Making ends meet on an intern’s salary can be hard. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended our lives and represents hardships for many young science communicators. Plenty of summer internships have been cancelled or turned remote. Stipends, even the more generous ones being offered, don’t always cover the full costs of temporarily relocating to a new city, or making ends meet during the pandemic. To make these job opportunities accessible to a more diverse pool of talent, the National Association of Science Writers is pleased to offer a fellowship for talented students and early-career science communicators undertaking summer internships.
Three applicants from underrepresented groups—including racial and ethnic minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities—will each receive a $5,000 fellowship to supplement any stipends they receive from their summer employer. Fellows will also receive a one-year complimentary membership to NASW.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
The supplemental fellowship is open to any underrepresented minority who intends to complete a science communication internship during the summer of 2021. The internship can be in science journalism or any other science communications field and can be in any medium—print, digital, audio, video, or multimedia. Preference will be given to students and early-career professionals. Applicants need not have received an internship offer at the time they submit their application, but fellowship recipients will be asked to provide confirmation of an offer and its acceptance before funds are awarded. The Fellowship is open to students outside the U.S., but please note that the internship has to be with a U.S. outlet/publication.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To apply online to the NASW Diversity Summer Fellowship, click here.
You will be asked to upload a resume, two work samples, and your response to the following writing prompt:
In 500 words, describe yourself and tell us why you are interested in this fellowship, including:
- How your diverse background informs the way you approach your journalism.
- Your career goals as they relate to science communication.
- Any financial hardship that this fellowship would help alleviate.
- How diversity has played a role in your career in science communication.
The application deadline is April 1, 2021. Winners will be notified no later than May 15, 2021.
Questions? Email us at diversity@nasw.org
