Other tasks undertaken by editors in this area include assessing manuscripts and articles to determine their worthiness for publication, checking material for libellous or misleading statements, and gaining the necessary permissions in order to reproduce previously published texts or illustrations. I commission and write articles, supervise writers and illustrators, edit text, desktop publish the magazine, oversee printing and distribution and maintain the readership database. We cover issues in science policy, information technology, industrial science, health, the environment, astronomy, archaeology and agricultural science. I love the creative element, starting with a blank running sheet and then filling it with interesting stories. I really get excited when a fascinating manuscript lands on my desk - then I can't wait to share this new scientific knowledge with the rest of the world.
University is a life-changing experience.
You meet great people and are influenced by diverse views of the world. The skills you gain are instrumental in determining who you are and how you present yourself to the world. I never expected to be in control of my own destiny, as I am by running my own business. You reap what you sow and this gives me pride in my work and provides the incentive to work hard. As a publisher, it's great to be able to knit so many of the fabrics of science into my career, rather than just concentrating on a single molecule or species.