Science and Health Writing

What is Science and Health Writing?

• Simply put, it is writing based on, deals with and
discusses scientific facts and issues.
ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE WRITING
ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE WRITING
Subject Matter- the core of the science article; must be
definitely showcased and defined
ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE WRITING
Definition- defines technical and hard to understand terms in
ways the common reader must and should be able understand
Ex: Zika Virus, which has been discovered in West Africa in the
40s, is transmitted through mosquitoes and is commonly
linked to birth defects.
ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE WRITING
Statistics- gives an insight of the size and magnitude of the
issue or target population
Ex: At least 2000 children were poisoned in the province of
Maguindanao due to food poisoning, the Department of
Health said.
ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE WRITING
Expert’s Opinion- an expert or relevant person’s view on a
subject matter
Ex: “We should not take this world for granted. I am not taking
tonight for granted.” –Leonardo DiCaprio, UN Climate
Ambassador
ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE WRITING
Supporting Details- the backbone of the article; further
elaborations of definitions and the subject matter itself
Types of Science Articles
 Science news
Most important
• Same as straight news, except that it is centered on
scientific basis
• Follows same construct as hard news:

• Lead should contain who, what and why as much as possible

• Where, when and how are better off as supporting details in
the 2nd or 3rd paragraphs
• Should contain at least 6-12 paragraphs depending on the
subject matter (one sentence, one paragraph)
• Each paragraph should support its preceding paragraph
through quotations or transitional devices
• Last 2-3 paragraphs could be used for related news briefs Least important
• Headlining should follow SVO pattern
FARMERS, PUBLIC LOSE BIG IN SC GMO BAN– FIL GENETICIST (HEADLINE)

Local growers and consumers will suffer the most upon the Supreme Court’s decision in stopping ongoing BT
talong field testing, a Filipino expert on genetics pointed out. (LEAD)
“The real losers here are the poor farmers and the consuming public,” Emil Javier, a local geneticist, said.
Javier is but one of the SC’s critics following the ban, which has received major backlash from the scientific
community as it overthrew Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 8-2002, the ordinance allowing
field tests to be conducted.
In a statement, he said that the ban will be economically unwise as farmers will have to resort to use higher
costing insecticides.
Meanwhile, the public is left with higher-costing vegetables reeking of pesticides, a situation that could be
unavoidable according to Javier as the genetically modified eggplant could ward off pests without chemical aid
due to the influence of Bacillus thuringensis’s, a soil bacteria, insecticidal protein CryIA.
Other BT crops such as brijal and corn have been used in other countries with great success and minimal
opposition.
“It is really a huge let down for the scientific community,” the geneticist noted.
On the other hand, New York based genetics specialist Dr, Michael Purunggan warned that the Philippines
might suffer from “enormous problems” in the future if further bans are made.
“The SC has just halted a major avenue for scientific research in our country amd has ceded further agricultural
progress to the developed world,” Purungan concluded.
 Science Editorial

• Follows same construct of editorial writing, except that the article must be criticized on a
scientific basis
• Opinions should be backed up by science
• Recommendations should also be scientifically based

• Argumentative and Critical Editorials are commonly used for Science Writing
• Stand on the issue must be seen in the lead (news peg+stand)
• Editorials should contain at least 3 points of arguments along with supporting
evidence in the form of facts, statistics, studies or expert’s opinions
• Editorials should end in giving recommendations.
• “light” editorials could also be done in the form of issue analysis
Snail-Paced (TITLE)
Life is better in slow motion, but the same cannot be said about the Philippines’ sluggish internet that has meagerly
progressed throughout the years. (Lead)
Akamai Tech, a cloud service provider, in its independent internet test ranked the Philippines at a poor 50 th place out of 55
countries; with a 2.5 Mbps average internet speed that is dwarfed by frontrunners such as South Korea with 25.3 Mbps and
Hong Kong with 16.3 Mbps.
As 2015 enters, internet speed is envisioned by many to improve considering technological advances, but unfortunately, the
country is falling behind on the trend.
In a separate and a more recent study by Ookla on its famed website speedtest.net, Singapore emerged at a whopping
122.5 Mbps, far from South Korea at second with 59.77Mbps.
Meanwhile, the Philippines is still at the bottom of the pack at 3.6 Mbps, far from the global average of 23 Mbps.
Yet another problem is faced by Filipino consumers as they pay for an expensive albeit slow internet service.
Akamai noted that the Philippines has one of the most costly internet in Asia. This is evident in its DSL connections,
averaging at P1699 per month for a 3 Mbps connection, far off from the more effective cheaper fiber optic service that
Singapore provides with a speed of 1 Gbps at P1680.
Fiber optic connections are also available in the country, but consts a hefty P20, 000, where you could avail at most 11
Singaporean fiber optic services for the same cost.(EVIDENCES)
To answer the poor internet quality that the country faces, the government must encourage more competitors in the field
of telecommunication, as the two main service providers Globe and PLDT monopolize the market.
Unfortunately, the two, according to regional ICT authority LIRNEAsia, experience a decrease in performance every year.
More competitors will provide more options for the consumers, therefore prompting telecom companies to improve their
services in order to keep up with the rest.
Legal matters for putting up service towers should also be addressed, as the long process hinders their capability to keep up
with the growing internet population of the country, with both Globe Telecom and PLDT agreeing on such “industry-wide
 Science Feature Lead

