Cathryn Primrose-Mathisen | Science, Technology, Medical and Business Editor

Science and technology editor specializing in futures, renewable energy, oceanography, climate change, geography and medicine

Hi, I’m Cathryn! I’ve been working as a freelance science, technology, medical and business editor for 14 years. Prior to that I worked as a commercial oceanographer for 14 years with Fugro in England, Singapore, the USA and Norway, including roles such as operations manager in the Americas and senior oceanographer in Singapore. I also completed many fieldwork visits installing and servicing instrumentation on moorings and offshore platforms as well as analysing and reporting the results and presenting them at conferences. I worked with different clients, including energy companies, governmental organizations and universities. I have an MSc in oceanography and a BSc (Honours) in geography as well as the following A-levels: geography special paper (merit), physics, mathematics with mechanics, and geography.

I offer the following core services using track changes in MS Word:

1. Substantive / technical / structural / development editing (e.g. course guidelines and reports)

2. Copy-editing (e.g. books, research articles, funding applications)

3. Sub-editing (e.g. trade magazines)

I can also offer writing / reviewing of project management documentation (e.g. proposals, project plans, reports, procedures, project descriptions, PowerPoint presentations, marketing material), proofreading (PDF or on paper) and website editing (and functionality checks). Please contact me to discuss your needs.

I can help you to get more clients, sell more products and services, communicate your financial and scientific results clearly, or present HSE and technical information in a logical manner.

My specialities include:

• Futures / technology
• Climate change and renewable energy
• Medical and healthcare communications
• Energy industry document control / QA
• Metocean monitoring
• Project management documentation
• Rewriting, restyling and precis writing
• Harvard, Vancouver and APA reference styles

Examples of my clients include:

• European Marine Board
• World Health Organization
• Norwegian Refugee Council
• UiT The Arctic University of Norway
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Benchmark Breeding and Genetics
• Val R&D
• Austrian Research Centre for Forests
• Renewables industry magazine (2017–)
• Climate Change Adviser to Shell
• Wood Group ODL
• ITAD
• DEval German Institute for Development Evaluation
• Bindal Kommune, Norway
• Medical research institutions and specialists
• Academic publishers
• Research scientists

I offer:

• attention to detail
• accuracy
• delivery within deadline and budget
• academic expertise

I am:

• easy to work with
• solution minded
• reliable
• hardworking

Subjects

Acoustic Doppler current profilers, ADCPs, Africa, AI, allergy, alternative technology, alternative therapies, anthropology, aquaculture, artificial intelligence, Aspergers, Asperger's syndrome, autism, built environment, business studies, carbon capture, careers advice, civil engineering, climate change, clinical diabetes, conservation, COVID-19, crafts, current meters, currents, developing countries, diabetes, disability services, earth sciences, ecotourism, education (adult, pre-school / early years, special needs), energy efficiency, engineering, environmental monitoring systems, environmental science, Finland, fitness, floods, forests, futures, geography, geology, geophysics, geopolitics, geosciences, giftedness, health, health care, HELLP syndrome, hiking, homelessness, home-schooling, human geography, humanities, IBS, international development, international relations, language editing, management (human resources, public sector), lidar, manufacturing, marine ecology, marine science, marine technology, maritime technology, medical communications, medicine, mental health, metocean monitoring buoys, nature, navigation,  neurodiversity, Norway, nursing, oceanographic  measurements, oceanography, ocean science, oil & gas, oil / gas exploration and drilling, oil spills, organizational behaviour, outdoor pursuits, palaeoceanography, personal development, physical geography, politics, pollution, project management, psychology, real-time monitoring, recycling, refugees, renewable energy, renewables, Scandinavia, science, sediment dynamics, Singapore, social sciences, sports, strength training, sustainable development, swimming, technology, tidal energy, tides, travel, tsunami, twice exceptional (2e), walking, water resources, waves, wellness, wind power, wind sensor.

Experience

I am an experienced editor from Bristol, England, presently living in Bindal, Norway. I apply my scientific background and commercial knowledge to a wide range of publications for businesses, scientists, medical specialists, post-graduate students, PhD students, national institutions, academic publishers and others.

I am also an experienced commercial oceanographer with strong scientific, project management and practical skills. I worked for 14 years for Fugro in roles including operations manager in Houston, USA, and project / sales manager in Trondheim, Norway. I am able to take on business tasks such as proposal writing, project management and following up sales leads.

