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Desk Notes
News from the National Association of Science Writers
October 20, 2021 – Vol. 3, No. 9

It’s a wrap!

More than 900 people from 30 countries attended our virtual ScienceWriters2021 conference. Thank you to our volunteers, speakers, and attendees for making this year’s event a success. Many session recordings are now available to attendees via the Whova app. You can also read coverage of select professional development sessions from some of our student members.

READ CONFERENCE COVERAGE

This year, NASW helped 51 writers from 17 countries offset the costs associated with registering for and attending the virtual ScienceWriters2021 conference. Read more.

Writing award recipients honored

The winners of our Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards and Science in Society Journalism Awards were honored during our virtual ScienceWriters2021 conference. Read more about the recipients and their work.

EIW AWARD WINNERS

SIS AWARD WINNERS

Andrew Meissen receives McGurgan Service Award

Congratulations to freelancer Andrew Meissen, who created and launched the #SciWriThrive support group for science writers, on being named the recipient of our 2021 Diane McGurgan Service Award.

Explore our Student Newsroom

This summer, NASW once again offered its David Perlman Virtual Mentoring Program for graduate and undergraduate students. During the program, more than 85 students were matched with NASW volunteers for mentorship and support. About half of those students also opted to write a reported piece, and three students were recognized with NASW Summer Writing Awards.

READ THEIR WORK

We are pleased to report the results of the recent membership vote on several proposals to update the bylaws. Read more about these changes and the rationale for them.

Meet a new member

Sayali Avachat, an astronomer who is currently working as an independent contractor for science and content/curriculum writing and a new addition to the NASW community, shares #WhySciWri in this short Q&A.

MEET SAYALI

Coping through creativity

NASW members are invited to apply for a spot in the Peggy Girshman Idea Grant-funded workshop "Pandemic Recovery: Creativity, Mental Health and Resilience."

LEARN MORE

Long-form journalism requires significant time, creative energy and discipline. Read how freelancers are tackling big stories, solo, in this article at Poynter.org.

Who Is an Expert? Broadening the definition strengthens journalism. Read more at The Open Notebook.

Read Advance Copy

In Sea Lions in the Parking Lot, Lenora Todaro shares with young readers tales of unusual animal behavior spurred by the abrupt stoppage of human activity during the pandemic. Read how the book came to fruition in Advance Copy, a column by Lynne Lamberg.

GET THE BACKSTORY

Semimonthly #SciWriThrive

These ongoing, one-hour virtual member-run meet-ups are an opportunity for writers and editors to meet informally to network and get peer support.

JOIN US

One of the best and toughest parts of being a science writer is acting as a kind of jargon liaison, writes Katherine J. Wu in this piece in The Atlantic.

So your story has been commissioned but the editor suddenly stops responding? Try these tips from Journalism.co.uk.

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© 2021 National Association of Science Writers Inc. All rights reserved.

Desk Notes Newsletter, October 21, 2021