CG Perspectives: Communicating Science with and without a Science Background

Science is a multifaceted and fast-paced industry. As technologies progress through the years, innovative discoveries in the field grow larger and more complex. At times, it can be difficult to keep up with these advances, especially if you don’t hold a science degree. As a result, you might expect that it would be challenging to work for a science-based company without a science background. However, many employees at CG Life undertake this challenge every day—and excel at their jobs regardless.

There is a saying in journalism that you should have a knowledge base that is ‘a mile wide and one inch deep.’ In other words, you can’t be an expert in everything, but you need to be able to quickly step up to cover a wide range of topics. One of the most challenging obstacles a handful of employees at CG Life face as non-scientists working in the life science industry is simply not having the background knowledge to fully understand a certain product or idea. Fortunately, what they do have is access to various colleagues with science Ph.D.s who can answer all of their burning questions.    

According to Juliet Preston, Director of Content, her two scientist coworkers are great at sharing not just their scientific wisdom, but the perspective of the researcher purchasing the products she is trying to sell. “For marketing, knowing how science works as a business is just as valuable as knowing what happens within cells. And that insight is much harder to research on the web,” she says.

After a decade in the field working with companies ranging from Elephas Bio, which offers live tumor imaging technology, to clinical trial solutions companies, early-stage biotechs, life science associations, and more, Juliet says the science becomes second-hand.   

Courtney Reynolds, Senior Art Director, believes her art background improves her storytelling ability, allowing for a visually richer story that is not so literal. Along those same lines, Cara O’Shea, Account Supervisor, feels she can naturally focus on the big picture, which is important for identifying new opportunities. Clearly, CG Life has the best of both worlds with scientists and marketers under one roof. 

Although you may not realize it, virtually everything we do in our day-to-day lives will involve science in one way or another. Quite frankly, science is cool and there is something in it for every person to enjoy. As Account Executive Aulani Capuchin describes it, CG Life gives her the opportunity to be constantly exposed to knowledge related to novel tools and affords her the ability to work closely with organizations that are making an impact in the STEM space. Likewise, Cara says she loves learning about new innovative approaches in drug discovery and diagnostics, especially with so many recent advances in technology. 

As you can see, you do not have to be Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, or Marie Curie to get involved in and appreciate the scientific world around you. You just have to foster an ability to learn.