I don’t know how many of you like to blog about science, but here are some tips. Writing a blog post on a scientific subject is a little different than most other types of posts. You do have to state true facts, but yet you don’t want your post to sound like a formal journal article. It can sometimes be challenging to strike a balance between fact and observation, but you do want to strive to offer your own insights when possible.
Here are a few tips:
- You should try to give your own opinion on the subject when possible.
- Take a look at the research from multiple sources; preferably at least a few from the primary literature.
- Try to have something original to say about the subject, such as your own thoughts and observations. Perhaps you have found conflicting information or discrepancies? Perhaps you have observed a trend or pattern that hasn’t been mentioned? There is nothing wrong with throwing it out there!
- Aim to present and explain the research as clearly as possible.
- The post should not be too long, and certainly not the length of a journal article.
- Try to stay way from stating facts only. Just summarize the facts, then expand on them, and offer your opinion.
- Try to keep the language a bit on the informal side (but not too informal).
- Give all links and other references used in the post.
- If a picture helps readers understand a point, certainly use one, but try to keep it related.
Feel free to comment if you see anything missing, and I will add your comment to the list!
Tagged: primary literature, science blogging