Applications are open for QB3-Berkeley’s graduate student and postdoc science writing workshop, Science Writing for the Public: Share Your Research and Connect with Audiences. This two-part workshop will offer participants training in writing science communications for a general audience. Description, timeline, and application details below.
Workshop Description
This two-part workshop provides QB3-Berkeley graduate students and postdocs with a roadmap for drafting general interest articles, blog posts, interviews, profiles, or photo essays that highlight their research. Participants will gain insight into writing for lay audiences and experience working with an editor, culminating in an opportunity to publish a piece on QB3-Berkeley’s website this summer or during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Writer, editor, and QB3-Berkeley communications manager Mackenzie Smith will host the sessions to help scientists learn to write about research for the public. Participants who complete the workshop and publish their work may also have the opportunity for their piece to be crossposted and promoted via additional UC Berkeley channels, including The Berkeleyan, Transcript Newsletter, and social media. Take a look at the articles, interviews, and profiles published on our website by past Science Writing for the Public participants.
Timeline
- Application deadline Friday, May 22nd, 2026
- Applicant notification: Wednesday, May 27th, 2026
- Workshop begins: Tuesday, June 23rd 2026
June 2026 workshop dates
- Tuesday, June 23rd, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Thursday, June 25th, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Additional details and participant expectations
- The workshop will be capped at 12 participants.
- To participate in this workshop, applicants must be a student in the Computational Biology or Biophysics graduate programs, or be a graduate student or postdoc in a QB3-Berkeley faculty affiliate’s lab, with preference given to trainees in QB3-Berkeley labs. Please visit our website for a list of QB3-Berkeley faculty affiliates.
- Participants can expect to spend about an hour of preparation time before workshop session two.
- Upon completion of the workshop, students and postdocs should commit to submitting a piece for publication on the QB3-Berkeley website. Participants will then work with QB3-Berkeley communications manager Mackenzie Smith to revise, edit, and publish their work over the 2026-2027 academic year.
Apply
Interested graduate students and postdocs should complete the workshop application form. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 22nd 2026.
Please direct any questions to QB3-Berkeley communications manager Mackenzie Smith.