Whenever I teach a media training workshop to scientists, I am pretty sure that two issues are going to pop up. The first is the inevitable question: “How can I review the story before it runs?” Scientists will be disappointed with that one, because the answer is, basically, sorry, you can’t. And the second issue [...]

This blog is no longer active. Its author, Ph.D.-glaciologist-turned-science-writer-and-blogger Vivienne Raper, has shifted her focus to freelancing for news media and creative writing. Thank you, Vivienne, for your contributions to the AGU Blogosphere; we wish you the best in your new endeavors. The archive of this blog will continue to exist; links to its posts should [...]

I have been teaching science communication workshops for scientists for over two years, and not much from those seminars is met with more skepticism than when I say Twitter can be a great tool for science outreach, even for professional development. “Oh Twitter. Why should I waste my time with that?”, their raised eyebrows seem to [...]

We’ve long known that the individual atoms that make up our bodies, and everything around us, come from stars. Recently, however, scientists are discovering that complex molecules can be found out in interstellar space. Using the samples returned by the Stardust spacecraft, scientists detected the amino acid glycine fully formed in a comet’s tail. Only [...]

A blog on geological musings, wanderings, and adventures, called Georneys, has joined AGU’s network of Earth and space science blogs. With the addition of Georneys on July 11, the AGU Blogosphere has grown to showcase 8 independent blogs since its launch last fall. “One reason I write this blog is to maintain my sanity as I finish up [...]

Guest post by Ellen Prager, marine scientist and President, Earth2Ocean, Inc . Camera lenses and microphones are not as intimidating to me as they once were.  That may be because I learn well from my mistakes, and I’ve made many of them when dealing with the media.  I still make errors when doing interviews, but the lessons I’ve learned continue [...]

“] Facing a growing population and increasing demands for fresh water, India is hoping that an engineering fix will help solve its water-scarcity problems. The country’s National Water Development Agency has begun work on the first of a system of 30 canals that would link 46 rivers, in a process known as inter-basin water transfer . The need [...]

Instability in many of the world’s largest oil producing nations has gas prices on the rise and policy makers again considering alternatives. But biofuels, which were once heralded as a way to wean the country off of imported foreign oil, also come with their own disadvantages. Recently, fuels made from algae have gotten increased attention, [...]

This post is the second of a series of profiles on planetary scientists by Mark Hilverda, geoscientist and web manager for AGU’s Planetary Sciences Section. A more complete version of this interview that includes a list of reading resources was published on the recently revamped Planetary Sciences website . David Stevenson is the George Van Osdol Professor of Planetary Science [...]

Guest post by Phoebe Cohen , Education and Outreach Lead & Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT NASA Astrobiology Team. I confess that when I started my current position, I had no idea what I was doing. Well, not much. I had some experience doing outreach, took two relevant courses in graduate school, and worked at the wonderful Museum of the Earth for [...]

Guest post by Amy Draut, U.S. Geological Survey research geologist. Amy currently works on the effects of dams on river systems, the sedimentary and tectonic history of subduction zones, and any other topic that involves fun adventures in fieldwork. “] There’s an old saying that all publicity is good publicity as long as they spell your name [...]