Following the advice of popular-science authors might help you to explain your research more effectively in interviews.Credit: Kenneth Scicluna
The theoretical physicist Richard Feynman was renowned for his ability to explain complex concepts to a non-expert audience. He was at times, however, less adept when communicating with writers, as the science historian Robert Crease found out when he interviewed the Nobel laureate in the mid-1980s. Feynman, apparently offended by Crease’s “dumb” questioning, stormed out of the room and down the hallways of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, shouting “you’re trying to make something difficult and complicated out of something that’s simple and beautiful!”
Thankfully, most interactions between scientists and writers are much more convivial, according to those who regularly interview researchers for books or articles. However, Crease’s experience illustrates how the priorities of a science writer, who is looking to tell an engaging story, can clash with a scientist’s allegiance to undiluted truth. There is also a knowledge gap to navigate — especially if the interviewer does not have a background in science. This requires the researcher to explain their work in terms that are accurate but comprehensible, and to have patience if they’re not immediately understood.
To learn about some of the challenges, insights and dynamics that arise during science-writing interviews, Nature’s Careers team spoke to five authors of popular-science books. They share their thoughts on speaking to researchers, explain how scientists differ from other experts and offer advice on how to be a valuable interviewee.
KASSIA ST CLAIR: Answer follow-up questions
Author of The Secret Lives of Colour, The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History and The Race to the Future: The Adventure that Accelerated the Twentieth Century.
I’ve been lucky enough to interview scientists in various fields during my writing career and I consider it a real perk of my job. For The Secret Lives of Colour, I spoke to researchers who were developing new pigments, for The Golden Thread, I talked to arachnid experts and for The Race to the Future, I asked scientists about how disease spread through cities in the nineteenth century.
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First and foremost, a good interviewee is passionate about their work and wants to communicate it to a wider audience. Then, I think it helps if the scientist can imagine that they’re explaining their work to a stranger at a wedding; in other words, understanding that the person they’re speaking to is interested but not a fellow expert. This requires them to be patient and use reasonably simple terms. Be mindful of appearing patronizing, although I’ve never been patronized by any scientist, unlike some of the artists who I’ve interviewed.
It’s always helpful if researchers are able to answer follow-up questions after our interview, just so I can make sure that I’ve got the right facts and any specific terminology correct. However, I always make it clear that I’m independent and so, ultimately, I have the final say. It’s about mutual respect: I wouldn’t try to tell them how to do their research and they shouldn’t expect to dictate how I convey meaning to readers.
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