This summer, the Education Committee of the National Association of Science Writers plans to offer its popular virtual mentoring program for graduate and undergraduate students. NASW invites volunteer mentors to sign up by May 1, 2025. A call for student applicants will happen in mid-May.
Named for the late journalist and former NASW president David Perlman, the NASW Perlman Virtual Mentoring Program pairs students with science writing mentors for career guidance and support. When the program was last offered in 2023, more than 60 students were matched with mentors. This year, the Education Committee is cognizant of the uncertain times we're living in, and they wish to let the bandwidth of the volunteer mentors help set the scale of the program.
In the past, students had the opportunity to research and write a science news article with the help of their mentor. Students produced stories on various topics, from the relationship between menopause and Alzheimer’s to AI modeling to identify heat-tolerant corals. In addition to the NASW Student Newsroom, several students had their work published in major news outlets, including Eos, Sky & Telescope, and The Xylom.
To offer the writing part of the program, the program needs a sufficient number of volunteers to serve as editors in addition to the mentoring component, working with students to develop their stories for publication. During signup, mentors are asked to indicate whether they can serve as only a mentor, only an editor, or both. Minimum commitments for each role are listed in the signup form.
Confirmation of program participation and additional program details will be sent to mentors in early May before student signups begin.
Mentor signup: Fill out this form by May 1, 2025. NASW membership is required to participate. Note: Student applications will open in mid-May.
Science writing mentors from all career backgrounds are welcome and encouraged. We will pair mentors with graduate and undergraduate students who have demonstrated a serious interest in science writing and commitment to completing the mentoring program.
Thank you,
Courtney Gorman & Shel Evergreen
Co-Chairs, Education Committee
National Association of Science Writers
Questions? Contact NASW Education Committee Co-Chairs Courtney Gorman and Shel Evergreen at education@nasw.org.
The David Perlman Virtual Mentoring program is named for longtime science writer and past NASW President David Perlman. Dave, who died in 2020 at the age of 101 only three years after his retirement from the San Francisco Chronicle, was a mentor to countless members of the science writing community and always made time for kind and supportive words, especially for early career writers.
Founded in 1934 with a mission to fight for the free flow of science news, NASW is an organization of ~2,500 professional journalists, authors, editors, producers, public information officers, students and people who write and produce material intended to inform the public about science, health, engineering, and technology. To learn more, visit www.nasw.org
