This beautiful illustration by Rena Ekmanis tells you something about the quality of the work you will find in Science Notes 2012, the valedictory compilation of reporting and illustration by new grads of the UC Santa Cruz science writing program and the science illustration program at nearby Cal State University Monterey Bay.
Each year, Rob Irion, the director of the UC Santa Cruz program, puts together a similar collection, giving the writers and illustrators some nice clips, and promoting the programs. It's a fine way to see what the new graduates are doing, and, if you are an employer, to look at the work of folks you might want to hire.
This year's edition includes a nice story on bamboo bicycles (!) by Amy West, including a brief video and illustrations by Laurel Mundy and Hypatia Saucer. Did you know you can build one in a weekend? Or that bamboo grows 50 feet tall in a month or so? Neither did I. Daniela F. Hernandez writes about the mysterious disappearance of Humboldt squid from the Gulf of California, leaving desperate fisherman wondering how they will make a living. (The story is accompanied by Ekmanis's illustrations.)
Beth Marie Mole, in a story illustrated by Maayan Harel and Nicole Wong, reports on the fight to control dengue fever in Nicaragua, and Tanya Lewis bobs at sea with investigators using undersea robots to chart volcanic eruptions deep below the surface. Calene Luzco and Kat Cantner supply the illustrations.
You will find 10 stories here, all nicely illustrated, along with video shorts and podcasts. It's a nice piece of work.
-Paul Raeburn
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