Climate change, human microbiome hot topics

Kolkata: Understanding climate change and the human microbiome are one of the trending topics in science for writers, says celebrated science writer Jon Turney.

"One of the hot topics is definitely climate change. Understanding what it means and how people are responding to it has become a very engaging topic. Local initiatives which connect to issues globally are worth writing about since it affects all," Turney told the media here on Friday.

The author of "I, Superorganism" was in the city to deliver 'The GREAT Talk', organised by the British Council here at the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum.

Sharing insights into the art of science writing, Turney said the area of human microbiome (microbial communities that live in and on the human body and their interactions) is a "terribly fascinating" world for reporting given the current spate of research being done on it.

His books are based on the new research on the human microbiome. He has written for a wide range of audiences.

"There are fashions. But the ones that will impact our future are really important to write on," Turney said.

However, the author advised the media should hunt for interesting research-based stories from India's own labs and bring them to the fore.

Turney is a science writer, editor and reviewer since the early 1980s. He has been writing and editing especially on life sciences, science and society and policy issues.