Science communication. Not for Dummies
I am a freelance science writer and an award-winning book author with a PhD in molecular biology. My journalistic credits include Scientific American, Reuters, the New Scientist, Nature and many others. As a consultant, I help scientists communicating their work to the public and the media. I am often invited to talk about genomics, biotech, science communication and research. I like to produce and read/hear/watch stories that are compelling, sharp-sighted and accurate. When not at my desk, I am on a conference tour or diving.
Biography
Sergio Pistoi is an Italian biologist, journalist and writer. He graduated in Biology in 1991 and obtained a PhD degree in molecular biology from the University of Paris VI in 1996.
In 1998, he merged two passions, science and communication, into one profession. He was an intern at Scientific American, a fellow journalist at the Harvard Medical School and a stringer for Reuters Health.
His journalistic credits include Scientific American, the New Scientist, The Lancet, Nature, the US National Public Radio (NPR) and many other international and Italian outlets. He is a member of the US National Association of Science Writers (NASW and the Italian Union of Science Journalists UGIS and SWIM. He was a member of the Public Education Committee at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR).
From 1998 to 2010 he coordinated the science communication activities of the Telethon foundation, the second largest research charity in Italy, contributing to its excellent international reputation. He also worked as a consultant for research development, helping the foundation with benchmarking, strategic planning and translational research activities.
He currently works as a consultant, communication and editorial manager for leading institutions and EU projects.
An engaging public speaker, he is often invited to give seminars and talks at festivals and events.
In 2013 he was awarded the Galileo Prize 2013 (the most prestigious science literary award in Italy) for his book “Il DNA incontra Facebook” (DNA meets Facebook, Marsilio Editori 2012), a narrative non-fiction book about the rise of consumer genomics. The book has also inspired a theatre show which featured across Italy in 2012/2013.
He works in Italian and English. Il parle français aussi. He is based in Arezzo, in the heart of Tuscany, not far from Rome and Florence.