Biotext

Writing science for nonscientists

Many of our consultants have tertiary qualifications in science communication, and also have first-hand research or tertiary teaching experience, which helps us to better understand the science environment.

We have become skilled communicators who can engage people and translate complex science and policy information into effective publications.

We specialise in communicating in plain English and producing material specifically targeted to its audience. We can write for any audience, including expert committees, government agencies, the scientific community, professionals, business people and the general public.

Over their careers our staff members have written a wide range of documents, from scientific texts to magazine and newspaper articles, press releases, promotional material, executive summaries, plain-English summaries, grant applications and proposals, and annual reports.

Design

At Biotext, we offer a unique, specialist approach to design because our writing, editing and design staff all work together. Our designers are experts in understanding editorial decisions in technical documents and have extensive experience in designing science-based publications.

We do not just aim to make a document 'look good'. Our designers are particularly skilled at creating visual designs that help readers to navigate through the document and engage with key information. This requires a high level of interdisciplinary expertise in visual literacy, visual information, visual instruction and visual communication.

Language of evidence and risk

Scientific rigour can easily be lost if the language used to describe and summarise scientific evidence is open to misinterpretation. In particular, summary statements describing evidence of benefit, evidence of harm, inconclusive evidence, insufficient evidence and evidence of no significant effect are often confusing, even for experienced readers of scientific texts. This can be further compounded by the use of biased expressions, such as ‘no evidence to support a beneficial effect’ when there has been no studies of the effect in question.

It is important that the language used in communicating risk is clear and that it is easily understandable by a wide range of people.

At Biotext we are skilled in writing and editing texts to communicate evidence and risk clearly, consistently and free from accidental bias.

We also deliver a language of evidence training course.

Information technology

Biotext staff possess advanced skills in many software applications to support editing and publication, including:

• Microsoft Office (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, etc) and Visio
• Adobe Acrobat, FrameMaker, InDesign, Photoshop and Dreamweaver
• EndNote and NVivo to manage references
• wiki-based applications.

Our workflow benefits from the use of novel technologies, such as:

• inhouse databases to manage workflow and client-specific editorial styles
• templates that streamline editing and allow seamless transfer of files to a designer
• inhouse macros to implement global changes in editing practice
• software to manage references and questionnaire text
• voice-over-the-internet protocol (VOIP) to communicate internally and externally
• wiki websites to manage operational and editing information amongst inhouse staff and subcontractors, update staff on protocols and manage collaborative projects.