A rectangular graphic with logomark Science Writers 2022 posed with an electric guitar. Accompanying illustration shows the Memphis skyline with outlines of the de Soto Bridge and the Great America Pyramid

Registration open for ScienceWriters2022—the annual gathering for professionals in science news

Registration has opened for the ScienceWriters2022 annual conference. A co-production of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW), the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW), and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the event will feature an online portion launching Oct. 12, followed by an in-person portion held in Memphis, Tenn. that begins Oct. 21. All event information can be found at www.sciencewriters2022.org

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. #SciWri22 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 Memphis hosted by St. Jude.

ScienceWriters conference host sites rotate across the U.S. cities and institutions, and Memphis has been a long-sought event location for its historic heritage and living lessons in civil rights history. The NASW-CASW Conference Steering Committee notes: "The opportunity to explore the intersection of science and science writing with issues of racism, injustice, and inequality in a city where those issues are front and center was a major factor in the site decision. In sum, we believe that Memphis is an important place to face the past, the present, and our role in making a better world."

Accordingly, highlights of the 2022 meeting include the opening reception at the National Civil Rights Museum on Friday, Oct. 21, hosted by St. Jude, as well as the NASW plenary session "Confronting Race in Science" on Saturday, Oct. 22. NASW and CASW also are partnering with MLK50: Justice Through Journalisma nonprofit Memphis newsroom focused on poverty, power, and public policy — on special programming during the Memphis conference weekend. Other onsite events will include the join NASW-CASW annual awards ceremony, and perennial favorites such as the Pitch Slam and Lunch with Scientists.

In advance of Memphis, SciWri22 will open with a slate of virtual sessions beginning Wednesday, Oct. 12. These online workshops will cover topics such as interfaith dialogue and science communication, open data tools for water policy reporting, navigating difficult workplace conversations, and more. For both online and onsite portions of SciWri22, attendees can access the event's Whova app for all sessions details, message boards, and speaker and attendee contacts.

Conference attendance assistance grants are available through NASW and CASW, with applications due Aug. 30. Early registration rates expire on Sept. 15, but members of AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ, NAJA, NLGJA, SACNAS, SAJA, Trans Journalists Association, and SACNAS are eligible register at the NASW member rate throughout the registration period — which concludes Oct. 6.




Founded in 1934 with a mission to fight for the free flow of science news, NASW is an organization of ~ 2,700 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

August 17, 2022

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