Every story has a unique starting point. I would say my story began with my love for reading.
I can’t recall exactly how I fell down the rabbit hole of books, but as a child, I was always curled up in a cozy corner with a book in hand. My relatives would pass down their books, and my mom would bring back stacks from book fairs. I spent all my free time in the fictive worlds created by my favorite authors. This turned into a love for writing, and I started writing my own stories, inspired by the books I read, whodunnits like the Famous Five and Secret Seven. I wrote purely for the joy of it, without any expectations.
Although I was always curious about the world around me, I wasn’t particularly drawn to science at first. That changed in high school when a physics teacher brought science concepts to life through hands-on experiments. His classes made me want to understand the wonders of nature. Later, during my bachelor’s program, I was part of a biology club where the shared enthusiasm for exploring scientific questions, motivated me further.
In a way, I can draw a parallel: just as I loved solving my favorite whodunnits, I became equally fascinated with uncovering the mysteries of the universe.
This scientific curiosity and my love for writing naturally intersected when I contributed an article to the department’s magazine. I shared my thoughts on the marvels of nature for the first time formally and it felt incredibly fulfilling.
Later, I took up a position at my University, where I created awareness about science and tech events throughout the year by writing for social media. I also led the team for a year after that, which let me experience catering to diverse audiences and communicating effectively across disciplines.
But, I still did not fully realize how much these passions would shape my path.
When it was time to seriously consider my career at the end of my bachelor’s program, all I knew was that I wanted to continue exploring the wonders of science. So, research seemed to be the way forward and I enrolled in a PhD program. During my first year as a PhD student, I came across a student-run magazine that published articles on research from the university for the general public. I leapt at the chance to contribute and chose to write about research on building construction—a field I knew little about. But I realized that was exactly what I love doing. I enjoyed taking up a new topic, interviewing researchers, digesting the concepts, and then shaping them into an engaging piece. I also joined the editorial team, editing articles in chemistry and the humanities. Reading, writing, and editing ideas from three different spheres of science was a wonderful experience and I loved every part of it.
Around this time, I encountered Richard Feynman’s philosophy on teaching and learning:
“If you can’t explain something clearly, you don’t truly understand it.”
This resonated deeply with me. I realized that my goal of continuous learning aligned with explaining and sharing science.
Even then, I never considered pursuing science communication as a career or a project. Then life got busier and I had to prioritize my PhD.
Now, as I near the end of my PhD, I had to again pause and look at what I want to do next. This time, I realized that my perspectives have become richer through the diverse experiences. The opportunities I took up were never part of a grand road map. They were simply activities I pursued because I was passionate about them at the time. But, I can now see that I have an insatiable drive for gaining new knowledge, understanding, and putting puzzle pieces together for myself and others.
This realization gave birth to a dream of creating a science blog, a platform where I can write about the things I love, so others can enjoy the same sense of wonder.
But I wasn’t really sure where to start. In my search, I discovered SciComm Society and their webinar, How to Build a Science Communication Career. The webinar reassured me that I’m on the right path.
Now, alongside my thesis work, I’m working on launching my blog and gaining some experience through an internship in science communication.
The internship has been invaluable—I’m learning how to both write engaging popular science articles and effectively engage through social media and create visual content.
I’ve also started connecting with science writers to get to know more about their journeys in science communication. I ask questions like, “Why do they do what they do?” and, hearing their answers has helped me reaffirm how I can bring value to the community.
This reflection has motivated me to create a content calendar for my blog, set to launch in early 2025. I am only scratching the surface as I discover forums and conferences dedicated to helping aspirants in the field. I am preparing myself with resources and advice from seasoned science communicators.
So here I am, at a point where I feel ready to share my passion for science communication in a public forum. My hope is that in a few years, I’ll be back here, sharing how far I’ve come.
If you’ve read this far in my story, I imagine you, too, relate to my love for science communication. Maybe you’re just exploring the options. Maybe you are asking the same questions I did: Is this something I am good at? Can I really do this? Do I have enough time?
My advice is: If you are not sure of a long path charted ahead, just grab the opportunities you would love to do now. That worked for me. Don’t overthink it. Just enjoy what you are doing. The path will work out exactly how it is best on its own.
I believe consistent progress, even in baby steps can go a long way. Many of us have full-time jobs or ongoing degrees and the right moment may never appear. But we can always begin where we are if we really love doing it now.
Reflect on your “why,” connect with others in the field, ask questions, and get inspired!
Just write, keep writing, and let the growth happen along the way.
Happy science writing!
