WRITING ABOUT

SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY

Ariel C. Lalisan
WHY WRITE ABOUT
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY?
 THE JOB OF THE S&T WRITER

Bridge scientific information from scientists to

the public
Simply scientific information for public
consumption
Make science interesting
Make science relatable
Inspire new scientists
 SAMPLE ABSTRACT
 Programmed death ligand 1 (PD -L1) is the principal ligand of
programmed death 1 (PD -1), a coinhibitor y receptor that can be
constitutively expressed or induced in myeloid, lymphoid, normal
epithelial cells and in cancer. Under physiological conditions, the PD -
1/PD-L1 interaction is essential in the development of immune
tolerance preventing excessive immune cell activity that can lead to
tissue destruction and autoimmunity. PD -L1 expression is an immune
evasion mechanism exploited by various malignancies and is generally
associated with poorer prognosis. PD -L1 expression is also suggested
as a predictive biomarker of response to anti -PD-1/PD-L1 therapies;
however, contradictor y evidence exists as to its role across histotypes.
Over the year s, anti -PD-1/PD-L1 agents have gained momentum as
novel anticancer therapeutics, by inducing durable tumour regression
in numerous malignancies including metastatic lung cancer, melanoma
and many other s. In this review, we discuss the immunobiology of PD-
L1 , with a par ticular focus on its clinical significance in malignancy.
 ANTIBIOTICS REDUCE SURVIVAL RATES IN
CANCER PATIENTS TAKING IMMUNOTHERAPY
 by Ryan O'Hare

Cancer patients on immunotherapy fare worse if they have

recently taken antibiotics, with their response and overall sur vival
rate ‘crashing’.
The findings come from a study of almost 200 cancer
patients in the UK taking a type of immunotherapy called
checkpoint inhibitors, part of the standard treatment pathway for
cancer patients on the NHS.
Researchers found that patients who received broad
spectrum antibiotics in the month leading up to starting the
treatment had significantly worse responses to immunotherapy.
 ANTIBIOTICS REDUCE SURVIVAL RATES IN
CANCER PATIENTS TAKING IMMUNOTHERAPY
Sarah Boseley Health editor
Taking antibiotics in the month before starting
immunotherapy dramatically reduces a cancer patient’s chances of
sur vival, according to a small but groundbreaking study.
Scientists at Imperial College London believe antibiotics
strip out helpful bacteria from the gut, which weakens the immune
system. This appears to make it less likely that immunotherapy
drugs will boost the body’s cancer -fighting capability.
In their study of nearly 200 cancer patients in two NHS
hospitals, the researchers found that those who had taken broad -
spectrum antibiotics for just a few days for common problems such
as chest infections survived for a median of two months after
immunotherapy, compared with 26 months for those who had not
been on antibiotics.
WHO CAN WRITE ABOUT S&T?

 Have understanding of the basic principles of any scientific

field, which can be developed by:
 Having a basic scientific education
 Reading books and magazines about science and technology
 Taking an interest in scientific and technological developments
 Establishing good contacts with experts who can help you with
information
 N E VE R W RI TE A S TORY U N T IL YO U U N DERSTAND A L L
T H E I N FORMATI ON YO U W I L L N E ED TO U S E

 Remember, you are the bridge between the scientists and the
readers or listeners. Where possible, you should explain the
facts and data in language your audience will understand.
 To do this, you will need to understand the scientific terms
yourself. Find out the simple meanings by asking the scientist
concerned, or your contacts or look it up in a dictionary.
 It is possible - and sometimes it is informative - to include
scientific terms in reports, as long as they are explained
immediately in words your audience can understand .
 EXAMPLES

Researchers in California say they have found

a new way of testing unborn babies for spina
bifida - a deformity of the spine which can
cause paralysis.
ALWAYS TRY TO WRITE YOUR STORIES
WITH A HUMAN ANGLE
 Remember the people who make the developments
and the people who will use them
DO NOT TAKE SIDES IN SCIENTIFIC
CONTROVERSIES

 Just report the arguments

USE CONCRETE IMAGES TO EXPLAIN
ABSTRACT IDEA

 People understand solid, concrete things which they

can feel, smell, see, touch, taste or hear.
 Because much of science is about ideas, where
possible you should explain the scientist's abstract
ideas in concrete words your ordinary readers or
listeners can understand.
 EXAMPLES

 Scientists in China have invented a sewing thread so

strong that it could take the weight of a fully -grown
elephant.
 Breeders in Papua New Guinea have produced a new
breed of super pig which can weigh up to 750 kg -
about the weight of a small car.
WRITE BRIGHTLY AND SIMPLY
 Your audience will not like long boring explanations.
This is especially true in radio, where the listeners
can quickly grow tired of concentrating on lots of
facts and figures. So you should develop a bright
style of writing.
DO NOT OVERLOAD WITH DATA
AND FIGURES
 Do not overload your stories with large numbers or lots of
figures. In many cases, especially at the start of a story,
you should round figures off to make them simpler to
understand. For example, 19,750 kilometres becomes
"almost 20,000 kilometres". This is especially important
in radio, where listeners do not have time to grasp
complicated numbers.
DO NOT SENSATIONALIZE
 To sensationalize means to state something in such
a strong and extreme way that it has an effect on
people's emotions.
 Bad journalists sensationalize stories because they
are more concerned with grabbing the attention of
their readers or listeners than with telling the news
accurately. There might be some truth in what they
write, but they exaggerate it to grab attention.
THINK OF THE BEST WAYS OF
ILLUSTRATING ANY STORY

 Try to provide illustrations which will bring your story

alive.
 Allow readers to create mental images through vivid
descriptions, narratives, and anecdotes
 In newspapers and on television, pictures or diagrams
can say very quickly what it might take you a thousand
words to describe.
WORKSHOP ASSIGNMENT

http://gg.gg/hivph2019