• Almost follows same construct as feature Nut graf

• Leads could take the form of:
1. Anecdotal (accounting of events)
2. Personality sketch
3. Narrative
4. Compare and Contrast
5. Descriptive
• Should contain a nut graf after the lead (the paragraph elaborating the 5Ws and H,
but not necessarily all)
• Subheads are a must, considering the broadness of the topic
NOT-SO-HAPPY: Happyland residents in outcry vs. coal dust pollution
The place she lives in is called Happyland, but a mother has seen nothing but misery
since her child died from inhaling the black mist enshrouding her home. With a blank
but sorrowful expression, Jocellyn Villaler recalled how she lost everything in literally a
breeze and on how her daughter had difficulty breathing, had developed a blackening
of the lungs and dying at the young age of 6 due to complications brought about by
dust coming from the nearby coal stockpile. (LEAD)
Jocellyn is but one of the many residents in Barangay 105 in Tondo, Manila, known
to its residents as Happyland, who are constantly suffering from the coal particles
courtesy of a large stockpile next door constantly invading their homes and
endangering their health. (NUT GRAF)
Jocellyn’s only child contacted a disease known as Black Lung Disease, a disease
common to coal workers with fatal results. Sadly, she is not alone as others have seen a
similar or milder fate as well, experiencing a dire change of lifestyle, much to their
annoyance and misery.
 The Miserable Ones (SUBHEAD)
Aside from Jocellyn’s deceased six-year old, most of the 3000 families in Happyland complain of
respiratory problems brought about by miniscule coal particles in the air. “Hindi na naalis-alis ang ubo
ko,” Fernan Macabit, an elderly resident of Brgy. 105, said.
Humans are not the only ones getting sick as even pet animals have had their own share of suffering.
Neliosa Macabet, an animal raiser in Happyland, noted how all her animals turned black-skinned, with
the dust sticking constantly to their skin.
“May sakit [na din] sila eh. Dati marami yan. Yan na lang natira,” Macabet pointed out, sharing the
multiple deaths of her livestock she relies on for a living.
The residents have also seen the already mucky and dirty place they call home get even dirtier as the
coal dust sticks to walls, surfaces and clothes, even infiltrating the inside of their homes in the process.
“Umaga, tanghali, gabi, linis na lang kami nang linis,” Gloria Balaora, another elderly resident of
Happyland, complained.
Such is the effect of this lingering black dust to their lives that the residents chose to take action
against those responsible for their sufferings.
Do You Hear the People Sing
One of the community’s pleas is that the stockpile, owned by Rock Energy International Corporation, has no clearance to
operate. Ram Bautista, a barangay official, said that operations still went on full swing even without barangay permits.
In defense of the corporation, Roger Lalu, Rock Energy’s Vice President, said that they were only now removing the coals from
the site part by part. “Inuubos na lang naming yan. Stock na lang tong natitirang to.”
Finally, hope arose when the City of Manila ordered a shutdown of operations for the 1.5 hectare pile. This was further
intensified by a cease and desist order in June 2015 from the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources’ Environmental
Management Bureau, saying that Rock Energy exceeded the maximum for coal stockpiling.
“Supposedly, dapat 3000 metric tons lang ang nasa imbakan pero based on our findings, more than 3000 na ang nakatambak
dun kaya napupunta sa mga residente,” EMB chief Vizminda Osorio noted.
However, the order was rebuked in October 2015 upon the observation of interventions in the form of nets, metal sheets and
dust controllers seen in the site. Then again, the residents complained that these efforts were vain as the coal dust were still
surpassing the barriers set by Rock Energy Moreover, Elenita Reyes, Brgy 105’s chairwoman, noted that the company had midnight
operations and were adding more coal as opposed to what the company stated before.
Because of this, the EMB once again issued a cease and desist order by February 2016. As a compensation, the coal-centered
corporation offered a medical mission and social relation program but was refused by the residents under the helm of chairwoman
Reyes.
“Bigay kayo nang bigay ng medical mission pero hangga’t di naaalis yang carbon diyan, magkakasakit at magkakasakit lang din
kami,” the barangay head angrily rebutted.
“Kung titira kayo sa likod, mararamdaman nyo ang paghihirap namin. Di asi kayo ang apektado, kami ang apektado roon,” an
unnamed resident added.
Up to this day, Happyland residents are constantly doing rallies and unity walks against the corporation that has been constantly
eluding the law, in hopes for a future where they can finally avoid what has happened to Jocellyn’s daughter and the rest of them
before, a future where Happyland could finally be as happy as its namesake tells it to be. #
Science News-Feature

