2017 Santa Fe Science-Writing Workshop

Monday, May 1

3 p.m. Begin checking in at Inn of the Governors.

4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. Registration packets will be available for pickup at a table in the lobby.

5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Reception (cash bar) in Kiva Room. (Participants only. Guests will be welcome at later events.)

6:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dinner in Governors Room followed by introductions. Meet the students and instructors. (Participants only.)

Tuesday, May 2

6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Breakfast at hotel.

8:30 a.m. Meet in hotel lobby for a ride to the Santa Fe Institute. Drivers, including commuters and instructors, are asked to help with the carpooling.

9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Welcome by David Krakauer, president of SFI.

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. "Searching for the Perfect Lede." Before listening to two presentations by scientists, the instructors will lead a discussion on how to turn science's discoveries into compelling stories.

10:45 a.m. to 12 noon. Presentation by SFI researcher Liz Hobson.

12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Picnic lunch on the grounds. Meet with your group for the first time and discuss the morning's presentation.

1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Presentation by SFI researcher Dan Larremore.

(Students may use the talks as the basis for a writing assignment, which will be critiqued during the workshop sessions. See the FAQ for details.)

3:15 p.m. Return to hotel.

4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Meet in the hotel conference room for a short discussion about what we learned at SFI.

5:30 p.m. Explore the Plaza; forage for dinner.

Wednesday, May 3

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at hotel.

9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. "Behind the Scenes at Nature." Alex Witze, a longtime correspondent for the magazine, explains how to find compelling story ideas and turn them into cleanly written copy.

10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. "Writing About the Politics of Science." Chris Mooney talks about his beat at the Washington Post.

12 noon to 1 p.m. Lunch at the hotel.

1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. "Sex, Albino Murders, Pandemics, Cheapskate Superpowers and Drone Strikes: the Battle for Global Health." Donald McNeil describes what it is like to cover his beat at the New York Times -- infectious diseases in faraway countries.

2:45 to 5:15 p.m. Workshop session. Students will break into groups and meet with their assigned instructor.

6:00 p.m. Gather in the Governors room for a book reading and signing by the instructors. You can order a drink and relax for awhile. (Collected Works bookstore will have books on sale.)

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The reading and book signing.

8 p.m. Explore the Plaza; forage for dinner.

Thursday, May 4

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel.

9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. "Writing the Reported Essay." George Johnson talks about the process using some of his work for The New York Times, National Geographic, and Pacific Standard.

10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. "Dueling Authors." Sandy Blakeslee talks about her latest project -- a book about the microbiome -- and considers the benefits and pitfalls of journalist-scientist collaborations.

12 noon to 1 p.m. Lunch at the hotel.

1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Workshop session. Meet with your instructor.

3 p.m. Meet in hotel lobby for an optional field trip to Bandelier National Monument. Guests are welcome. Bring sunscreen, hat, water, and (depending on the forecast) rain gear. (If you prefer to stay in town, you can walk to the Plaza and nearby museums or explore Canyon Road and Santa Fe's historic Eastside.)

3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Explore the ruins at Bandelier.

6:30 p.m. Dinner at Tomasita's Restaurant in the Railyard. (Cash bar. Guests welcome.)

9:15 p.m. Return to hotel.

Friday May 5

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at hotel.

9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Meet for the final time with your group.

12 noon to 1 p.m. Lunch at the hotel.

1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Becoming a freelance writer. Laura Paskus, an independent reporter and radio producer, will talk about her career covering the environment in the Southwest.

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Writing your first book. Alex Witze and Julie Rehmeyer, a freelance science writer and author, talk about their recent experiences.

4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Instructors will be available to meet informally with students. Meanwhile relax and prepare for the week's big event.

5:30 p.m. Meet in hotel lobby for a ride to the barbecue. (Guests welcome.)

6 p.m. to whenever. Barbecue at Sandra Blakeslee's house. (The drinks are on us.)

Saturday, May 6

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel. Please check out before attending the final session. Luggage can be left at the front desk.

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Pitch session. Drawing on what we learned this week, students will pitch story ideas to our guest editor, Ray Riviera, and the instructors.

10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Closing discussion and farewell.