MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Loftus, (208) 885-7694, bloftus@uidaho.edu

MOSCOW, Idaho —— The University of Idaho and Society of Environmental Journalists will sponsor a Science Writing Workshop Nov. 6 and 7 to draw journalists, students and scientists together for a weekend at the UI Student Union Building.

Panelists will consider some of the toughest issues challenging the Northwest and the nation. The goal is to explore press coverage of issues and public policies that rely on the scientific method.

Pulitzer Prize winner and keynote speaker William Dietrich will address science writing and the public’s need for reliable information from journalists during a Saturday evening dinner, which begins at 7 in the SUB Ballroom.

Dietrich was part of a Seattle Times team that won a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1990 for coverage of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. He will talk about the importance of science writing and its problems and opportunities.

Other workshop speakers include American Fisheries Society President Chris Moffitt, a UI research associate professor of fish and wildlife, and Beverly Cook, U.S. Department of Energy Idaho Operations manager at Idaho Falls.

Faculty and staff members from the University of Idaho, Washington State University, Lewis-Clark State College and University of Washington, and state and federal agencies, will also participate.

Panelists will explore topics including Developing the Science Story, Should We Cover Science Like Politics?, The Science of Salmon Recovery, Biotechnology, Computer Security, and Groundwater Protection and Nuclear Issues.

Registration, which includes a ticket to Saturday’s dinner, costs $30 for journalists or educators and $75 for others. Students may attend the workshop sessions for free but must purchase a $12 ticket to attend Saturday evening’s dinner.

Dinner tickets are also available for $12 for the general public. The deadline for workshop registration and dinner ticket purchases is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Registration and dinner tickets will be handled by UI Conferences and Events by calling (208) 885-6662 or (888) 884-3246 (88-88-UIDAHO).

Cosponsors include the UI College of Agriculture, University Communications and Marketing, School of Communication, Agricultural Communicators in Education, Washington State University Edward R. Murrow School of Communication and the Society of Environmental Journalists.