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 Science
Writing
Science writers describe
discoveries and commercial developments in all branches of science,
engineering, medicine, and environmental science. They explain the impact
these discoveries have on the lives of average individuals. Science
writers usually work in one of four career areas: science journalism,
public communications, technical writing in industry, and editing. Science
journalists write articles for general circulation magazines, science
magazines geared to the general public, magazines for scientists and
engineers, and newspapers. Some work for television and radio networks.
Science writers specializing in public communications prepare press
releases and reports for federal and state government agencies, research
universities, research institutes, and professional societies. Those
working at universities and research institutes often assist researchers
in preparing grant proposals. Technical writers in industry prepare
technical bulletins, technical advertising, and press releases, and they
assist in writing technical papers. Science editors edit articles for
science and technology journals, magazines, and books, as well as
government reports.
Textile
Chemistry
Textile chemistry is primarily
an applied form of chemistry. It is a highly specialized field that
applies the principles of the basic fields of chemistry to the
understanding of textile materials and to their functional and esthetic
modification into useful and desirable items. Textile materials are used
in clothing, carpet, tire yarn, sewing thread, upholstery, and air bags,
to name a few examples. Some textile chemists are less oriented
toward manufacturing processes and more focused toward fiber technologies.
The study of textile chemistry begins with the knowledge of fibers
themselves-both natural and synthetic. Because synthetic fibers are such
an important part of today's textile business, the field includes many who
are trained as polymer chemists. The interaction between textile chemistry
and materials science is also increasing. Textile chemistry includes the
application of the principles of surface chemistry to cleaning processes
and modifications such as dyeing and finishing. It encompasses organic
chemistry in the synthesis and formulation of the products used in these
processes.
Water
Chemistry
Water chemists undertake a
variety of responsibilities. Their titles vary as well -- some of which are
hydrologist, geologist, hydrobiogeochemist, water purification chemist,
wastewater treatment plant chemist, surface-water chemist, and groundwater
chemist. The range in titles reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the
field and represents the wide range of applications of the work as well as
the importance of these roles in our daily lives. Water chemists are both
specialists and generalists; they use their specific knowledge about
water for applications that affect whole ecosystems. Water chemists
generally work on interdisciplinary teams that may include scientists with
expertise in soil culture, geology, aquatic biology, statistics, forestry,
hydrogeology, chemistry, mathematical modeling, and database management.
The teams study and monitor a given ecosystem or industrial process; they
discover the impact of water on other elements of the system and,
conversely, how these other elements affect the quality of the water.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by
the American Chemical Society and the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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