Realising that research was not the ideal choice for her, although she enjoyed explaining technology to the masses, Meike Koelsch [4] decided to leave the lab for a PR agency.

Her career path may have been convoluted, but now that she's working in an agency specialising in health communications Ulrike Martin [5] is exactly where she wants to be.

Working for a PR agency that specialises in managing communications for the biotech industry offers the opportunity to keep up to date with cutting-edge research, as well as plenty of variety, says Emma Murray [6].

With 12 years of science communication experience under her belt, Natasha Martineau [7] decided to take the plunge and see if she could make a go of self-employed science PR. A few months down the line, she tells Next Wave how she's getting on.

The nuclear industry will always be controversial, which puts British Nuclear Fuels Ltd physicist-turned-PR-honcho Paul Vallance [8] right in the hot seat. But, he tells Next Wave, he wouldn't want any other job.

Back in 1998, Anjani Shah interviewed a number of professionals to find out what scientists have to offer the world of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations [9].

Danny Kay said that everyone ends up where they should, and Maria Mennen [10] believes he was right. Pursuing her interest in science while exercising her organisational and communications facilities has brought her to her current role. She also describes a day [11] as head of communication services at the University of Amsterdam.

After embarking on a Ph.D. in ecology, Jennifer Cutraro [12] realized that she just didn't want to narrow her options that much. So she switched to a graduate program in science journalism and now is just about to take up her new role as a science writer at Purdue University.

Michel Claessens's [13] Jekyll and Hyde existence--researcher by day, science journalist by night--came to an end after he spotted an ad for science writers at the European Commission.

According to David Mate [14], who works for Natural Resources Canada, his transition from field geologist to science communicator required a combination of keenness, determination, good mentors, and plain dumb luck.

Not getting into medical school was one of the best things that happened to him, thinks Steve Bradt [15], since he loves his job as a science writer, spreading the word about research the University of Pennsylvania.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) funds scientists from coast to coast to carry out research in fields ranging from aerospace to biotech. Making that research visible is a challenging, but fun, job for the NRC's communications team [16].

As an astrophysics student, Michelle Cain [17] didn't know what a corporate communications officer was. But just a few months into her job at the UK's Institute of Physics, she's enjoying learning the ropes.

Environmental engineer Pixie Hamilton [18] didn't intend to find herself in a communications job, but she's pleased that she did. Hamilton explains the career steps that brought her to her current position as a Water Information Coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey.

Good internal communications are essential to the success of the Canadian Arthritis Network, as Tineke Meijers [19] explains, and it's the focus of her role as Executive Director of Research and Development.

When Next Wave visited the PR arena in a limited way in 1999, Kathy Wren [20] told readers how she landed her job in the News and Information Office at our parent organisation, the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

We also heard from Sandra Crossfield [21], a media relations officer at the National Research Council in Canada, who told us that in her line of work you have to expect the unexpected.

And Kirstie Urquhart [3], now Next Wave's European Editor, described making the transition from chemistry lab to public relations coordinator of the British Society for Immunology.

Think this could be the career path for you? As usual the Next Wave staff have collected a bunch of useful resources [22] to help you on the way.

If you're a scientist who likes communicating, but you're still not convinced that PR is for you, why not check out some of Next Wave's other science communications-related features:

• Science Journalists [23]

• Science Broadcasting [24]

• Educational Outreach [25]

• Medical Writing [26]

• Technical Writing [27]

• Science Editing [28]

• Translating and Interpreting [29]