• Most common type of science article

• Hybrid between news and feature
• Same as science feature, except that its nut graph is its lead
• More of a soft news
• Could either end like a news or feature
• Titling follows headline-like structure
FOOD OR FRAUD: ALLEGED FAKE RICE FOUND IN PH; GOV’T
ALARMED (HEADLINE)
 
     Food authorities around the country are in alert as suspected synthetic
rice might have entered the country, putting the health of consumers at
risk. (LEAD)
     With rice being a staple on Filipino tables, various government and non-
government agencies were immediately put to action in order to trace the
origins of the so-called fake rice before it goes into retail around the
country.
     The first sample was tracked in Davao City, where citizens were
suspicious of the authenticity of the rice they bought, which was watery
when squeezed yet powdery to the touch, unlike real rice which has a pasty
and sticky texture when cooked.
     Not only that, they have also found out that the rice is in fact, not made
of rice at all and also contains a chemical that is toxic in large amounts.
DEADLY DISGUISE (SUBHEAD)
     The said rice was found to be made out of starch from crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, binded by
a resin softened by dibutyl pthalate (DBP), a known plasticizer and a component in making food containers.
     DBP is also toxic, banned by the Department of Health (DOH) in concentrations of over 0.01% in toys and by
the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) Cosmetics Directive in making cosmetic products.
     The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists DBP in their Advisory 2015-006 as having "the ability to cause
allergic reactions (and that) there were previous cases where allergic response to DBP was found to be severe.”
     “It can cause the immune system to respond to chemical exposures with immunological reactions that are
harmful, varying from hives to life threatening responses such as anaphylactic shock, where low blood pressure
and breathing difficulties can result in death,” the FDA added.
     Also, in a statement by the president of environmental and health watchgroup EcoWaste Coalition and
retired chemist Sonia Mendoza, DBP "is known to cause birth and reproductive disorders in laboratory
animals."
     For example, a study among laboratory rats in the School of Medicine at the Complutense University of
Madrid showed that offspring from mothers who have orally ingested DBP show defects in reproductive
organs, defects which may also be seen in humans who could have ingested DBP over a period of time.
     Unfortunately, the full effect of the concentration of DBP in the fake rice is inconclusive, as the samples
taken by the National Food Authority (NFA), according to Food Development Center officer-in-charge Jocelyn
M. Sales from Davao are too little, prompting the government to take further actions.
 
THE HUNT BEGINS
     In order to get more samples for NFA's further testing and to trace the roots of the fake rice, the palace
ordered Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Presidential Assistant for Food
Security and Agricultural Modernization Secretary Francis Pangilinan to investigate with their fact-finding bodies
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI).
     Their actions bore the hypothesis that the synthetic rice was smuggled from China, although this is still
unconfirmed.
     Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, infamously known for his iron fist way of ruling, has also joined
the hunt with CIDG, reporting of suspicious activities in rice producing towns such as Bansalan in Davao Oriental.
     "I am ordering (Davao City Police Director Col. Vicente) Danao to turn over all available evidence, if at all, to
CIDG for CIDG to take over the investigation," Duterte said.
     Duterte even threatened whoever smuggled the rice in his city, saying that he will force him to eat it.
    The Bureau of Customs (BOC) also takes heed on investigating possible cases of smuggling the fake grain in
parts of Mindanao.
     While the national and local governments are busy in finding the source of these rice, Malacanang advised
consumers to be vigilant in their purchases to avoid buying the said product.
SAFE AND SOUND
     "Nananawagan po tayo sa mga mamamayan na maging maingat at bumili lamang ng bigas mula sa mga accredited
at reliable na nagbebenta nito, ‘yun po talagang authorized rice dealers o mga tindahan ng bigas na mayroong
pahintulot," Presidential Communications Operation Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a radio statement.
     The NFA also provided additional guidelines in checking if the rice is real or not, such as checking for grooves in
grains and checking the appearance and smell of the rice when cooked, with the authentic ones appearing white and
elongated and does not smell of plastic.
     If one should encounter fake rice, the NFA advises for that individual to send them at least a kilo of the sample for
examination.
     While the government provides safety measures for Filipinos to observe to avoid fake foodstuff, it still falls on an
individual to be aware and alert of his surroundings to ensure his safety and well-being.
        
 • NEVER PLAGIARIZE plagiarism is the greatest atrocity a writer could
possibly make. Always remember to put proper attributions
Some • NEVER MAKE UP DATA scientific facts and data are there for a reason.

Tips Use them.

• NEVER WRITE IN THE FIRST PERSON science writing differs greatly from
essay writing
• EMOTIONS SHOULD BE MODERATED WHEN WRITING even in features
and editorials, emotions should be balanced in order to make the article
credible
• ALWAYS FOLLOW RULES OF GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX this ensures the
article’s cohesion
• WRITE IN LAYMEN’S TERMS a science writer knows how to walk the line
between technicality and simplicity
• BE UPDATED writers should be familiar with ongoing events and issues
• BE ANALYTICAL. A good writer reads between the lines.
• BE FEARLESS a science writer is not a choosy or sensitive writer
• READ, READ AND READ.
“It’s either give your all or
give nothing at all. There is
no in-between.”

Good luck writers!