How does science news get from scientists to you? And why does it matter whether trained scientists are the ones writing the news? Author of two books and numerous articles for Astronomy and Sky and Telescope, Dr. James explains the ugly truth about science journalism. Along the way she reveals the reasons behind her journey from astronomer to popular science writer, and how you, too, can help stem the tide of ignorance about the science you love.

 Dr. James has been distracted by shiny objects in the Universe for as long as she can remember. Trained as a stellar spectroscopist at the astronomy department of the University of Texas at Austin, she later abandoned determining the chemical abundances of metal-poor stars in favor of exploring astronomy and the history of science with the enthusiasm of a kid playing in the mud after a good rain. She has written extensively for both Astronomy and Sky and Telescope magazines, and was awarded the Popular Science Writing Award by a division of the American Astronomical Society. Meanwhile, she's been teaching introductory astronomy for non-science majors at Sam Houston State University since 1999.

At the Novice Session

Come enjoy a talk by Bill Flanagan on Solstices, Equinoxes and Seasons. We are just past the summer solstice (June 21). This date represents the northernmost excursion of the Sun in the sky. It’s the longest day, but is it the earliest sunrise or the latest sunset? It is amazing how that 23.4 degree tilt affects everything on Earth and in the heavens.