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Science Writer, Scientist
Department of Plant Biology
Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
(815) 608-3855
snd2@cornell.edu
Highlights
- Completing a novel interdisciplinary PhD, integrating the fields of Science Writing and Plant Biology
- Course development and Instructor of The Art of Science Writing, a first-year writing seminar offered in spring, 2008.
- Founder of Ithaca’s Science Cabaret, a three years-and-running series that mixes science, entertainment, art, and audience participation in an exquisite cocktail.
- Committed to undergraduate education, with experience teaching courses in introductory biology, plant biology and writing in the disciplines.
- Dreer Award Recipient, 2006-07. This generous award funded PhD field research on the controversy around plant biotechnology in Southeast Asia and Mexico for one year. The results of this work will appear in peer-reviewed journals, case studies geared towards policy makers and in mass media.
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Fellow, 2005; Science Reporter at the Raleigh News & Observer.
Education
PhD in Plant Biology, Expected, May, 2008
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Thesis: Forbidden Fruit: Social Perceptions & Economic Realities of Genetically Modified Papaya
A three-year study of the cultural, political, and socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of a genetically modified papaya that is resistant to a devastating virus. I interviewed stakeholders from around the world and did extensive research in Hawaii, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, and Mexico.
Most significantly, I spent six months living amongst subsistence farmers in a small village in northeast Thailand, the region known to be a hotbed of the controversy.
Master of Science in Plant Biology, May 2003 Signal Transduction of the Self Incompatibility Response in Crucifers.
Cornell University Ithaca, NY
Research Topic: Signal Transduction & the Self-Incompatibility Response in Crucifers
Bachelor of Arts in Biology, May 1998
Reed College, Portland, OR
Thesis Title: Agrobacterium rhizogenes – Mediated Transformation of Soybean, Glycine max
Writing Experience
ASPBNews, Freelance contributor, 2006-present
ABSPII publications, Freelance writer, February-March, 2006
Raleigh News & Observer, Science Reporter Fellow, Summer 2005
Cornell News Service, Science Reporter, 2004-2006
Publications
Davies, P., Galston, A. and Davidson, S.N. The Life of The Green Plant Fourth Edition. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco. Textbook to be published in 2009
Davidson, Sarah N. The Genetically Modified (GM) PRSV Resistant Papaya in Thailand: A case study for the agricultural biotechnology policy development in the GMS Sub-Region. Prepared for: Strengthening Capacity and Regional Cooperation in Advanced Agricultural Science and Technology in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Prepared for The Asian Development Bank, 2006
Urbanowicz, B.R., Davidson, S.N. and Rose, J.K.C. (2005) Plant Cell Walls. In McGraw-Hill 2006 Yearbook of Science & Technology. McGraw-Hill Professional
A selection of clips from other publications (magazine and newsprint) available upon request and at www.sarahnelldavidson.com/articles.htm
Publications in Preparation
Davidson, Sarah N. What Can Plant Biologists Still Learn From the GMO Papaya Case? Plant Physiology (invited paper)
Davidson, Sarah N. Ten Years Later: The fate of GMO papaya beyond Hawaii (a magazine-style article geared towards Hawaiian readership)
Davidson, Sarah N. Forbidden Fruit: The biotech controversy hits home in rural Thailand (a full-length feature-style magazine article depicting the papaya crisis in rural Thailand)
Davidson, Sarah N. A New Johnny Appleseed (a magazine-style profile of the original maverick of GMO papaya, scientist Dennis Gonsalves)
Davidson, Sarah N. Social Perceptions and Economic Realities: A case study of small-scale papaya farmers in Northeast Thailand.
Awards & Honors
Mentor Grant, National Association of Science Writers, 2007.
Barbara McClintock Award, 2007. Honors a graduate student in the Plant Sciences at Cornell who shows greatest merit and creativity.
Graduate School Conference Grant, 2007 and 2006.
Frederick Dreer Award, 2006-2007. One award granted annually to support living and travel expenses while conducting independent research abroad, in a field related to Horticulture
Buttrick-Crippens Fellowship, John S. Knight Writing Center. Offers promising instructors of freshman writing seminars the opportunity to develop a new seminar for subsequent instruction
Einaudi Travel Research Grant, 2006 and 2005.
Graduate School Travel Research Grant, 2005.
Knudson-Jagendorf Assistantship, 2002-2005
AAAS Mass Media Fellow, Raleigh News & Observer, Summer 2005
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention, 2001 and 2002 Plant Cell and Molecular Biology Fellowship, 2000-2001
Teaching Experience
Instructor, The Art of Science Writing, Cornell University, spring 2008
Teaching Assistant (2004-5) and Teacher Trainer (2006), Introductory Biology, Cornell University
Grader, Organizational & Business Writing, Cornell University, 2005
Plant Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants, Cornell University, 2002 Laboratory in Plant Molecular Biology, Cornell University, 2001
Microbial Genetics, University of Arizona, 1999
Research Experience
John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines, Cornell University, 2007-present
Part-time Graduate Research Assistantship to collect content for and aid in the development of an on-line teaching resource for instructors of writing instructors. Project Title: Resources for Writing Instructors; Funded by: Faculty Innovations in Teaching Program
Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, 2004-present
Independent doctoral thesis project addressing controversy around agricultural biotechnology in developing countries
Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, 2001-2003
Master’s degree research on the signal transduction pathway that mediates cell-to-cell
communication during the pollination response in the plant, Arabidopsis thaliana
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, 1999-2000 Genetic and molecular biology-based research on associative nitrogen fixation in grasses
Department of Biology, Reed College, 1997-1998
Using biochemical techniques, an exploration of the effects of oxidative stress on soybean root nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybean
Volunteer Experience
Founder, Science Cabaret, Ithaca, NY, 2005-present.
Volunteer Scientist, Saturday Science & Math Academy, Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, 2006
Critic, Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology presentations by Engineering and Physics undergraduates, 2004
Judge, American Women in Science Girls Science Fair, Tucson, AZ, 1999
Elementary School Student Teacher, HHMI Reed College Science Outreach Program, Portland, OR, 1996- 1998
Conferences Attended as a Reporter
American Society of Plant Biologists Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL (2007) and Boston, MA (2006). American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO (2006) and Washington, D.C. (2005)
First International Symposium on Papaya, Genting Highlands, Malaysia (2005).
Nanotechnology Workshop for Journalists, Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscience. Ithaca, NY (2004)
Building the Information & Communication Technology Capacity of African Universities for
Promoting Development, The Institute of African Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (2004)
Conferences for Professional Development
Science Writers 2078, Spokane, WA (2007)
World Conference of Science Journalists, Melbourne, Australia (2007)
National Association of Science Writers, Washington D.C. (2005)
Science for Everyone. NSF Integrative Graduate Education & Research Traineeship Program, Cornell University; Ithaca, NY (2004)
Professional Organizations
American Women in Science, 2006-present
Council for Science and Society, 2006-present
Council for Agricultural Science & Technology, 2005-2007
National Association of Science Writers, 2004-present
American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2003-present
American Society of Plant Biologists, 1998-present.
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