|
|
|
|
CATHERINE WHITLOCK - WRITING
My writing covers a broad spectrum of styles and target audience - click on any category below to see examples:
• Science and Nature
• Health and Disease
• Commissioned Reports
• Research Articles
I am working with EAHC through the Communication and PR Agency, Media Consulta on a range of projects.
Please contact me for further details of my research publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Science and Nature
• Health and Disease
• Commissioned Reports
• Research Articles
Science and Nature Writing
Science Communication
| Feature entitled ‘Classy conversations: exploring Café Sci.’ p.16 Wellcome News, Issue 63, June 2010 >>> | It’s early afternoon, and 40 animated students stream into the light-filled atrium at Stockley Academy, a secondary school in west London. They are gathering for Café Sci, a chance to hear about and discuss some novel, and perhaps controversial science issues...... |
| Junior Café Scientifique (The Royal Institution website, July 2009). | Teenagers with science on their minds assembled at the Royal Institution (Ri) this summer. Junior Café Scientfique........ |
| Diploma in Science Communication Research Dissertation (Distinction) Junior Café Scientifique - Food for thought(2008). | Café Scientifique is a science communication initiative that focuses on creating a two-way dialogue between scientists and the public.......... |
Developmental Biology
| Wise up (p.16 Wellcome News, Issue 58, April 2009). | A study at King's College London has shown that a molecule called Wise controls tooth development by linking together signalling pathways outside cells..... |
| Moved to grow (p.16 Wellcome News, Issue 58, April 2009). | The normal development of an embryo's bones requires the action of muscles. Now, scientists in Dublin have used a novel method to identify two genes..... |
Genetics
| Nature Structural Biology website featured articles, with research summaries September 2010 | • Achievements and milestones Achievements in protein structure determination in the past five years have provided clues to the evolutionary, structural and functional relationships among proteins that are not evident from sequence data alone. • Protein pathways Structural characterization can reveal interaction interfaces between the proteins in a pathway and give insight into potential therapeutics |
| Milking our genes: lactose intolerance explained (Suite 101, July 2010) | Most people cannot drink milk as adults, despite its importance as a cheap and nutritious food source. Scientists have shown that the gene which enables humans to digest milk appeared...... |
Charles Darwin
| His work as a beekeeper (Suite 101, July 2009). | Charles Darwin knew that the natural instinct of honey bees to build beautiful and intricate hexagonal wax honeycombs could be explained by natural selection..... |
| Family life (Suite 101, May 2009). | Charles Darwin's understanding of the natural world was enhanced and complemented by his family and their lasting enthusiasm for his work..... |
| Voyages and ideas that shook the world (Suite 101, July 2009). | Sydney Maritime Museum's exhibition presents an unusual slant on Charles Darwin's significance by considering his role on HMS Beagle..... |
| Darwin the thinker (Suite 101, July 2009). | Clues to the evolution of Darwin's ideas lie in his daily routine. As a man of comfortable means, he was free from the pressures of modern science to find time to think..... |
North Norfolk Nature
| Boxing up the Barn Owl (North Norfolk Living, October 2009). | As the days draw in and the leaves change colour, barn owls swoop silently across the North Norfolk landscape like ghostly apparitions....... |
Reading
| The effect of reading on the brain (Suite 101, March 2009). | The human brain is quite literally shaped by experiences; reading a Shakespearean play is one such experience that may build connections as the drama unfolds........ |
| 101 ways to get your child to read (Suite 101, March 2009). | This user-friendly manual by Patience Thomson will encourage and develop reading as an essential and, above all, enjoyable life skill........ |
Health and Disease Writing
Rare Diseases
| Reaching out to rare disease patients across Europe (to be published in 2011) Working with the European Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC) and the communication and PR agency Media Consulta, I have produced a 40 page information booklet on the provision for rare diseases across Europe. | Eight European projects were detailed, ranging from the development of national plans for rare diseases (EUROPLAN) to those projects covering single rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis (ECORN-CF) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (CARE-NMD). |
