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

    How newsy science becomes Science News

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses how a news story makes it into Science News magazine.

  2. Science & Society

    Scientists set sail for the elusive island of stability

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the search for the island of stability and the future of the periodic table.

  3. Neuroscience

    Brain discoveries open doors to new treatments

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the history of neuroscience and new techniques scientists are using to influence the brain.

  4. Planetary Science

    We spent New Year’s Eve in the Kuiper Belt

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses Science News' coverage of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft's flyby of Ultima Thule.

  5. Science & Society

    The periodic table remains essential after 150 years

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute reflects on the 150th anniversary of the invention of the periodic table by Dmitrii Mendeleev.

  6. Science & Society

    To assemble a Top 10 list, Science News starts in June

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses creating Science News' annual Top 10 science stories of the year.

  7. Science & Society

    Seeking a panacea in the gut’s microbiome

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the potential role of the gut microbiome in Parkinson's disease and one reporter's connection to the story.

  8. Science & Society

    Do you know how your drinking water is treated?

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses drinking water quality in the United States and the latest research on water treatment technology.

  9. Science & Society

    Screen time to heal, and perhaps to harm

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute reflects on the advances in virtual reality technology and how much time we spend on our computers and smartphones.

  10. Science & Society

    Waking up early to cover science’s biggest honor

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses how the Science News editors and reporters cover the Nobel Prizes each year.

  11. Science & Society

    Celebrating successes while examining failures

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses this year's 10 scientists to watch and the ups and downs of the scientific endeavor.

  12. 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.