STJR Grads Article Tops SciDev.Nets Most-Read of 2012
An article by recent STJR graduate Bernard Appiah has been recognized as the most-read article appearing on the Science and Development Network website (SciDev.Net) in 2012.
The article, titled “Intercropping ‘boosts maize yields by 50 per cent,'” achieved this status despite being published late in the year. The article “went viral” on reddit.com, generating more than 200 comments in just a few days.
The article focused on intercropping in Malawi and Zambia. Intercropping is the growing of two or more crops together to increase overall yield.
“[The STJR] program prepared me to write in a very concise manner,” says Bernard of how his STJR skills helped him produce the popular article. “I learned the value of word counts, of having different perspectives to provide context, and how to pitch stories.”
Bernard received an MS in science and technology journalism from Texas A&M University in 2010. He is now is a doctoral student in public health.