Our annual conference finally has a destination! The National Association of Science Writers (NASW) and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) are proud to host ScienceWriters2024 — the annual conference serving science writing professions and professionals in the United States and beyond — in Raleigh, N.C. this Nov. 8 through Nov. 11. In addition to this weekend of in-person events, NASW will also host a virtual-only component on Oct. 17-18, ScienceWriters2024 “Early Access”.
This year, the meeting will be independently hosted by NASW and CASW. As always, the program, which will be concentrated on weekend days, will provide extensive opportunities for professional development, career networking, as well as field trips. We are excited to be in familiar territory in the famed Research Triangle area, where ScienceWriters2012 was held and home to our “SCONC” friends — the Science Communicators of North Carolina local nonprofit.
With the scene set, we need your help, NASW members! Assemble your team and propose your great ideas for NASW sessions and plenaries for Raleigh in November or virtual in October; and for CASW’s “Science + Science Writing” panel discussions in Raleigh in November. Help make our program relevant and timely, designed by science writers, serving science writers.
Read on for details and submit your proposals by Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
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Jump to "Submit an NASW session proposal"
- Jump to "Propose a CASW Science + Science Writing session"
Submit an NASW session proposal
Each year, member volunteers with the NASW Programs Committee work 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, first-time registrants, and frequent attendees — 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, newsroom leaders, fact checkers ); a specific type of writing or practice area (e.g., narratives, infographics, news writing, video/radio scripts); 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 (e.g. multi-person panel; interactive breakouts) and any needs/limitations for audio/visual technology and accessibility. Please also consider whether you are open to leading your session either for the November in person program or the October virtual program. (For an idea of previous session offerings, visit the archived program at www.sciencewriters2022.org and www.scienceWriters2023.org).
Speakers
In addition to encouraging diversity in topics, the Programs Committee seeks a wide range of voices on the program at ScienceWriters2024. 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 at the conference. (The Programs Committee will alert organizers if the same speaker has been identified for different sessions.)
- 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 considerations 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. Limited travel funding is also available for session organizers 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 May 15. 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 NASW session proposals by 11:59 PM ET on March 14.
Curious about what makes a great proposal? Check out this resource from the Programs Committee.
Propose a "Science and Science Writing" session
Science writers are invited to propose a panel discussion on challenges or issues in covering science as part of the CASW New Horizons in Science program. Drawing on current topics in the news, these "Science + Science Writing" offerings are intended to dissect 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.
Guidelines
- CASW plans for the Science + Science Writing session to be given in person.
- Three people, plus the moderator is a good number for a panel. Proposed presenters should include at least one scientist and at least one science writer/communicator 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. Proposals do not need to have confirmed speakers, but please 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 ScienceWriters2024. Organizers, moderators and panelists 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 CASW Science + Science Writing session proposals by 11:59 PM ET on March 14.
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) and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW), ScienceWriters2024 continues this tradition with craft and career workshops organized by NASW members, New Horizons in Science briefings curated by CASW, plus additional receptions and tours presented by partners and event sponsors. This is the first time the ScienceWriters annual conference, which began in 2005, has returned to a city: ScienceWriters2012 was hosted in Raleigh in partnership with University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, UNC-Charlotte, North Carolina State University, Duke University, and other institutions in October 2012.
Founded in 1934 with a mission to fight for the free flow of science news, NASW is an organization of ~ 2,800 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 and follow NASW on LinkedIn.
