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Are poop jokes over-used? Does the word “DNA” need to be defined? Is particle physics just too hard to explain? These are the kinds of questions that come up when writing about science for kids.

Panelists Emily Krieger, Beth Geiger, Eric Chudler and David George Gordon discussed the rewards and challenges of translating complex technical concepts into stories that the under-age set can understand at NSWA’s monthly meeting on Feb. 12 at University House.

  • Emily Krieger is a Seattle-based freelance editor, writer, and fact-checker. She’s helped edit Science News for Students (formerly Science News for Kids) since 2011, working on both features and news stories and writing companion questions for teachers. She’s also the author of the National Geographic children’s book series Myths Busted!, in which she upends scientific, historical, and pop culture myths. She occasionally fact-checks feature articles for National Geographic magazine, typically science pieces, and fact-checked David Quammen’s award-winning book about zoonoses, Spillover.
  • Beth Geiger was the recipient of the 2006 AAAS Science Journalist Award for excellence in Science Reporting for Children. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
  • Eric Chudler is a Research Associate Professor in the UW Departments of Bioengineering and Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine and Executive Director of the Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering. He received his B.S. degree in Psychobiology from UCLA and his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Washington.
  • David George Gordon is the author of nineteen books on subjects ranging from gray whales and cockroaches to Bigfoot and bald eagles. He’s appeared on Conan O’Brien and in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and has been featured in the New York Times crossword puzzle.