All articles were written for the course Science Communication and Journalism of 2024.
In the Science Communication and Journalism course, we had the unique opportunity to go through the entire process of creating journalistic articles, gaining hands-on experience in science journalism. We learned how to pitch our ideas and draft initial story outlines, we conducted interviews with researchers, and then proceeded to bring everything together into compelling stories that highlight the work of researchers across diverse scientific fields.
The process didn’t stop there. With multiple rounds of review and revision, our stories evolved into polished articles ready for publication. The result? Nine pieces published by Ukrant, covering topics ranging from biomedicine to behavioral research and species conservation.
Here, we present four of these stories, showcasing the fascinating work of researchers and the skills our students have developed throughout this course. The remaining five will be featured in Part 2.
‘Poor stars’ in the Milky Way: back to the Universe’s prehistory – by Wiegert Kaal
We kick off with Wiegert’s captivating article, which delves into the study of the Milky Way’s oldest stars. In this piece, Wiegert presents the work of astronomer Else Starkenbur, referred to as a ‘galactic archeologist’ in the article. Starkenbur investigates these ancient stars to uncover clues about the universe’s history. To learn more about her research, you can read the original article at the link below.
Click here for the English version.
Insights into the work of ecologists
Next, we turn to the field of ecology, where the following three articles explore the complex dynamics between different animals, plants, and humans, along with the challenges these relationships face.
These chicks are cat food: how can we save our godwits? – by Jelka Pospig
Jelka’s piece tackles the sensitive issue of cat predation, a significant threat to meadow birds in the Netherlands, particularly godwits. Cats not only only hunt these birds’ chicks, but also eat their eggs, impacting their already declining populations. To shed light on this urgent conservation problem, Jelka interviewed ecologist Esther Swankhuisen, who studies the predator-prey relationship between cats and meadow birds. The article discusses existing solutions and debates future strategies for mitigating the impact.
For the English version, access this link.
A problem we created: Chris Smit on wolves – by Thijs van Eijck
This article takes a look at the complex relationship between wolves and people. Thijs has interviewed ecologist Chris Smit to understand the challenges and opportunities that arise as wolves return to the Netherlands. The issue is a complicated one as farmers, scientists, and policymakers must navigate this delicate situation together, balancing conservation efforts with the safety of livestock and human communities.
Read the English version here.
Behaving badly: How orchids trick amorous pollinators – by Cristina Pop
In her article, Cristina explores the deceptive relationship between orchids and their pollinators. While not a predator-prey dynamic, orchids trick bees into visiting their flowers in false hope of finding a mate. The orchids win the service of pollination, while bees leave empty-handed. PhD researcher Tom Veldhuis explains this interaction and how his research sheds light on the mechanics behind it.
Read the original version in English here.
Bridging Science 