Elizabeth A. Thomson, assistant editor of MIT Tech Talk and News Office staff writer since 1988, has been promoted to the position of assistant director for science and engineering news.
In her new position, she will be the lead News Office writer communicating MIT science and engineering research and teaching developments to the public through the news media and MIT Tech Talk.
Ms. Thomson commented, "I welcome story ideas from MIT faculty and researchers, whether they are based on interesting results being published in journals, or simply an area of research or teaching that you are excited about and that would be interesting to the public." She can be contacted at x8-5402 or via e-mail,
Kenneth D. Campbell, director of the News Office, said in announcing the appointment, "For the past year, the major part of Elizabeth Thomson's responsibilities has been covering science and engineering news. She recently initiated a new feature in MIT Tech Talk, 'Notes from the Lab.'"
"Her appointment implements a News Office plan to increase the coverage of science and engineering news at MIT. Associate Director Robert C. DiIorio, who has covered engineering and science news at MIT since 1973, will serve as managing editor for science and engineering news. He will coordinate the work in that area of all News Office staff, particularly the three science and engineering reporters: Mr. DiIorio, Ms. Thomson, and Ms. Thomson's successor in the position of staff writer and assistant editor of MIT Tech Talk."
Mr. Campbell said a search to fill that position is under way.
Ms. Thomson has been a staff member at MIT since 1985. Before joining the News Office, she was a technical editor in MIT's Ceramics Processing Research Laboratory, editing articles written for professional journals by researchers in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She also edited and produced the 150-page quarterly publication of research summaries for the laboratory.
Ms. Thomson graduated from Cornell University in 1984 with a B.S. degree in biology. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
A version of this article appeared in the March 3, 1993 issue of MIT Tech Talk (Volume 37, Number 24).
