Science Writing for the Public
MIT's Comparative Media Studies/Writing program offers this course on writing about science, nature, medicine and technology for a general audience. Students read published examples of science journalism and essays, then practice translating technical concepts and the work of scientists into clear, accessible prose. Course materials on MIT OpenCourseWare include the syllabus, weekly reading assignments, writing exercises and instructor feedback guidelines, covering topics like structuring a feature article, choosing analogies for lay readers, and interviewing scientists. The course is free to audit through MIT OpenCourseWare, with no certificate offered. It suits anyone wanting to write about scientific topics for newspapers, magazines or online outlets rather than for specialist audiences.