Communicating Science to the Public: One Scientist's Experience in Writing for the General Public About Genetically Engineered Crops

Last year, I went out on a limb. I spent my precious sabbatical venturing into the world of journalism in an attempt to tell a story that, for years, I have wanted to tell. As a scientist, I thought I was especially equipped to tell the full story. What I was not ready for was the series of “velvet hammers” that have come down on the precious article I spent so much time, passion, and money developing. As scientists, we are encouraged to be better communicators, to reach out to the public, to make our science understandable for the taxpayers who often fund it. My experience has been humbling.I wanted to tell the full story of genetically engineered (GE) virus-resistant papaya. Others had told pieces of it. But they didn't tell much about the science of GE crops, the misinformation …