Dr Stuart Barber is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Science in the University of Melbourne. He teaches first and second year students and runs a research program into sheep mastitis. He is actively involved in his family’s Poll-Dorset stud farm, and writes monthly for the Herald and Weekly Times newspaper. He talks to Science Hub about writing science for the public.
“Sometimes in newspapers you see things said about animal production or agriculture that aren’t quite right.
“Writing for the Weekly Times is a chance to put out some high quality information, based on science, which is presented in a way that’s readable and understandable.
“If I can educate people with sound information, which will help them improve the lives of their animals, as well as their whole management system, or if I can achieve at least part of that, I’m very happy.”
Since 2005, Dr Barber has been writing a monthly column on animal welfare and health for the Farm Magazine of the Herald and Weekly Times. As a qualified vet with five years experience in a regional Victorian clinic, Dr Barber’s columns feature advice for pet owners, farmers and those considering hobby-farms. With a PhD award for his work on anti-parasitic drugs for veterinary species, Dr Barber also brings a scientific focus to his articles.
“The most important thing in writing for the public, which is also something I need to think about when teaching, is that whatever I’m communicating, it’s appropriate for the audience I’m talking to.”
Teaching and writing for the public are two experiences that have focused Dr Barber on his audience, and on the importance of choosing language, examples and teaching methods that will best help his target group learn.
“If I’m talking to a farmers’ group, compared to university staff or students, but all about the same thing, then my writing or presentation would be entirely different for each group.
“No group is more or less intelligent, but their knowledge about a certain area might mean you need to phrase things a certain way so they can apply that knowledge.
“With students, for example, you might have more time to talk about an idea and you can use more scientific language, because they generally have more background knowledge. Having said that, it’s also necessary to explain to those students that as a practising vet, they will need to explain what’s happening to somebody’s dog or cat or cow or sheep so that person understands what’s being said.
“The main thing is that what I’m writing is at a level where everyone can understand what’s being said, and to make sure that nobody feels left out of it.”
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