A Science Writing Center as a Catalyst for Improving Undergraduate Writing Skills in the Sciences

Having earned a PhD in the sciences, I am keenly aware that writing skills are at the core of being a successful scientist. Undergraduate students in the sciences not only face the immediate demands of complex course material, but in many cases the prospect of a career in which writing skills can determine professional success. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of science course material, writing assignments, revisions, and feedback to students are given relatively little attention. The Utah State University Science Writing Center is unique platform in its ability to address this limitation; bringing together a diverse pool of trained undergraduate students, graduate students, and PhDs like myself to help science majors navigate the writing process and improve writing skills. Here, I use my experiences over the past few months in the Utah State University Science Writing Center as a case study in why such a platform could be critical towards improving science writing and learning outcomes