STC's 48th Conference, Chicago, May 13-16, 2001

For the first time at the 2001 conference, a "stream" of presentations focused on safety, regulatory and environmental communcations. Here are summaries. Download Conference materials from the STC website.

Strategies for Communicating Risk Hillary Hart, University of Texas; Donald E. Zimmerman, Colorado State University; Frederick M. O'Hara Jr.

This trio explored the history of risk-communication strategies as they have changed over the past two decades. They described a current research project, a review of best practices from the fields of communication science and social science, and an example of the role of the Web in communicating risks to the public.

Participatory Decision-Making, Technology, and the Environment
Carolyn D. Rude, Texas Tech University; John C. Gooch, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health; Heather Sehmel, Texas Tech University; Charlotte Kaempf, IWK Universitaet Karlsruhe

This session explored ways in which knowledge in technical communication applies to settings beyond high tech, particularly to participatory decision-making on environmental issues.

An Overview of Science and Medical Writing
Hillary Hart, University of Texas; Frederick M. O'Hara Jr.; Amy L. Burdan, Eli Lilly and Company

This panel reviewed the history and development of science and medical writing, including communication products, social roles, and employment opportunities.

Designing Safety Information: Balancing Hazards and Solutions
Carol S. Hoeniges, Hile Group; Jean A. Schiller, Applied Safety & Ergonomics, Inc.; Lisa A. Tallman, ArborComm, Inc.

This panel discussion addressed the design of safety information including warnings for consumer products and safety rule books. Presenters explored methods of identifying hazards, writing by team-based process, and addressing liability concerns.

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Communicating with Nontraditional Audiences
Kathy Hall, University of Washington; Kris S. Freeman, University of Washington; Adrienne Hidy, University of Washington

This panel discussion focused on translating technical messages to nontraditional audiences (youth, non-English-speaking, labor) without losing accuracy.

Nontraditional Communication about Health Risks: Migrant Farm Worker Audience
Donald E. Zimmerman, Colorado State University; Kathy Hall, University of Washington; Adrienne Hidy, University of Washington

This session presented nontraditional techniques (such as theatre, calendars, and pictographs) that University of Washington researchers use to communicate with migrant farm workers about pesticide hazards.

Editing Progression
Elaine C. David, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Anne L. Block; Deirdre A. Murr, Walt Disney Imagineering; Patti L. Raley, Eli Lilly and Company; David D. Dayton, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez; Donald A. Huntington

In this progression, session leaders discuss editing issues such as electronic editing, self-editing, quality control, and editorial wisdom.

Designing for the Web: Special Considerations for Safety Information
Lisa A. Tallman, ArborComm, Inc.; Jean A. Schiller, Applied Safety and Ergonomics, Inc.

When designing online documents such as owners' manuals, safety information that meets users' needs and legal considerations should be a focus. This session discussed designing safety information on the Web.

Progression Session Sponsored by the Scientific Communication SIG
Amy L. Burdan, Eli Lilly and Company; Elaine R. Firestone, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/SAIC GSC; Donald C. Samson, Jr., Radford University; Terry H. Gregory, Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

This progression provided a venue for Scientific Communication SIG members to present their research, case studies, and practical applications related to science writing and editing in the 21st century.

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The ABCs of Medical Communication
Karen Boleyn, Eli Lilly and Company; Patti Raley, Eli Lilly and Company' Erin Walls, Eli Lilly and Company; Barbara Campaigne, Eli Lilly and Company

In an overview of the medical communication profession in the pharmaceutical industry, this panel discussion examined regulatory and commercialization writing opportunities during each phase of the drug development process.

Training Scientific Communicators for the Global Workplace Environment
Sheila Bennett, Bowling Green State University; Amy L. Burdan, Eli Lilly and Company; Stephanie Brown, Eli Lilly and Company; Karen Boleyn, Eli Lilly and Company; Ronald J. Tulley, Bowling Green State University

This panel discussion addressed the challenges industry takes in training scientific communicators to be successful information architects in a global environment.

Issues in Scientific Communication
David L. Armbruster, University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Jeffrey L. Hibbard, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center; Murrie W. Burgan, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; David E. Nadziejka, Upjohn Institute; Christine M. Farmery, Algorithmics, Inc.

Members of this panel discussion presented important issues of scientific communication: e-prints, authorship, editing, legislators, and the public.

Careful Scientific Writing
Donald C. Samson Jr., Radford University; Elaine R. Firestone, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/SAIC GSC

This session identified techniques for writing about science and technology for newspaper and magazine articles, and for scientific publications. Participants learned about the pitfalls that can be fixed in scientific documents.

Rulemaking, Public Policy, and Regulatory Writing
Kathy Hall, University of Washington; Karen S. Griggs, Kettering University; Hillary Hart, University of Texas; Gail Hughes, State of Washington, Department of Labor and Industries

Agencies are rewriting regulations for clarity and better understanding. This panel discussion examined these changes and how they affect communicators.