Popular Science Magazines
For some people, fashion and gossip magazines are a guilty indulgence. For me, it’s science magazines.* The two I read regularly are Scientific American and New Scientist. And occasionally, I’ll pick up a copy of National Geographic or Discover.
My favorite place to read science magazines is in the coffee shop on my twice weekly morning errand runs. Each magazine doesn’t take me more than an hour or so to read because the news section at the front is filled with stuff I’ve already read about on my daily sweep through science blogs, Google News, MedPage Today, Megite, and PLoS RSS feeds. What I think magazines do better than these sources are in-depth features and interviews together with stunning photojournalism, such as National Geographic’s recent feature on the heart.
What got me started thinking about science magazines? I had the good fortune today to meet Damian Carrington and Matt Sparkes of New Scientist. Damian is the New Scientist Online Editor and Matt is a Web Executive. Two great people with loads of ideas about science communication. During our conversation, I think we all agreed that readers should be given the opportunity to be more involved.
Instead of the traditional unidirectional way of delivering science to a select group of very interested people, opening up the dialogue might foster a greater interest in science from a wider variety of people. For instance, some might be interested in learning more, but have never had the chance to ask for clarification. In a forum or blog, they could ask questions as well as formulate and express their own opinions. A science publication would be well-positioned as a hub or online pub (yes, I am in England).
It’s a perfect win-win situation. By fostering participation, science magazines would get more readers and more readers would get in touch with their inner science geeks. And who wouldn’t want to be a science geek?
What are your favorite popular science magazines? What do you think about the way science is communicated?
*So I’m a nerd. Sue me.
Tags: science, magazines, new scientist, national geographic, scientific american, discover
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4 opinions for Popular Science Magazines
Rick
Mar 13, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Although I don’t have the budget to buy these magazines on a weekly basis, I do catch “older” copies at the university library. I sit down and read the articles that I haven’t seen online.
I’d say that New Scientist is my fav, but Nature sometimes gets deep down into some issues like no other mag does.
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading any other, so…
Anyone want to buy me a subscription? haha! :D
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Mar 13, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Rick: I think the library is as good as any for magazines. And you have access to Nature! I’m nowhere near a university nowadays. Used to take it for granted. *sniff*
You’re probably doing a good thing for the environment by reading at the library. I recycle my magazines by giving them to my friend’s 9-year-old son. :)
coturnix
Mar 14, 2007 at 3:34 am
I used to get pretty much everything - Scientific American, American Scientist, Discover, Natural History, The Sciences (before it folded), Science News, BioScience, in addition to Science, Nature and a couple of more specialized journals. There was always a New Scientist and The Scientists at the lab as well.
I am too broke now so I let everything expire. The Natural History is still arriving and, of course, Seed Magazine (for free, of course).
My favourite is American Scientist and, lately, Seed, on the more popular side, and BioScience on a little bit more expert side.
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Mar 15, 2007 at 2:11 pm
coturnix: Right now I only have subs to Scientific American, New Scientist, and The Atlantic. I’m ok about keeping on top of it all but combined with the daily paper, the stacks just grow. AHHHH!! I’ve never seen a copy of Seed Magazine. I don’t think it’s sold in the UK. Think they might send me a copy? ;)
Correction: US to UK.
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