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Qualifications:
- 2.1 Chemistry (Hons) degree, University of Southampton, 1996
- MSc Science and Technology Studies, University of Edinburgh Graduate School 1998
- Royal Society of Chemistry Marriott Studentship, 1996
- British Chemical Distributors and Traders Association Journalist of the Year Award 2000
Membership:
- Member of the Association of British Science Writers
After studying for her MSc at the University of Edinburgh, on science in society, Helen returned to London as an Editorial Assistant on Chemistry in Britain, the Royal Society of Chemistry's monthly magazine.
In 1998, the focus of Helen's writing shifted away from science and towards business when she joined European Chemical News, contributing to its news, comment and analysis columns as well as its online news service, Chemical News and Intelligence.
In 1999, she moved back to Dorset, working as a freelance journalist.
Helen continued to contribute regularly to ECN. In November 1999, she wrote the feature that led to her winning nomination as the BCDTA's Journalist of the Year. It emphasised the positive role smaller chemical distributors can play in an industry dominated by pan-European businesses built on mega-mergers and acquisitions.
During this period Helen gained further experience of online newswires on Chemical News and Intelligence. She continued to edit news for CNI, as well as supplements on the fine chemicals industry for ECN.
Helen led the science writing module of the MSc Science Communication course at the University of the West of England (UWE), during 2005-06. Her involvement with UWE's well-known Graphic Science Unit continued: She contributed science writing to a public consultation exercise on where science will take us all in twenty years' time and wrote for the European Commission's UWE-based Science for Environment Policy news site during 2008. She was also a visiting lecturer on the MSc course and offered media training for an environmental organisation.
Helen's recent articles have appeared in New Scientist, Science, Flipside, Chemistry & Industry, Chemistry World, Gasworld and ICIS Chemical Business. During 2008 she offered editing services to clients including Cryostar and the Royal Society of Chemistry. During 2007 she assisted with PR for the online open-access biomedical journals at BioMed Central on a regular basis, and continues to write and edit press releases for this publisher.
Helen relocated to Vancouver, Canada in November 2008, where she continues to pursue freelance writing and editing opportunities with new and existing clients. November 2008 also saw the launch of the Science Council's FutureMorph careers website, which features a video about Helen's science writing career.