Science Writing
To popularize science, don’t dumb it down. Story it up.
Since 1999, I’ve helped more than 25 major science and health research-based organizations in the United States and Canada share their science and stories with the world.
I turn complex facts into compelling, accessible stories that engage and inspire audiences.
“Jacob has always brought fantastic energy, creativity and commitment to the projects we have worked on together. I may start with what I think is a promising idea, but Jacob makes the effort to polish it into a much better idea and a superb communications product.”
Hugh Thompson,
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
A selection of my favourite projects:
- For the National Art Centre of Canada’s Theatre and Physics symposium, I curated three play-related discussion panels and the creation of two CBC Radio IDEAS episodes.
- For a decade I developed and wrote the ceremony script for the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame Annual Induction Ceremony, a 500-person gala in Washington D.C.
- For the past 20 years I’ve written dozens of researcher profiles and topical features for DEIXIS magazine about supercomputing at the U.S. National Laboratories.
- I loved writing the exhibit text for the international traveling exhibition Soil Superheroes.
- I wrote a major national report, Just Green Cities, on how to interweave social equity into municipal infrastructure renewal to meet Canada’s sustainable development goals.
- As event rapporteur and writer for Envisioning Computational Innovations for Cancer Challenges I distilled the interdisciplinary discussion, launching a major research program.
- I wrote the first complete popular description of TRIUMF, Canada’s National Particle Accelerator Centre. The book-length text explains more than 50 amazing experiments.
- I developed and wrote the science story framework for the feature film documentary The Quantum Tamers, co-produced by the Waterloo-based Perimeter Institute.
Clients include:
National Research Council of Canada
Natural Sciences and Engineering Council
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Natural Resources Canada
Canadian Museum of Nature
Social Sciences and Humanities Council
Canada Foundation for Innovation
American Institute of Physics News Service
Waterloo Global Science Initiative
“Berkowitz is a gifted writer who draws his audience into the stories he weaves while maintaining an accurate account of the facts and relevant information. He provides keen insight in the conceptualization of projects.”
Stéphane Bruneau,
Parks Canada