Star Tribune reporter named science writer in residence

Jim Dawson, a science journalist with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, has been named a 1998 Science Writer in Residence by UW–Madison.

A reporter of 19 years experience, Dawson is editor of “Science,” the Star Tribune’s weekly science page. He has served as the newspaper’s science reporter since 1988, and previously was a higher education and general assignment reporter.

Dawson has also written numerous freelance articles for such publications as The Scientist, Earth, the Chicago Tribune and Final Frontier Magazine, among others.

Dawson will spend a week on the UW–Madison campus beginning April 20. He will deliver a free public lecture, “The Unexpected Birth and Unusual Life of a Newspaper’s Multi-media Science Page,” on April 21 at 4 p.m. in the Nafziger Room on the fifth floor of Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave.

Dawson will spend most of his time on campus in classes, and working independently with students, faculty and staff interested in science journalism.

The Science Writer in Residence Program was established in 1986 with the help of the Brittingham Trust. It continues with the support of the UW Foundation and has brought to the UW–Madison campus many of the nation’s leading science writers including three writers whose work subsequently earned them the Pulitzer Prize.

The program is sponsored by the UW–Madison Office of News and Public Affairs and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.