Selection of recent work

• Forest risk map scientific article, Austrian Research Centre for Forests, 2023 (editorial support)
• Energy efficiency of engineering systems in oil and gas production, IOGP, 2022 (copy-edit of 13 documents)
• Health Risk Assessment and Management report, IOGP–Ipieca (global oil and gas association for advancing environmental and social performance across the energy transition), 2021 / 22 (copy-edit)
• Diverse medical PowerPoint slides, case studies, poster, etc., Peracto Prepress, 2019–2021 (copy-edit)
• Finnish Cancer Institute’s website, 2021 (copy-edit)
• Suez 2030 Futures White Paper, The Invisible Pollutant (Microplastic from Tyre Wear), SOENECS, 2020 (copy-edit)
• Navigating the Future V, European Marine Board, 2019 (copy-edit)
• Mid-Norwegian Ring User Manual, NorseAqua, 2018 (copy-edit)
• West Africa Food Markets, ITAD, 2018 (proofread)
• Policy Brief: Current Issues of the Philippine Land Use Planning and Management System, DEval, 2017 (copy-edit)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) digital geography textbook, 2017 (copy-edit)

Selection of books copy-edited

• Build Them at Sea – New Energy for the World, Chris Westra, Chris Westra Consulting, 2021
• The Psychology of False Confessions, Gisli Gudjonsson, Wiley, 2018
• Cracking Neuroscience, J Turney, 2018
• International Relations and the European Union, Third Edition, C Hill, M Smith and S Vanhoonacker (Eds), Oxford University Press, 2017
• Physics Workbook for CSEC® (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) (equivalent to UK GCSE), 2014
• Practice Development Workbook for Nursing, Health and Social Care Teams, Jan Dewing, Brendan McCormack and Angie Titchen, Wiley, 2014
• Hypoglycaemia in Clinical Diabetes, 3rd ed., Brian M Frier, Simon R Heller and Rory J McCrimmon (eds), Wiley, 2013
• Science, Philosophy and Physical Geography, Rob Inkpen and Graham Wilson, Routledge, 2013
• Critical Excitation Methods in Earthquake Engineering, Izuru Takewaki, Elsevier, 2013
• Joy and International Relations: A New Methodology, Elina Pentinnen, Routledge, 2013
• Radiation Oncology in Palliative Cancer Care, Stephen Lutz, Edward Chow, and Peter Hoskin (eds), Wiley-Blackwell, 2013
• Transforming Your STEM Career through Leadership and Innovation, Pamela Bush, Elsevier, 2012

Continuing professional development

• Medical Editing (SfEP) 2017
• 120-hour Premier Online TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course 2016
• Document Control Foundation - Grade A - The Robert Gordon University 2016
• Namsos Hospital, Norway: Exchange Of Experiences For People With Diabetes And Who Use An Insulin Pump (And Their Relatives), 3 days, 2015, Norway
• Future Learn – Heart Health 2014
• On-screen editing 1 (SfEP) 2012
• Basic proofreading by distance learning – merit (Publishing Training Centre) 2010

Memberships

• Advanced Professional Member, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
• Member, European Association of Science Editors (EASE)
• Member, Nordic Editors and Translators (NEaT)
• Member, Norwegian Society of Graduate Technical and Scientific Professionals (Tekna)
• Member, Norwegian Geographical Society (NGS)

Publications (examples)

• whitefox Q&A interview – part of their May 2016 focus on the delocalization of publishing http://wearewhitefox.com/qa-cathryn-primrose-mathisen/
• Society for Editors and Proofreaders: specialist Q&A interview – oceanography and medicine http://blog.ciep.uk/specialist-editing-oceanography-medicine/
• Volunteer scientific article writer for Earthzine, a website featuring the latest news on Earth observation, including announcements, news roundups and blog-type items www.earthzine.org/2012/12/11/research-centers-on-svalbard-societal-benefits-extend-further/ www.earthzine.org/2012/12/20/end-of-the-maya-calendar-can-a-past-culture-provide-clues-to-our-climate-related-future/
• Primrose C (2007). Fugro OCEANOR’s Tsunami Detection System For Tsunami Early Warning Systems. Presentation. IEEE OCEANS 2007 Aberdeen, Scotland, June 2007.
• Bosley K T, Primrose C, Harragin C (2005). A Comparison of Two Measurement Systems Designed to Provide Real-Time Current Information in Support of Navigation. MTS / IEEE Oceans Conference 2005, Washington, DC. www.researchgate.net/publication/4245519_A_comparison_of_two_measurement_systems_designed_to_provide_real-time_current_information_in_support_of_navigation
• Mullison J, Nicholas C, Primrose C (2003). Field Testing of an Instrument to Measure Near-Surface Currents from Offshore Platforms. IEEE / MTS Oceans 2003 Marine Technology and Ocean Science Conference. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1282604&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpls%2Fabs_all.jsp%3Farnumber%3D1282604
• Jeans G, Primrose C, Descusse N, Strong B & Van Weert P (2002). Comparison Between Directional Wave Measurements from the RDI Workhorse with Waves and the Datawell Waverider in a Region with Distinct Sea and Swell. IEEE Seventh Working Conference on Current Measurement Technology, San Diego, CA, USA. www.whoi.edu/science/AOPE/cmtc/abstracts/jeansG.html
• Lauras N, Mignot J, Primrose C, Stephens R (1998). Long Term Programme of Current Measurements in Angola Block 17. West Africa Deep Water Currents Workshop, Le Conquet.
• Primrose C L (1996). Sediment Dynamics of the Eastern English Channel at Lowered Sea Levels. Unpublished MSc Dissertation, Dept. Oceanography, Uni of Southampton, Southampton, UK, 105pp. (Combination of data from FLUXMANCHE hydrodynamic numerical model with empirical sediment transport formulae to predict bedload transport rates and pathways).
• Primrose C L (1995). Diatom Analysis of Surface Sediment Samples in Lake Naivasha, Kenya. Unpublished BSc Dissertation, Dept. Geography, Loughborough Uni. of Technology, Loughborough, UK, 82pp. (Use of diatoms as palaeolimnological indicators).

