Reclaiming narratives: ScienceWrite blog series

The Royal Society is happy to introduce a new blog series highlighting the lives and achievements of extraordinary scientists from minoritised groups.

We are launching the series in Black History Month which this year has the theme of reclaiming narratives. Building on this theme, all the blogs have been written by alumni of the ScienceWrite programme, which supports aspiring science writers from minoritised backgrounds in the UK.

Supporting science writing is central to the Society’s mission of supporting outstanding scientists and championing science for the benefit of all humanity.

Since 1988, the Royal Society’s Science Book Prize has celebrated outstanding popular science writing and authors. Over the decades, the Prize has celebrated some notable winners including Bill Bryson, Stephen Hawking, Camilla Pang, and most recently Ed Yong in 2023. The 2024 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize winner will be announced on 24 October 2024. 

The ScienceWrite scheme was founded by the engineer and author Roma Agrawal and science communicator and illustrator Hana Ayoob, and is proudly supported by the Royal Society. The scheme offers resources, mentorship, and opportunities to connect writers with industry experts, allowing participants to build skills and networks to propel their professional development. Science communication is an essential skill for researchers to share their findings with policymakers, educators or the general public – and ultimately inform decision making and inspire curiosity. 

Roma Agrawal, Co-Founder of ScienceWrite, said: “Good storytelling plays a hugely important role in allowing us to step beyond our day-to-day lives and experience worlds unknown to us – be it complex scientific discoveries about the universe or simply sharing stories of people and cultures that have helped shape our understanding of science throughout history. I’m delighted that the Royal Society is supporting the ScienceWrite initiative by allowing a new cohort of recently trained writers the opportunity to showcase their work.”

Many of the ScienceWrite alumni are scientists themselves, and they come from a wide range of backgrounds, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences that enrich and inform the stories they are telling. 

The voices and contributions of scientists from underrepresented groups have often been overlooked. This blog series looks to help address this by offering an insight into the life and work of scientists from underrepresented groups, many of whom have faced, and continue to face, challenges related to race, ethnicity, disability, and other intersecting identities. 

ScienceWrite Author, Dr Yemisi Bokinni, said: "I got into science writing because I wanted to share important discoveries and stories that bridge science and everyday life. And now, to have the opportunity to showcase the work of inspiring scientists for Black History Month with the support of the Society is a huge honour. I hope readers enjoy the series."

The series will run from October to December 2024, coinciding with Black History Month and Disability History Month, with new stories published each week. We invite you to follow along as we introduce you to these inspiring figures and the talented ScienceWrite alumni who are bringing their stories to life.

Applications for the next ScienceWrite cohort are now open. We encourage aspiring writers to explore the ScienceWrite website where you can find more information and apply.