Scott Paton

The Dreaded Shipworm

Smithsonian/National Academies of Sciences Curriculum Publications - January 30, 2003

My writing career has been divided, roughly, into two equal parts: entertainment-oriented and business marketing & advertising. But like most individuals, my interests are vast and varied, and occasionally I get to step outside the realms of show biz and commerce. One of my favorite assignments was with the Smithsonian/National Academies of Sciences for whom I drafted a series of chapter material for their curriculum publications. There I was, getting paid to write stories about outer space, Martin Luther King and the Kennedys, undersea archaeology and countless other fascinating topics. Even better, I was interviewing some of the great scientific minds and historians of our generation. Your average rock star has got nothing on them.