On Friday, February 28th, a group of Millersville students and professors traveled over to Elizabethtown College to hear Jason Bittel, a renowned science writer, speak at the Bowers Writers House. He gave two talks and students and English faculty members Justin Mando and Jill Craven attended a dinner with Bittel hosted by Bowers Writers House’s Jesse Waters.
Jason Bittel is a science writer who most often writes about animals. Cute animals, weird animals, animals that eat the eyeballs of other animals, animals that launch chemical warfare attacks out of their derrieres. As a National Geographic Explorer, he’s trapped invasive wild boar for the National Park Service, eaten termite soldiers in the South African bush, and taken rectal temperatures from bull elk. Bittel’s writing covers a range of topics, including human-wildlife conflict, new scientific discoveries, environment and conservation, and emerging wildlife diseases. You can read his work in National Geographic Magazine,The Washington Post, New Scientist Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, and onEarth Magazine. He is currently working on a children’s book about animals for Magic Cat Publishing due out in 2021.
Jason Bittel, apart from having a world-renowned reputation, is a really interesting guy. Read more about his love of weird animals on his website. Jason is also a contributor for National Geographic – how cool??
Here are the two talk summaries:
4-5 p.m. What the *&^!? is THAT!? Writing for the Sciences with Jason Bittel
Jason Bittel spoke about how to become a professional science writer, including tips and techniques for the emerging professional sciences writer.
7-8 p.m. Nipples on Men, Collars on Crocs: Science Writer Jason Bittel
Jason Bittel amazed the audience with the unknown aspects of the opossum and the squirrel. Wow! The opossum is crazy complex. And we were blown away by the history of the squirrels we see every day. They had to push us out of the door. We wanted to learn more! But more importantly, we learned how science writing could be both engaging and funny!
Much thanks to Jesse Waters, director of the Bowers Writers House, for putting the event together and inviting our students.
Please email Dr. Mando with any questions.