oh, any day now. In my stead, the fabulous Carmen Drahl will take over the helm of Grand CENtral and keep you informed of happenings on CENtral Science.

Cheers!

By Rachel Pepling • Posted in Uncategorized • Comments Off
December 3rd, 2012

Talkin’ About Climate Science

Over on Reactions, a blog run by the ACS Undergraduate Programs office, grad student Parker McCrary has a pretty extensive Q&A with ACS President Bassam Shakhashiri about the newly launched ACS Climate Science Toolkit.

Shakhashiri also has an essay about the toolkit in today’s issue of C&EN. In both the blog post and the ACS Comment, Shakhashiri explains that the toolkit is intended as a resource for all ACS members to help them provide a basic understanding of climate science to members of the public.

The Toolkit is out just in time for the UN Climate Change Conference that’s in full swing at Doha, Qatar.

By Rachel Pepling • Posted in Uncategorized • Comments Off
November 30th, 2012

This Week on CENtral Science: #SheriSangji prelim hearings, Holiday gift guide, chemical-free food, biofuels bonanza

It’s another two-week recapper. The Thanksgiving starch overload did me in last week, as did all of the fabulous #foodchem carnival entries. Here’s what else happened on CENtral Science:

Cleantech Chemistry: Fast Food Fight Over Biofuels, Energy Crops: the sweet and the sour, and Advanced Biofuels Makers Thankful for RFS

Newscripts: Amusing News Aliquots and the infamous 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Terra Sigillata: Criminal Poisoning Arrest at a Hometown Chemical Company, “Food That Doesn’t Contain Any Chemicals” – Guardian Science, and Video: Why Do Leaves Change Color?

The Safety Zone: Recaps of Days 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Patrick Harran’s preliminary hearing in the Sheri Sangji case

By Rachel Pepling • Posted in Uncategorized • Comments Off
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