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Nicola Jones is an award-winning science journalist who has returned to Vancouver after pursuing her career in London, UK.
Nicola completed her first degree, a BSc in chemistry and oceanography, at UBC in 1997. After this she became a member of the first class of UBC’s journalism program, completing her master’s degree in 2000 with a focus on science and the Hal Straight gold medal for excellence.
After a brief internship at Time Canada in New York, she moved to Britain for an internship with New Scientist magazine. She worked there as a staff reporter from 2001-2003, and then moved to the science journal Nature, also in London, where she was assistant news and features editor, and later the online news editor.
She is now a commissioning editor for the opinion section of Nature, part time, and a freelance reporter. Her reporting focuses on Earth sciences, climate change, and oddities of science.
Throughout her career, Nicola has been interested in broader issues of science communication and the community of science journalism: she has been a judge for several award committees, appeared as a guest on radio and television to help present science stories; taught a one-day course for staff at Nature Publishing Group on science writing; and was an invited speaker at the Brighton Science Festival in 2005.
Links
Other
Nicola is a keen rock climber and outdoor enthusiast. Her first paid writing commission was a piece about her cross-Canada bicycle trip.
Professional Highlights
Oversaw the redesign and development of Nature’s online news website, which won ‘best small website in a specialty subject’ from the Online News Association for in 2005.
Won the Association of British Science Writers / GlaxoSmithKline award for best science feature in a specialist journal in 2003, for her article on preserving ancient documents (see Monster Ink, New Scientist, 14 Sept 2002).
Participated in the Wood’s Hole Marine Biological Laboratory fellowship for science writers, including a trip to the arctic to see the effects of climate change.
Traveled to Utah to interview Hollywood stunt pilots attempting to catch a falling space-craft; to Toulouse to participate in astronaut training exercises and medical studies; to Cameroon to watch scientists attempting to purge an exploding lake of its deadly gas, hopefully preventing future natural disasters.
In her previous life as a science student, Nicola won the Governor General’s Silver Medal for top student in the Faculty of Science at UBC, and the Governor General’s Canada Scholarship in Environmental Sciences.
Recent Work
As editor:
The Man Who Unveiled China
An English biochemist single-handedly changed the West’s perception of China, revealing its past scientific glories and predicting more to come. Simon Winchester investigates the ongoing legacy of Joseph Needham.
30 Years: From IVF to Stem Cells
Ruth Deech, former chair of Britain’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, reflects on how the science that gave an infertile couple a baby has been extended to saving lives.
As reporter:
North America’s first carbon tax faces judgement
Climate Crunch: Sucking it up
It’s simple to mop carbon dioxide out of the air, but it could cost a lot of money. In the second of three features on the carbon challenge, Nicola Jones talks with the scientists pursuing this strategy.