Testimonials

It has been a pleasure to work with Cathryn on numerous projects. Her professionalism is outstanding, and the collaboration has always been easy-going, efficient and 100% reliable. She handles complicated, large projects with ease and great expertise. I warmly recommend her services!

Anu Ruusila, Cordial Communications Oy, Finland

Cathryn has carried out various pieces of editorial work for us and we have been very happy with the results every time. She provides a professional, accurate and timely service and we would not hesitate to use her again in future. Highly recommended.

Eileen Sim, Editorial Supervisor, Wood Group ODL

I have worked with Cathryn on several projects over the course of 5 years. In particular, she has provided English language review of my PhD thesis as well as articles that I have published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders and the BMJ together with my colleagues. In addition to correcting the English, she also looked out for technical errors and inconsistencies and was able to solve many MS Word challenges. She is easy to work with, flexible and has great attention to detail. I thoroughly recommend her services.

Trond Iversen, GP in Bindal, Norway

Cathryn was the copy-editor for my 2018 Wiley book on The Psychology of False Confessions. I’m very impressed with her work and strongly recommend her services to authors and publishers. She made sure she understood the manuscript in order to detect errors and inconsistencies, and improve clarity of language.

Gisli Gudjonsson, CBE, Emeritus Professor of Forensic Psychology, King’s College London

I have been very impressed with the speed and accuracy of the copy-editing by Cathryn. It has helped a lot as we put the final text together, and helps ensure the quality of the final version of the book. Good work can be let down by careless errors... so Cathryn has been instrumental in tidying up the text.

Professor Rory J McCrimmon, Medical Research Institute, University of Dundee

Cathryn worked with me on a Companion to Economic Geography, a multi-contributor title. Cathryn brought consistency to the title and also dealt swiftly with style changes which occurred mid-project. She delivered the work on time and the editors were delighted with her work. She has worked very successfully on other titles for our organization. I would absolutely recommend Cathryn for any future work.

Aileen Castell, Project Manager

Many, many thanks again for all you have done to make the book into a completely professional production. You have done a great job... Cathryn has been wonderful... Thanks to our truly eagle-eyed proofreader.

Professor Christopher Hill, FBA, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge; Michael Smith, Professor of European Politics, Department of Politics, History and International Relations, Loughborough University

You really did a great job in finding all errors in our manuscript… I would strongly recommend your services to any serious bookwriter / publisher.

Tomas Müllern, Professor, Jönköping International Business School

Cathryn was extremely efficient throughout the entire process, meeting all deadlines. We had very few unresolved queries on the copy-edited manuscript; she corresponded well with all authors.

Project management company for Wiley-Blackwell book

Cathryn is a friendly, positive, self-motivated individual who is willing to learn on the job as well as being an absolute joy to work with. I would highly recommend Cathryn, and I am sure that she will make a very positive addition to your organization.

Project management company for Routledge

The edit was clear, concise and consistent; she adhered to house style faultlessly, and I was extremely impressed with her referencing abilities … Cathryn completed and returned the edited manuscript ahead of the deadline.

Project management company for Routledge

Cathy is a conscientious and creative person with good project management and international sales skills. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her for similar positions.

Stephen Barstow, Senior Ocean Wave Climatologist, Fugro OCEANOR AS

Cathryn is conscientious and accurate in everything she undertakes, has a large work capacity, is clever to express herself in writing and verbally, and has completed all of her tasks to our full satisfaction.

Olaf Sveggen, Department Leader (Sales and Project Management), Fugro OCEANOR AS

Cathy worked for me for a number of years in different roles and was always very professional in all her roles. These roles varied from tender submissions through to project management and technical oversight of both fieldwork and client reports.

She was exceptionally good at reviewing technical details of tender submissions and reports to clients.

Garry Mardell, Director at Consult-On-Sea Ltd, previously Operations Director at Fugro GEOS Ltd

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Allied health & nursing
• Business & finance
• Earth sciences
• Ecology
• Education & training
• Engineering
• English as a second language
• Environment & nature
• Environmental science
• Humanities
• International relations
• Life sciences
• Medical & dental
• Neuroscience
• Political science
• Psychology & psychiatry
• Science
• Social sciences
• Social work
• Technology

• Academics
• Book publishers
• Businesses
• Charities
• Communications agencies
• Creative agencies
• Editing agencies
• Educational institutions
• Government agencies
• Journal publishers
• News and online media
• NGOs
• Non-profit organisations
• Packagers
• Pre-press agencies
• Research institutions

• Technical writing
• Proposal writing
• Sales/marketing
• Bid/grant writing
• Project management