Santa Fe Science Writing Workshop

If you don't find the answer to your question here or on the page called How to Apply, please drop us a line. Inquiries about lodging and business matters should be directed to the registrar at Plaza Resolana:

Sue Rundstrom
Ghost Ranch Santa Fe
401 Old Taos Highway
Santa Fe, NM 87501
vox: 800 821-5145 or 505 982-8539, extension 23
fax: 505 986-1917

Questions about the curriculum should be directed to

What does it cost?

Please see the information for 2004.

Who sponsors the workshop?

The Santa Fe Science Writing Workshop is a nonprofit organization registered in the state of New Mexico.

How quickly do you fill up?

It varies from year to year. We accept about 40 people, after which there is usually a waiting list of about half a dozen. it is important to you to get a certain instructor or a single room at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe, please apply as early as possible.

How do I get there?

You'll probably fly to Albuquerque. Here is the latest information on shuttle service between Albuquerque International Airport and Santa Fe. Some people fly directly into Santa Fe's small, wonderfully retro airport on United Express from Denver. (If you do this, avoid being seated in Row 1, which has no windows -- the view of the Rockies is magnificent.) A shuttle service and taxis are available from there to Ghost Ranch Santa Fe (the driver may still know it as Plaza Resolana). If you are driving, follow these directions.

What are the rooms like?

A little spartan but nice. While all the rooms have wash basins and toilets, the doubles share a shower located in each hallway. Singles, if available, have full baths. The rooms do not have telephones (there is a courtesy phone in the lobby) or televisions. We wish the facilities were more modern, but the ambience is very pleasant (think "nonprofit"), the staff is nice, and the location, three blocks from the Plaza, is unbeatable. See Ghost Ranch Santa Fe's Web site for pictures and more details. (And see below for information on other places to stay.)

How about the food?

Most people find the buffet breakfasts and lunches at the conference center to be quite good. (A typical lunch might include soup, a small salad bar, a self-assembled sandwich or hot entree, and dessert.) We will provide a buffet supper for the reception Saturday night and a catered picnic lunch during the trip on Sunday to the Santa Fe Institute. For dinner on Sunday and Monday, people usually walk to the Plaza area, which is filled with excellent restaurants in all price categories, ranging from the funky Plaza Diner to the elegant Santacafe. These outings offer a great chance to get to know your fellow students. The group dinner at Rancho de Chimayo always gets rave reviews, and the highpoint of the week (culinarily speaking) is the Wednesday night barbecue.

What is included in the cost? The lodging cost at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe includes breakfasts and lunches (commuters get lunch only) and use of the conference facilities -- meeting rooms, projectors, etc. Tuition covers just about everything else, including the opening night supper and extracurricular activities like the Rancho de Chimayo dinner and the barbecue.

Will I have my own instructor?

Yes. The program is divided between lectures attended en masse and workshop sessions, in which students meet in groups of about eight with one of the five instructors. In addition there are many informal group activities at which you can socialize with all the instructors.

Will I receive an evaluation of my work?

Yes. If you are already writing about science, you may bring along material to be critiqued by your instructor and the other members of your group: an article, book proposal, or short book chapter. (Please bring 10 copies.) Or you can complete a writing assignment during the workshop. The choice is yours.

What will the writing assignment be like?

You will attend a press conference at the Santa Fe Institute, then work with your instructor to hammer out an opening for an article and a strategy for researching and writing it.

I've already attended a previous workshop. Is it worth coming back again?

Many people have thought so. We make a point of having different instructors and a different program each year.

Will I need a laptop?

Not really, but you might want to bring one anyway. Even those doing the writing assignment can survive with pencils and notebook. There is a phone jack in the lobby that people with laptops can use to check email.

What will the weather be like?

Probably wonderful. Though afternoon highs can sometimes reach into the mid or (occasionally) high 90s, the air is so dry that you barely notice the heat. At night the temperature cools to as low as the 60s and maybe even the high 40s. There may be short afternoon thunderstorms. At this altitude, 7,000 feet, the barely filtered sunlight is intense. Bring heavy-duty sunscreen. Here's a weather link to use if you'd like to follow the local conditions.

What is appropriate attire?

Very casual for both the workshop and the evening events. Keep in mind the warm and sometimes hot days and chilly nights, and the possibility of rain.

Do I have to stay at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe?

No. Most people find that they enjoy the place, but others prefer to stay at one of the many inns in walking distance to the conference center. Here is a link to a reservations site. Previous participants have recommended Casa de la Cuma (800-366-1717), which is probably the closest, Inn on the Paseo (800-457-9045), and Camas de Santa Fe (800-632-2627). Also nearby are Grant Corner Inn (505-983-6678), Spencer House (800-647-0530), and Territorial Inn (800-745-9910). There are others as well. Many have their own Web pages, which are linked to the site mentioned above. Anything near the Plaza is probably within an easy stroll. Ask the reservations clerk how far the inn is to Ghost Ranch Santa Fe (they will probably still know it as Plaza Resolana), which is at the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Old Taos Highway, just north of the Plaza. (If you stay offsite, you'll have to pay Ghost Ranch Santa Fe's commuter fee to cover food and other costs.)