The University of Colorado Boulder and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus are excited to welcome us to the Rocky Mountains October 6-10 this year, and we will be offering virtual-only sessions, too.
We need your help creating great NASW craft-focused sessions, CASW “Science + Science Writing” sessions, and plenaries.
Read on for details and submit your proposals by March 7 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
Submit an NASW session proposal
Each year, the NASW Programs Committee works hard to develop a slate of professional development sessions that reflects the broad and varied interests of our membership. The chosen sessions directly reflect the depth, breadth, and quality of proposals received.
Topics and Audience
We rely on your efforts to ensure a diversity of topics so that all members—educators, journalists, public information officers, staffers, freelancers, students, writers, editors, broadcasters, podcasters, early career, late career, new members, and veterans—can find something to fit their needs. Sessions can be targeted at a specific experience level (e.g., a master class or a workshop for beginners); a specific job role (e.g., investigative journalists, multimedia producers, institutional writers, or freelance editors); a specific type of writing or practice area (e.g., narratives, infographics, news writing, or profiles); or they can be creatively designed in such a way as to be more broadly applicable to the larger mission and shared interests of all NASW members.
Format
We encourage applicants to consider different session formats. Please also consider whether your proposal would work best as an in person or virtual session. (For an idea of previous session offerings, visit the archived program at ScienceWriters2021.org and ScienceWriters2022.org).
Speakers
In addition to encouraging diversity in topics, the Programs Committee seeks a wide range of voices on the program at ScienceWriters2022. While we realize that applicants may not be able to confirm panelists before a proposal has been accepted, proposals should demonstrate that thought has been given toward identifying potential speakers, with the following guidelines in mind to support a diverse and inclusive conference:
- As a general rule, speakers should appear in only one session.
- We strongly encourage proposals that include speakers who have not participated in recent sessions.
- We aim to create a program whose participants are diverse in multiple facets. Sessions need not be panels. Any proposed panels should include speakers from underrepresented groups and showcase diversity in job roles (both within and outside the field of science writing) and geographic location (both within and outside the U.S.). Any proposed session with a panel that lacks diversity will receive a lower score and be less likely to be picked.
- Limited funding is available for speaker travel to attract those who would not normally attend or in cases where there is financial need.
The Experience
Organizing a workshop can be a fun and valuable experience that connects you with science writers and experts in other fields. You don't need to be an expert yourself. Consider volunteering your time today to make an idea reality. Successful proposals will be notified by early May. Details of the session and confirmed speaker list will be due in late June. Organizers and speakers receive complimentary registration to the meeting.
Deadline and Submission Portal Link
Submit your session proposal by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on March 7.
Curious about what makes a great proposal? Check out this resource from the Program Committee.
Propose a "Science and Science Writing" session
Science writers are invited to propose a special session to discuss challenges or issues in covering science as part of CASW’s New Horizons in Science program. Drawing on current topics in the news, "S+SW" sessions are intended as case studies of issues at the intersection of science, communication, and journalism. They also are intended to provide opportunities for open conversation between scientists and writers on topics that are controversial, ethically fraught, or otherwise difficult. Up to three selected sessions will be interwoven with the New Horizons science presentations.
Guidelines
- CASW plans for Science + Science Writing sessions to be given in person. If budget permits, a session may be webcast with questions taken online or recorded for later viewing.
- Proposed presenters should include both scientists and science writers/communicators and can include discussants from outside those communities. Diverse—even divergent—voices, identities, opinions, and perspectives will make for a more engaging and fruitful discussion. Include affiliations, links to personal websites, and notes about the distinct perspective each speaker will bring to the topic. Indicate whether speakers have been contacted and have agreed to participate.
- Submissions should explain why the topic proposed is both interesting and timely in its own right and why it will serve as a case study that has broader relevance for science writers covering other fields.
- S+SW session organizers will be expected to moderate their session or to propose a moderator, who will be responsible for holding speakers to their allotted times. The CASW New Horizons Program Director will work with session moderators and speakers to refine the session plan, make necessary arrangements, and help manage the session. CASW will reimburse session participants for selected travel costs if they do not have other support for their travel to ScienceWriters2023. Organizers and moderators receive complimentary registration.
Additional guidelines, advice, and examples and recordings of past S+SW sessions are available on the submission page.
Deadline and Submission Portal Link
Submit your session proposal by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on March 7.
Held each year, the ScienceWriters conferences provide a gathering place for professionals and students working across the science news landscape. From journalists to institutional writers, from editors to producers, from seasoned science communicators to those exploring science and technology beats, from mentors to students, the events provide opportunities for skills development, new tools practice, professional networking, and topic debates for every attendee.
A co-production of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW), the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW), and the University of Colorado Boulder, ScienceWriters2023 continues this tradition with craft and career workshops organized by NASW members, New Horizons in Science briefings curated by CASW, plus receptions and tours in Colorado hosted by CU Boulder and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Follow #SciWri23 to join the conversation.
Founded in 1934 with a mission to fight for the free flow of science news, NASW is an organization of more than 3,000 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
