Nancy Shute

Editor in Chief

Nancy Shute joined the staff in February 2018 as the editor in chief of Science News. Shute is a science journalist in print, digital and broadcast, and a lecturer and trainer in science writing and multimedia journalism.  She is a past president of the National Association of Science Writers, the United States’ largest and oldest science writing membership organization. Before joining Science News, Shute was cohost of NPR’s health blog, Shots, and contributed news coverage and radio features to NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition.  She also has written for national publications, including National Geographic and Scientific American. While serving as assistant managing editor at U.S. News & World Report, Shute led the magazine’s award-winning coverage of science and technology.  As a senior writer for U.S. News, she led group investigations and reporting projects, and authored dozens of cover stories. Shute trains journalists and scientists in the uses of social media and other new media technologies. She taught science writing at Johns Hopkins University’s Advanced Academic Programs. Additionally, Shute has been a science writer in residence at the University of Wisconsin, and guest lecturer at major universities, including Columbia, NYU, the University of Maryland, Georgetown and the University of California, Santa Cruz.

All Stories by Nancy Shute

  1. Science & Society

    Building big experiments to study very little things

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses our behind the scenes look at the giant equipment used to study the smallest bits of matter.

  2. Astronomy

    To boldly go where no robot explorer has gone before

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the importance of robotic space missions for scientific research.

  3. Science & Society

    The trouble with water, be it too much or too little

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the future of water and global issues associated with water scarcity and rising sea levels.

  4. Science & Society

    What does fake news look like to you?

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the importance of being able to illustrate science visually.

  5. Science & Society

    In research, detours are a key part of discovery

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the scientific process and the often contradictory research about Alzheimer's disease.

  6. Health & Medicine

    Medical breakthroughs come with a human cost

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute muses on the risks many medical advances pose in their infancy.

  7. Science & Society

    So what do you know about Emmy Noether?

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses physicist Emmy Noether and women being underrepresented in science fields.

  8. Science & Society

    The power of great editors, their lessons and legacy

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute reflects on the history and legacy of Science News editors.

  9. Science & Society

    We’ve got the genes for science journalism

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses how genetic testing might not be reliable enough for people to plan for the future.

  10. Science & Society

    Does our latest issue look fat? If so, that’s a good thing

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute enthuses about three enterprise stories featured in this issue of Science News magazine.

  11. Science & Society

    How many scientists do you know in real life?

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute ponders about memorable scientists and how we can make it easier for people to connect to their work.

  12. Science & Society

    Why it’s great to have a geologist in the house

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute enthuses about learning how ancient plans may have helped make Earth muddy.