If you don't find the answer to your question here or on the page
called How to Apply, please drop us
a line:
updated 2/20/08
What does it cost?
Please see the information for 2008.
Who sponsors the workshop?
The Santa Fe Science Writing Workshop is a 501c3 nonprofit organization registered in the state of New Mexico.
Here is the contact information:
Santa Fe Science Writing Workshop
P.O. Box 1442
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-1442
fax and emergency voicemail: (267) 295-8526
Why can't I call you on the phone?
We don't have an office staff or, for that matter, an office. We (Sandra Blakeslee and George Johnson) organize the workshop during spare moments from home offices on opposite sides of Santa Fe. At the same time we are writing articles and books on deadline. The measured and unobtrusive nature of email and the Internet is what allows us to pull off what is essentially a labor of love.
How quickly do you fill up?
Usually by mid April. We accept about 40 people, after which there is often a waiting list of about a dozen. If it is important for you to get a certain instructor or a single room at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe, please apply as early as possible.
How do you decide on applicants?
Writing an interesting personal statement counts for a lot. But there are other factors. We've found that the liveliest discussions occur when there is a good mix of people from different backgrounds -- freelance writers and journalists; scientists edging into writing; staff writers who cover science for universities, organizations, and research labs; and those who fall into a category of their own. Sometimes this means putting some perfectly good applications on the waiting list, at least for a few weeks. It is a difficult balancing act, and we appreciate everyone's patience.
I applied weeks ago. Why have I not heard back from you?
All notices of acceptance are sent out in batches by email. For privacy, your email address is in the hidden Bcc field. Occasionally, about once or twice a year, this causes someone's spam filter to reject the email. If you use filtering, we recommend that you configure it to allow all mail from sciwrite.org to pass through.
How do I go about paying for tuition and lodging?
Please see the payment instructions for details.
Why haven't I received an information packet in the mail?
All communication is by email and through postings on our website. We recommend that you check regularly for updates.
How do I book my lodging at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe?
There will probably be no need for you to contact them. Please pay your tuition, lodging, and any other fees online or by check to the workshop. We will submit the housing information to the conference center.
What if they run out of single rooms?
That will probably not be a problem, unless you were one of the last people to apply. If your request cannot be accommodated, Ghost Ranch will contact you with alternatives -- sharing a double or staying offsite.
How do I get there?
You'll probably fly to Albuquerque. Here is the latest information on shuttle service between Albuquerque International Airport and Santa Fe. Door to door, the ride takes about an hour and a half. Some people fly directly into Santa Fe's small, wonderfully retro airport on United Express from Denver. (If you do this, avoid being seated in Row 1, which has no windows -- the view of the Rockies is magnificent.) A shuttle service and taxis are available from there to Ghost Ranch Santa Fe (the driver may still know it as Plaza Resolana). If you are driving, follow these directions.
What is Ghost Ranch Santa Fe and what is your relationship with it?
First of all, it is not really a ranch. The name comes from the organization's other conference center, an hour north of Santa Fe near Abiquiu. The Santa Fe campus is downtown in an interesting Pueblo-style building near the Plaza. The science writing workshop is a completely separate entity. Like many other groups, we simply subcontract with Ghost Ranch Santa Fe for lodging and conference facilities.
What are the rooms like?
A little spartan but nice. They have full baths, but no telephones or televisions. (There are courtesy phones in the lobby and wireless Internet throughout the building.) The ambience is very pleasant (think "nonprofit"), the staff is nice, and the location, three blocks from the Plaza, is unbeatable. See Ghost Ranch Santa Fe's Web site for pictures and more details. (And see below for information on other places to stay.)
How about the food?
Most people find the buffet breakfasts and lunches at the conference center to be quite good. (A typical lunch might include soup, a small salad bar, a self-assembled sandwich or hot entree, and dessert.) We will provide a buffet supper for the reception on opening night and a picnic lunch during the trip to the Santa Fe Institute. For dinner on other nights, people usually walk to the Plaza area, which is filled with excellent restaurants in all price categories, ranging from the funky Plaza Diner to the elegant Santacafe. These outings offer a great chance to get to know your fellow students. The group dinner at a local restaurant always gets rave reviews, and the highpoint of the week (culinarily speaking) is the barbecue on the final night.
What is included in the cost? The lodging cost at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe includes breakfasts and lunches (commuters get lunch only) and use of the conference facilities -- meeting rooms, projectors, etc. Tuition covers just about everything else, including the opening night supper and extracurricular activities like the Rancho de Chimayo dinner and the barbecue.
May I bring a guest?
Yes. Please see this page for details.
Is it possible to extend my stay at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe?
Very likely. Please ask Sue Rundstrom at Ghost Ranch. Contact information is on their website.
Will I have my own instructor?
Yes. The program is divided between lectures attended en masse and workshop sessions in which students meet in groups of about eight with one of the five instructors. In addition there are many informal group activities at which you can socialize with all the instructors.
Will I receive an evaluation of my work?
Yes. If you are already writing about science, you may bring along material to be critiqued by your instructor and the other members of your group: an article, book proposal, or short book chapter. (Please bring 10 copies.) Or you can complete a writing assignment during the workshop. The choice is yours.
What will the writing assignment be like?
You will attend a press conference at the Santa Fe Institute, then work with your instructor to hammer out an opening for an article and a strategy for researching and writing it.
I've already attended a previous workshop. Is it worth coming back again?
Many people have thought so. We make a point of having different instructors and a different program each year.
Will I need a laptop?
Not necessarily. Even those doing the writing assignment can survive with pencils and notebook. If you do bring a laptop, there is wireless Internet and phone jacks in the lobby for quick dialup connections. There is also a public computer room with a printer. If there is a compatibility problem, you can email a file to Sandy Blakeslee or George Johnson for them to print out at home. Or you can use a fax modem to print a page or two on the conference center fax machine.
What will the weather be like?
Probably wonderful. Though afternoon highs can sometimes reach into the mid or (occasionally) high 90s, the air is so dry that you barely notice the heat. At night the temperature usually cools to the 60s and maybe even the high 40s. There may be short afternoon thunderstorms. At this altitude, 7,000 feet, the barely filtered sunlight is intense. Bring heavy-duty sunscreen. Here's a weather link to use if you'd like to follow the local conditions.
What is appropriate attire?
Very casual for both the workshop and the evening events. Keep in mind the warm days and chilly nights, and the possibility of rain. For the hike you'll want some comfortable walking shoes.
Do I have to stay at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe?
No. Most people find that they enjoy the camaraderie, but others prefer to stay at one of the many inns in walking distance to the conference center. Here is a link to a reservations site. Previous participants have recommended Casa de la Cuma (800-366-1717), which is probably the closest, Inn on the Paseo (800-457-9045), and Camas de Santa Fe (800-632-2627). Also nearby are Chapelle Street Inn, Dancing Ground of the Sun, Hacienda Nicholas, and a few others listed on the site mentioned above. Anything near the Plaza is probably within an easy stroll. Ask the reservations clerk how far the inn is to Ghost Ranch Santa Fe (they might still know it as Plaza Resolana), which is at the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Old Taos Highway, just north of the Plaza. (If you stay offsite, you'll have to pay Ghost Ranch Santa Fe's commuter fee to cover food and other costs.)