GAMBIER — The Scientific Kenyon journal, now in its eighth year, is a unique opportunity for advanced neuroscience students to not only write academic papers but also reach a broader audience.
The journal is the brainchild of Hewlet McFarlane, professor of neuroscience, and the idea stems from a basic truth: “You have to be able to communicate why your science is important,” he said.
“As scientists, we really have to talk to the public,” McFarlane said. “It is the obligation of scientists to communicate in a way that everyone understands.”
The senior seminar students must write a National Science Foundation grant proposal and a Scientific American-style article explaining science to a general audience.
The articles are typically 3,500 words long. The production team of students also includes a small team of library staff who help with copy editing, fact checking, and layout.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the project, according to McFarlane, has been the opportunity to learn how to better communicate science without resorting to jargon and overly technical language.
For Dani Buch ’24, the project has been a turning point in her decision to study neuroscience.
“It’s like my baby,” Buch said. “It’s really cool to be a part of it and experience seeing all of these articles transition into something real for the public.”
The magazine is a publication opportunity for the students’ original work and also provides a platform for the students to showcase their skills and expertise in science communication.
“Writing is really important for all aspects of life,” McFarlane said. “It doesn’t matter what career path you think you’re on. At some point, you have to convert the thoughts and ideas in your head to words on a page or a website or whatever your medium is so that others can understand you.
“We take it very seriously in the science division,” he continued. “One cannot be successful in science without developing good writing skills.”
Source Media Properties used an experimental artificial intelligence tool to locate the source data and develop the first draft of this article. A professional editor reviewed the accuracy and writing before publishing.