Prolific author, science writer to be in residence

Robin Marantz Henig, a prolific author, columnist, essayist and writer of articles about science and medicine, has been named a 1999 Science Writer in Residence.

Henig

Henig, 46, has written seven books, including treatments of the life of monk and genetics pioneer Gregor Mendel, aging in women, senility, and emerging viruses. In addition, she has written scores of articles for such venues as the New York Times Magazine, Discover, the Washington Post, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, Vogue and Ms., among others.

Henig has won numerous awards, including 1994 Author of the Year from the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the William Harvey Award from the American Medical Writers Association and the Howard Blakeslee Award in Science Writing from the American Heart Association. She is also a member of the Board of Contributors for the USA Today editorial board and is a board member of the National Association of Science Writers.

As a science writer in residence, Henig will spend a week on the UW–Madison campus beginning Monday, Oct. 18. She will give a free public lecture, “Writing ‘The Monk in the Garden,'” on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union (check Today in the Union for a room number). Her talk will focus on how she approached writing a book about the life of Gregor Mendel and the history of genetics in a way that is lively, literary — and true.

Henig will spend most of her time on campus working with students, faculty and staff interested in science writing.

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 campus many of the nation’s leading science writers, including three whose work subsequently earned them the Pulitzer Prize. The program is sponsored by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the UW–Madison Office of News and Public Affairs.