This year, the National Association of Science Writers awarded its annual Diane McGurgan Service Award to NASW member Eric Bender. NASW president Shraddha Chakradhar announced the honor at the annual NASW Membership Meeting, held online on Nov. 4.
Eric, a member of NASW since 2002, has been a long-time volunteer with the Awards Committee, taking on multiple roles for more than a decade. He has served as a regular screener for the Science in Society Journalism Awards and most recently as a judge for the Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards.
Over the years, Eric has screened several hundred entries. He brings great joy and care to his work, and his love for science journalism is palpable. "He never fails to appreciate the entries he has read and always comes to the rescue when we are shorthanded, taking on more entries to screen", noted Aparna Vidyasagar, co-chair of the Awards Committee. “Eric makes our committee and our work stronger. And we are immensely grateful for his many years of service!”
Now retired, Eric previously was the associate director for communications and public affairs at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the founding editor-in-chief of MIT Technology Review.
Thank you, Eric, and congratulations!
Eric Bender
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The NASW Diane McGurgan Volunteer Service Award was established in 2001. NASW member Louis Lerner, who passed away in 2006, wished to show appreciation for then-Executive Director Diane McGurgan and other members whose efforts on behalf of NASW go beyond the call of duty. With more than 200 active volunteers annually, NASW relies on the energy and enthusiasm of members to help shape programming, lead or contribute to projects and programs, or run for the Board. Learn more and get involved.
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 and follow NASW on LinkedIn and Bluesky.
