Geoscience Jobs in Communications

UNAVCO Geoscience Career Spotlight: Laura Snider, Science Writer

Journalism. Film making. Photography. Illustration. Radio. Social Media. Science communication is all about finding creative, engaging ways to share the exciting work that scientists do with the public.

Laura Snider, Science Writer at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, says "If you can write, or film, or illustrate science in a way that people can understand and you can show that to [employers], then they'll want you to work for them." Watch Laura's career profile to learn about her career path, the skills that are needed for success in science communication, and advice for transitioning into the communications world.

Ready to learn more? Follow the steps below to get started:

Read these articles for an overview of some science communication careers

Trading the Pipette for the Pen: Transitioning from Science to Science Writing by Julia Rosen, The Open Notebook
How to get a job in science communication by Chandrika Nair, Naturejobs
How I switched from academia to science communication by Evguenia Alechine, Nature Career Column
To Beginning Writers by Carl Zimmer, columnist and author

Gain insight from geoscience communicators

Read stories in the On the Origin of Science Writers collection by The Open Notebook.

Find a writer in the National Association of Science Writers database. Select "Earth sciences" (or a related discipline) from the Expertise drop down menu and click apply to view a list of writers with links to their websites and contact information. Optionally filter by city or state to view writers near you. Reach out to experts to expand your network and learn more about their specialties in science communication.

Visit the Ask an Expert page to read Q&A format advice from geoscientists working in a variety of communications positions. Contact these experts to learn more about their jobs and expand your network.

Learn where geoscientists are employed

View example employers to learn about the types of organizations that hire geoscientists for communication roles.

Prepare to apply

Visit the Career Preparation page to learn how to prepare and apply for jobs in communications. This page includes a variety of excellent introductions to science writing and links to internship opportunities.

Search for jobs

View a list of job boards where geoscience jobs are commonly posted, plus advice for successful job searching with keywords.

About

GROW is a collection of career resources for undergraduate and graduate students in the geosciences, intended to help students identify and pursue career paths beyond academia.

Support

This project was supported by the National Science Foundation (Award #1911527) and our many contributors who generously volunteered their time and knowledge to assist our team.

Disclaimer

Any opinions, findings, and recommendations expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation nor of contributor employers.

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We welcome feedback from the geoscience community. Please contact us with your suggestions, including new career resources and Ask an Expert contacts.
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