Obesity
| Under pressure (p.17 Wellcome News, Issue 58, April 2009). | Putting on weight generally leads to a rise in blood pressure. Now, a study of a particular group of obese individuals has shown....... |
| Weighty findings (p.17 Wellcome News, Issue 58, April 2009). | Researchers studying the genetic risks of obesity have found six new genetic regions that may affect our behaviour........ |
| Food on the brain (Wellcome Trust website, January 2009) | Scientists link our brain's response to appetising food to our risk of obesity........ |
Women's Health
| What influences the age of menopause? (Suite 101, March 2009). | The onset of menopause is associated with various health risks. Scientists are now beginning to reveal the genes that determine when menopause might occur...... |
| Reducing the risk of getting breast cancer (Suite 101, September 2009). | Four out of ten cases of breast cancer could be prevented by taking regular exercise, reducing alcohol intake and keeping to a healthy BMI, according to scientists..... |
Immunology
| 2010 is the 30th Anniversary of Smallpox Eradication (Suite 101, June 2010) | Smallpox was a killer; one in three people were infected and many of these died. Vaccination led to the worldwide eradication of smallpox in 1980. ...... |
| Keeping Vaccines Stable in Tropical Temperatures (Suite 101, June 2010) | A New Method Allows Long-term Storage of Vaccines in the Heat ...... |
| A little dirt may be good for your immune system (Suite 101, March 2009). | Inactivity of the immune system's regulatory cell could explain the rise in incidence of both allergies and autoimmune diseases in the Western world..... |
| Immune mechanisms and herbal medicine (The Times - a serial of articles 2004) | The Pope and Papaya..... Sophie Dahl and Green tea..... Cliff Richard and Ginseng..... Christina Aguilera and Echinacea..... |
Children's Health
| Should the MMR vaccine be compulsory? (The Biologist 2003; 50 No5:244) | A proposed link between the MMR vaccine and autism has led to a decreased uptake in some areas of the UK, resulting in outbreaks of measles and even some deaths...... |
| Is there a case for the MMR vaccine? (Your Children's Health. May 2003) | Do we want to expose our children to the natural viruses to induce immunity or is exposure to the vaccines a better approach?....... |
Commissioned Reports
The European Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC)
2010/2011I am working with EAHC through the Communication and PR Agency, Media Consulta on a range of projects.
| EAHC Information Leaflets A series of information leaflets about the Agency’s work >>> | General leaflet Public Health Consumer Programme Better Training for Safer Food |
| Better Training for Safer Food 25 page training course booklets for the Agency’s ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ Programme | The information presented in the 3 booklets gave some of the key learning outcomes of the following courses, with additional information and discussion points presented: • Evaluation and Registration of Plant Protection Products • Veterinary and Food Safety Control Checks at EU-approved Seaport Border Inspection Posts • The Development, Implementation and Maintenance of HACCP systems |
Book Chapters
| Chapter on 'Health and Disease' (In 'Modern Living, holistic and herbal medicine: Improving health and well-being with herbs and lifestyle changes' by Yaso Shan.) | Published by Booklocker Inc.,USA 2011 |
Profiles
| Ringing the changes (p.7 Wellcome News, Issue 59, July 2009). | Professor Derek Bell, appointed Head of Education at the Trust, at the start of 2009, has been instrumental in moves to encourage teachers and pupils to engage with science.......... |
Meeting Reports
| Identifying T cell subset phenotype and function (2007 EuroSciCon meeting). | The diversity of T cell subsets and functions makes it imperative that they can be identified, characterised, propagated, traced in vivo and their function elucidated effectively. This one day EuroSciCon meeting ........ |
| Analysing the phenotype and function of regulatory T cells (2006 EuroSciCon meeting). | EuroSciCon's focus on novel methods and their applications was at the fore in this informative meeting on April 4th covering some of the latest findings on regulatory T cells......... |
Book Reviews
| Cruise JM and Lewis RE. Historical Atlas of Immunology (2005). For the British Society of Immunology (Immunology News August 2005 Issue 12.3:54) | Immunology may be viewed as a relatively new discipline, but as this book demonstrates in the first chapter, some of the basic observations at its core were made in Greek times..... |
Research Articles
Please contact me for further details of my research publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.