Gather for Games

Virtual Networking Social: Gather for Games
Presented by the NASW Freelance Committee

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026
Start Time: 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
Event Access Link: https://www.nasw.org/virtual-events-auditorium (NASW member login required)

The NASW Freelance Committee virtual meetup on Dec. 3 will be a gathering to play games in teams. Volunteer event hosts Jennifer Huber and Ellen Kuwana have invited science writers and trivia buffs James Gaines and Valerie Bentivegna to emcee.

All current NASW members are invited. This social event is a great chance to hang out with familiar faces and new colleagues — while pondering the answers to science questions in small breakout groups. No expertise is needed.

Come connect, collaborate, and have fun. See you in December!

Invited Speakers/Emcees
Valerie Bentivegna, https://www.valeriebenti.com/
James Gaines, https://jmgaines.com/

Speaker-provided bios:

Valerie Bentivegna is a researcher and lab manager at the University of Washington, where she studies how sub-cellular processes shape the tissues that make up our bodies. She has spent her career hopping between countries and disciplines, from bioengineering in Belgium to a PhD in Life Sciences in Scotland to chemical engineering and tissue-on-a-chip research in Seattle. Outside the lab, Valerie brings science to new audiences through comedy, science communication, and informal education.

James Gaines is a science journalist, writer, and fact-checker in the Seattle area. He specializes in stories about human and natural history and was once bitten by a small leopard. His writing has appeared in outlets such as The Seattle Times, the BBC, and Smithsonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to the YouTube channel SciShow. In his spare time, he plays Dungeons and Dragons and is a perennial trivia host for the Northwest Science Writers Association. His greatest hope is that his writing can both inspire and educate, but also be used for some really good garden mulch one day.

A reminder that per NASW's Code of Conduct, attendees must use their full name (first name and last name) as their Zoom displayed name to be admitted. Please review the code for additional expected behaviors. In addition, attendees will be asked to turn their camera on to participate, to help foster safety, engagement and community.

#SciWriSocial