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Introducing: Alison Schumacher

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


This is a series of Q&As with new, young and up-and-coming science, health and environmental writers and reporters. They - at least some of them - have recently hatched in the Incubators (science writing programs at schools of journalism), have even more recently fledged (graduated), and are now making their mark as wonderful new voices explaining science to the public.

Today we introduce you to Alison Schumacher (Mind The Science Gap articles).

Hello, welcome to The SA Incubator. Let’s start from the beginning: where are you originally from?


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I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. Go Blue!

How did you get into science and how did you get into writing? And how did these two trajectories fuse into becoming a science writer?

I wouldn't call myself a science writer, per se. I just wrapped up my Master’s degree in public health, with a particular focus in health communication. I’ve always been interested in health, and how we, as professionals, can better communicate health problems to the public. My undergraduate studies were focused in medical anthropology, where I learned about differences in how individuals and communities understand disease and health, and how those differences impact health outcomes. Since then, I’ve been passionate about describing health issues and solutions to populations in a way that is relevant and personal to them.

This past semester, I was presented with the opportunity to enroll in a course at the University of Michigan School of Public Health (mentioned in a previous post by my colleague Michael Grisafe) that provides students the opportunity to post weekly blog posts on any health or science topic of their choice. I have always enjoyed writing, and was excited to have to opportunity to consistently practice and receive feedback on my ability to describe different health topics to a real audience.

Why did you decide to try breaking into the science writing business without attending a specialized science writing program?

Although I didn’t attend a program specifically geared toward scientific writing, the department of Health Behavior and Health Education at UM School of Public Health offers a specialization in health communication. Through my coursework I was able to develop skills in message design, audience profiling, message tailoring, and health education material development. Course projects allowed me to develop health education programs, PSAs, brochures, posters, and more, and each project provided insight into how to produce final products that are comprehensible, relevant, and important to the target audience.

Apart from writing, do you also do other aspects of science communication, e.g., podcasts, video, art/illustration, photography, infographics, or do you do any coding, web design and programming?

I know the basics in technology (I’ve made videos and websites), but my expertise is limited. I am, however, very interested in and excited about all the possible avenues for communication. Advances in technology are allowing more tailored, and personal health communication programs to be developed and disseminated and I hope to get into the mix at some point in my career. I’m all about creative ways to inspire health- related behavior change, and welcome any and all methods to reach out to potential audiences.

How do you see the current and future science media ecosystem, how it differs from the past, and what role will new, young science communicators like yourself play in building it and making it the best it can be?

The number of possibilities for science communication is huge and growing! The public is constantly battered with health messages—don’t do this, don’t eat this, get 60 minutes of physical activity a day, get tested, etc—and sometimes it’s hard to know what to pay attention to and what to ignore. I think as young professionals the best thing we can bring to the field is passion. I believe that passion about a particular issue or topic comes through in good writing. So, in order to make a statement amongst a sea of health messages and campaigns that passion must stand out! Through my master’s education I have met countless individuals with wonderful enthusiasm for the field and new ideas for how to promote health in the United States and abroad. I believe that through this enthusiasm and ingenuity we will certainly help to make the science media ecosystem the best it can be.

Thank you!

Thanks so much!

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Previously in this series:

Kristina Ashley Bjoran

Emily Eggleston

Erin Podolak

Rachel Nuwer

Hannah Krakauer

Rose Eveleth

Nadia Drake

Kelly Izlar

Jack Scanlan

Francie Diep

Maggie Pingolt

Jessica Gross

Abby McBride

Natalie Wolchover

Jordan Gaines

Audrey Quinn

Douglas Main

Smitha Mundasad

Mary Beth Griggs

Shara Yurkiewicz

Casey Rentz

Akshat Rathi

Kathleen Raven

Penny Sarchet

Amy Shira Teitel

Victoria Charlton

Noby Leong and Tristan O’Brien

Taylor Kubota

Benjamin Plackett

Laura Geggel

Daisy Yuhas

Miriam Kramer

Ashley Taylor

Kate Yandell

Justine Hausheer

Aatish Bhatia

Ashley Tucker

Jessica Men

Kelly Oakes

Lauren Fuge

Catherine Owsik

Marissa Fessenden

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato

Kelly Poe

Kate Shaw

Meghan Rosen

Jon Tennant

Ashley Braun

Suzi Gage

Michael Grisafe

Jonathan Chang