About

My name is Russ Hodge, and I currently work as a science writer and communications trainer at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, Germany. Previously I started the Office of Information and Public Affairs at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg and ran it for 8 years. At EMBL I became heavily involved in science education, writing the grants that established the science teaching magazine Science in School, the European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences at EMBL, and the international Science on Stage project (all funded by the European Union).

I am the author of nine books on science for the general public (currently working on number 10), and nearly 20 journalistic, institutional reports (for EMBL, the IRB Barcelona, CEMM Vienna, the Jackson Laboratory, etc.).

Last year I developed a new program called SCOTT (“Science Communication Teacher Training”), which is based on a new theoretical and didactic model I have developed. This model has been the result of 10 years of intensively studying problems in the way scientists communicate – with each other and with non-experts. It has led to some powerful didactic tools that I am now passing along to a next generation of scientists and teachers. The program takes applicants from other institutes; contact me for more information. In its first year SCOTT received two grants from the Stiftung Charité.

My current work spans all things having to do with science communication and training, helping scientists with applications for grants and interviews, developing original teaching materials for schools based on science, working with teachers, helping institutes and programs prepare for external reviews, etc

I also write novels (if you’re an agent, CONTACT ME) and popular science books. My last project was a six-book set on themes related to genetics and evolution, with the U.S. publisher Facts on File. My most recent book concerned a human genetics project involving a Turkish family with very short fingers and enormously high blood pressure, and their involvement over the last 50 years with a scientific project to find the causes of high blood pressure.

The last thing you need to know about me is that I have spent many years as a professional musician, giving public and radio concerts and recording CDs with my instrument of choice, the viola da gamba, and a variety of other Medieval and Renaissance stringed instruments. The process of learning an instrument has a lot of similarities to learning science or anything else…

I regularly publish highlight articles on the website of my home institute, http://www.mdc-berlin.de, which will be reposted here. My popular books on science can be seen at http://www.amazon.com/Russ-Hodge/e/B0024J8XO0/.

Finally, I also dabble in art and have an on-line gallery here.

Please note that the views expressed on this site are purely personal and should not be interpreted as a reflection of the views or policies of the MDC, or any other institute I have worked for / am currently working for.