You should be able to write in clear, concise and accurate language that can be understood by the general public.
A scientist can either start writing immediately upon graduation, or can move into the industry after several years of scientific research.
Travel during the working day is common.
Jobs are available in cities throughout the UK. Jobs in science communication are generally on the rise - fewer science journalism roles are on offer, however. Add to favourites Science writers cover fields which are undergoing rapid advances and changes, giving them the chance to report on exciting and ground-breaking developments As a science writer you'll research, write and edit scientific news, articles and features, for business, trade and professional publications, specialist scientific and technical journals, and the general media.
Most science writers have a science degree and sometimes even a postgraduate science qualification. These courses aim to help those from a science-based background distil complex information to a level that the general public can understand.
Most outlets have standard fees, including set amounts for small articles and per-word prices for longer articles. Alternatively, if you're a trained journalist or reporter you can specialise in science writing. Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Entering the journalism industry can be done in a number of ways - you could take an undergraduate degree in journalism, or complete a degree in a different subject then study for a postgraduate qualification in journalism.
Ideally, we would like contributors who can write several articles per week but are open to working with talented writers who as well. It's important to research which topics are covered on each programme you consider, what graduates of the programme go on to do and if any work experience and networking opportunities are incorporated, as course structure will vary between institutions.
Note: Because of the volume of applications we receive, we aren't able to personally follow up with everyone, but we will be in touch within 48 hours if it seems like there's a good potential match.