Harvard Medical School
The Robert G. Fenley Writing Awards: Basic Science Staff Writing
Silver
This story, which was published on the Harvard Medicine magazine website in June 2024, introduces readers to interoception. The concept—our perception of signals from our body—is simple enough, but the science behind it is complex and multidisciplinary. The writer, Molly McDonough, uses the work of researchers associated with Harvard Medical School to explain how scientists are starting to understand the mechanisms of interoception and its connection to a wide range of conditions.
What was the most impactful part of your entry?
The story proved to be one of our most popular stories of 2024 as measured by engagement in email newsletters, with about 14,900 readers finding it via email in the week or two after it was published. It has remained popular with readers searching for information about interoception in the months since it was published, reaching a total of about 36,400 readers.
What is one thing you learned from your entry/experience?
One researcher is quoted in the story saying that interoception "is so big that everybody has been a little bit scared to support it." There's a similar challenge in writing about it—there is so much that could be covered. The writer addressed this challenge by focusing on our increasing understanding of the mechanisms of interoception at the molecular and cellular level.
Contact: Amos Esty
amos_esty@hms.harvard.edu