Four years ago, I picked up this book while killing time at a bookstore between classes. It changed the course of my life: I discovered science writing.
Michael Pollan (who I had the pleasure of meeting last year, and he complimented my tattoo!!) is an excellent writer.
Michael Pollan (who I had the pleasure of meeting last year, and he complimented my tattoo!!) is an excellent writer.
After The Botany of Desire, I was hooked. I wanted as much popsci and nature writing as I could get my hands on.
I picked up this one next, and became enchanted with science and research through Hope Jahren's incredible memoir of the lab.
I picked up this one next, and became enchanted with science and research through Hope Jahren's incredible memoir of the lab.
After that, fully initiated in popsci, I stumbled onto Ed Yong's masterful exploration of microbes. It was so powerfully captivating that my curiosity for microbiology grew tenfold.
I started to seriously consider changing my major from English to micro. And then I met Ed Yong!
I started to seriously consider changing my major from English to micro. And then I met Ed Yong!
I knew for I wanted to write about science for the general public, but I also wanted to study science. I was scared to change my major.
Then I read Eileen Pollack's important memoir of sexism in science, and I knew: I had to commit. This was it.
I applied to OSU and got in.
Then I read Eileen Pollack's important memoir of sexism in science, and I knew: I had to commit. This was it.
I applied to OSU and got in.
Around the time I read Pollack's memoir, I also read Angela Saini's astounding investigation of sexist science.
Learning about the ways science was manipulated to justify women's inferiority was influential in my decision to start writing about feminism and problems in STEM.
Learning about the ways science was manipulated to justify women's inferiority was influential in my decision to start writing about feminism and problems in STEM.
It was around this time I started sharing my own experiences growing up in a home that censored science.
This led me to read Sagan's incredible book on science denial and literacy. And I think his book is more relevant and important than ever. Necessary reading for SciCommers!
This led me to read Sagan's incredible book on science denial and literacy. And I think his book is more relevant and important than ever. Necessary reading for SciCommers!
There you have it - a thread of my absolute favorite science books (but believe me, the list is growing all the time).
I am a firm believer that books are our key to the world. That's why I themed this week "Science Literacy: Your Guide to the Universe".
I am a firm believer that books are our key to the world. That's why I themed this week "Science Literacy: Your Guide to the Universe".
I hope you can see how these books influenced me on my path into SciComm. But, importantly, books like these are well-written, easy to read, and accessible. They're for everyone. And because I believe science is for everyone, I encourage people to #ReadMoreScience.
