I also thank the organizations
that have made my career, and this book, possible. My professional home for
some four decades has been the National Association of Science Writers, and my friends
in that organization have enriched both my professional and personal life. The
Council for the Advancement of Science Writing has also taught me much about
science and about communication through its New Horizons in Science Briefings.
For decades, that meeting has offered a savory intellectual smorgasbord of
exciting science and deep insights. I also owe deep thanks to the staffs of two
of the nation's leading science organizations—the American Association for the
Advancement of Science and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society—for their
professional and personal comradeship. Their dedication to fostering
communication among researchers is critical to the country's scientific and
technological excellence. And, I have benefitted from working with the public
affairs professionals in the leading federal research agencies—NASA, the
National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. Their
skills and dedication have offered invaluable lessons in how to inform the
public about the discoveries made possible by public research support. I also
owe a great deal to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, for which I've long
had the pleasure of writing. HHMI has provided particular inspiration because
of its commitment to supporting not only research excellence but also
excellence in communicating that research.
I should emphasize that, while I
have drawn on the experiences and insights of all these scientists,
journalists, PIOs, and institutions, this book reflects my own perspective on
research communication, and any errors are entirely my own. I welcome
corrections and insights that will make this book better.
Finally, I offer my deep
gratitude to my wife, Joni, who has offered crucial support and unfailing
enthusiasm, propping me up when mine faltered.
