Shannon Palus edits articles about science and more at Slate

“What can physicists do? ” is an interview series that profiles physicists who opted for careers outside of academia.

How did you get into science journalism?

I knew early that I wanted to do science writing. In college, I joined the student newspaper. In my junior year, I did an internship at Discover magazine. An editor there confirmed that my strategy of studying physics while intending to do journalism was a good plan.

What was your path?

After college, I did an internship at Idaho National Laboratory and got a taste of working in public information. Then I went freelance as a writer and fact-checker. I was under 26 and could stay on my parents’ health insurance—it was a good time to see if I could make it in journalism. After I got day jobs, I continued freelancing, mainly because my beats were narrow. I was at Retraction Watch and then Wirecutter, where I reported and wrote science-based guides to consumer health products.

How did you get to Slate?

I wanted to write for Slate because they were irreverent, funny, and smart. When I was hired as a staff writer in 2018, it was not the first time I’d applied to Slate.

How do you spend your time?

I spend a lot of time working with freelance writers. I solicit and edit articles on everything from pop culture to the politics of science to health. I also work on headlines. And for our advice section, I have a management role overseeing writers and editors.

What do you like about the work?

Every day is a bit different, and I can follow my interests. I love getting into the flow of writing and editing. The work is solo, but it’s also collaborative. It’s an intellectually rich but also playful job.

How do you use your physics?

I don’t use physics directly anymore. But my physics background signaled to editors that I could take on stories that others find intimidating. It helped launch my career.

Physics teaches you persistence. It set me up to evaluate claims and to set a high standard for what counts as sound science. It gave me a bullshit radar.

What new skills did you need?

Interviewing is the main one. You learn through practice. Networking is another. I got a lot of work in the early days by making myself approach people at conferences. I would tell myself, “You can’t leave until you talk to three people.”