Submit a session proposal for ScienceWriters2025

The National Association of Science Writers (NASW) and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) are proud to invite you to ScienceWriters2025 — the annual conference serving science writing professions and professionals in the United States and beyond — in Pittsburgh, PA, this Oct. 10 through 14. In addition to this weekend of in-person events, NASW will also host a virtual-only component, ScienceWriters2025 “Early Access.”

This year, the meeting will be jointly hosted by Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh. The program will provide extensive opportunities for professional development, career networking, as well as field trips.

With the scene set, we need your help, NASW members! Assemble your team and propose your great ideas for NASW sessions and plenaries for Pittsburgh in October or virtual in September, and for CASW’s “Science + Science Writing” panel discussions in Pittsburgh in October. Help make our program relevant and timely, designed by science writers, serving science writers.

Read on for details and submit your proposals by Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern (NASW session proposals) or Friday, March 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern (CASW "Science + Science Writing" proposals).

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, and ideally many things, to pique their interest. 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 October in-person program or the September virtual program. (For an idea of previous session offerings, visit the archived programs at sciencewriters2022.org and scienceWriters2023.org.

Speakers

In addition to encouraging diversity in topics, the Programs Committee seeks a wide range of voices on the program at ScienceWriters2025. 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. Any proposed sessions 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 and such funding is intended to attract those who would not otherwise attend the meeting. 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, although you are welcome to include yourself as a speaker in any proposals. 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 p.m. Eastern on March 12.

Curious about what makes a great proposal? Check out this resource from the Programs Committee.

Propose a "Science + 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. Panels often present a sort of “case study” of a hot-button issue in science, how it was covered, and what we can learn and apply to future coverage.

They also are intended to provide opportunities for open conversation between scientists and writers on topics that are controversial, ethically fraught, or otherwise difficult. For example, recent “Science + Science Writing” panels have addressed coverage of COVID-19 origins, science and science journalism in the Arctic during the Ukraine War, and the complexities of clean-tech climate solutions.

CASW will select and sponsor one to three “Science + Science Writing” panels at SciWri25.

Guidelines

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.
CASW plans for the Science + Science Writing session to be given in person in Pittsburgh, Oct. 11–13.
Three people, plus the moderator, is a good number for a panel.
Proposed presenters should include at least one scientist/expert and at least one journalist and can include discussants from outside those communities, such as patients, media experts, political scientists, etc.
Diverse — even divergent — voices, identities, opinions, and perspectives will make for a more engaging and fruitful discussion. Proposed panelists should not be primarily from one institution or university.
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.
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 moderators and panelists for selected travel costs if they do not have other support for their travel to ScienceWriters2025. 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 p.m. Eastern on March 14.