Lyne's question is a bit vague, since scientific writing can cover a variety
of topics, from technical documents for the stuffiest of journals to
explaining what we are doing to the general public. Since Malcolm (sorry, I
mean malcolm) has brought up Medawar, I might point out that many great
scientists have excelled in writing material that does not conform to
journal standards. My favourite is Richard Feynman, whose books are a
delight to read whether for a popular audience (e.g., "Surely You're Joking,
Mr Feynman!") or his electromagnetics textbooks. His lectures are superb as
well. Even the scientific work for which he won the Nobel Prize is a riot,
he basically reduced quantum field theory to a comic strip full of simple
diagrams.
George Gamow probably went as far as anyone in making complex science
understandable in his classic "Mr. Thompkins in Wonderland". And of course
E. O. Wilson is well-known for books which are scinetific but not technical.
Actually good scientific writing goes back many centuries. Newton begain his
propositions in the Principia with "Dico" ("I say") and continued in a
forthright style. Galileo's "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World
Systems" is presented, as the title implies, as a series of dialogues, quite
easy to read. Of course with both Newton and Galileo it helps to know Latin!
The underlying issue is whether to write well or to write scientifically.
The two should be the same, but for some journals they are not. You really
cannot detach the issue of writing well from identifying the target audience
and where the work will be published.
Bill Silvert
----- Original Message -----
From: "malcolm McCallum" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: sexta-feira, 5 de Março de 2010 13:39
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Suggestions of books on scientific writing?
Although the entire book is not on writing, there are areas that are about
the importance of writing, it also is stacked full of good advice from a
Nobel laureate's point of view. I found it very useful to read before I
entered my doctorate and I can tell you that having followed it closely, his
advice worked for me. Its a short read.
Medawar, P.B. 1976. Advice for a young scientist...
