Jonathan is right to warn of sample bias. PSCI-COM is a pretty self-contained online community, and not necessarily representative of the science communications world as a whole. Employer prejudices are also significant.
Science communications covers a multitude of sins, and it is best to cover one's bases broadly. But not too broadly. Unless you are set on an exclusively freelance working life, choice of degree subject should be dictated by practical circumstance and market reality. That means employer needs and perceptions.
Look at the job ads. Employers of medical writers, for example, routinely demand life sciences degrees. Materials science and technology publishers tend to go for physical sciences and engineering graduates. My current position – well, the employed bit – demands a doctorate in physics and years of post-PhD experience in communications. In my case it is not a case of employer shortsightedness.
There are exceptions to the rule, but there are relatively few jobs in science communication, so you do well to play safe. That is most likely to mean a broad-based science degree. Everything else – master in science communication, NCTJ or whatever – is window dressing, and unlikely to have a significant impact on one's career prospects.
Francis
> On 10 Mar 15, at 07:57, Jonathan Sanderson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Do be aware that you’re asking room full of (primarily) science graduates working in scicomms whether they think the route they took was a good idea. I suspect we’re seeing a (cough) modicum of sample bias here!
--
Dr Francis Sedgemore
journalist, writer and recovering physicist
telephone: +44 7840 191336
website: sedgemore.com
twitter: @hesgen
**********************************************************************
Commands - send an email (any subject) to [log in to unmask] with one of the following messages (ignoring text in brackets)
• set psci-com nomail (to stop receiving messages while on holiday)
• set psci-com mail (to resume getting messages)
• signoff psci-com (to leave the list)
• Subscribe here https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=psci-com
Contact list owner at [log in to unmask]
Small print and JISCMail acceptable use policy https://sites.google.com/site/pscicomjiscmail/the-small-print
**********************************************************************
|