Creative science writing

This weekend the Royal Society announced the winners of the New Zealand Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing.

There are two categories, fiction and non-fiction, and this year entrants were asked to write about chemistry and our world. This is to commemorate the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Marie Curie in 1911 and to celebrate a hundred years of the contribution of chemistry to the well-being of humanity.

Radium – A Love Story

Both winning writers are chemists and have PhDs. Dr Bridget Stocker, who works at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington, wrote the winning fiction piece, Radium – A Love Story. (pdf link) It’s about Marie Curie and told from her point of view.

Stocker says:

“I felt compelled to write this story given that I’d taken part in the Marie Curie lecture series by the Royal Society of New Zealand, and then been featured on the cover of a chemistry magazine celebrating the life of Marie Curie. That said, I almost didn’t enter because I was running out of time, but I’m glad that I did!”

Historical fiction about scientists from the past is quite popular these days. I think it can serve a useful purpose in providing information about these great scientists in an easily accessible and interesting way.

100% Chemical Free

Dr Joanna Wojnar, from the University of Auckland, won the non-fiction category with 100% Chemical Free. (pdf link) This is about misuse of the term ‘chemical free’. In it he asks: ‘When exactly did chemistry become synonymous with poison, and chemical with toxic?’

Wojnar says

“My writing so far has been solely scientific publications in my field. The competition entry therefore was a change in pace for me, but it was quite fun to write as it’s one of my pet peeves. The other one is the misuse of the word ‘organic’, but that’s the topic of another article!”

As a chemist I sympathise completely with Wojnar’s viewpoint. Consumers should react cynically to this form of advertising which just plays on scientific ignorance.

The two winning entries will be published in the New Zealand Listener. But they both can be accessed and downloaded together with all 21 shortlisted entries, from the Royal Society of New Zealand’s website.

Past winning entries

The Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing has been operating in the same format (fiction and non-fiction prizes) since 2007. If you want to read the past winning entries you can download the ebook Shift 2011.

SHIFT PDF (1.4 MB)

SHIFT epub (2MB)

SHIFT .mobi (2MB)

See also: Wellington woman wins Manhire Prize for creative science fiction writing

Sharing a chemical moment

I must admit when I read the headline “Women Sharing a Chemical Moment in Time” my mental image didn’t include scientists. I guess that indicates that different popular meaning given to the word “chemical.” But, in reality all our moments are chemical, aren’t they?

This is an invitation to local women chemists to a function kicking off the International Year of Chemistry. And why especially women? Well this year is the centenary of Marie Curie’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. (She had already received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903).

Wellington

You are invited to breakfast at the Southern Cross Bar, 39 Abel Smith Street, Wellington On Tuesday 18th January from 8:00 am

To mark the start of the International Year of Chemistry. A major theme of IYC2011 is Women in Chemistry because this is the centenary of Marie Curie’s Nobel Prize.

Please RSVP attendance to Joanne.Harvey@vuw.ac.nz

For the breakfast/brunch menu, see http://www.thecross.co.nz/menus

This is the first major event of the International Year of Chemistry 2011

– a worldwide breakfast for women in chemistry next Tuesday the 18th of January. New Zealand, of course, gets to kick it off so this is an exciting opportunity to network with others in your local area as well as initiating an international celebration. When we finish our breakfast, we will hand over (a “chemical handshake” via Skype) to Australia, and so on as each country partakes.

Looks like fun.

See also:
Year of Chemistry 20011. New Zealand’s focus on the International Year of Chemistry.
More information at IYC website Women Sharing a Chemical Moment in Time.

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2011 – International Year of Chemistry

The General Assembly of the United Nations has adopted a resolution proclaimed 2011 as International Year of Chemistry, with UNESCO and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) at the helm of the event. (See UN declares 2011 as International Year of Chemistry.)

2011 is the 100^th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Marie Curie. So the IYC will provide an opportunity to celebrate contributions of women scientists. The general goals are:

“to increase public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs, to encourage interest in chemistry among young people, and to generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry.”

There will be  IYC year will be divided into four thematic quarters to the year. The first quarter is “Water in the Environment” with activities highlighting the nature and importance of water, and the role of chemists in securing water quality and purity.

The second quarter will focus on the importance of viable alternative energy sources with special celebrations are planned for Earth Day, April 22, 2011.

“Materials,” including recycling and nanomaterials will be the focus of the third quarter.

Finally “health” will be emphasised by the fourth quarter with coverage of the chemical sciences related to nutrition, hygiene, and medicine. National Chemistry Week (Oct. 17-23, 2011) will be the highlight of the fourth quarter.

Teachers, students and scientists all over the world are encouraged to participate in IYC-inspired activities in their local schools and communities.

The Royal Society of New Zealand “are planning heaps of events for the public” but have yet to put their programme on line.

Sources:
International Year of Chemistry, “Celebrate Chemistry.”
ACS, Chemistry for Life, “ACS Celebrates IYC 2011.”
The Official Website of the Nobel Prize, “Biography: Marie Curie.”
ACS, Chemistry for Life, “IYC 2011, Activities and Resources for Your Celebration” (vid of webinar held on December 7, 2010).
ACS, Chemistry for Life, “Chemistry Education Resources.”
Chemistry for Life, “Meg A. Mole Future Chemist.”
YouTube, “terrificsciencestaff’s channel.”
Facebook, “Chemists Celebrate Earth Day, Sponsored by the American Chemical Society.”
Facebook, “IYC 2011.”

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