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National Association of Science Writers - ScienceWriters2025 Session Proposals
Submit an NASW session proposal (No speaker commitments needed at this stage!)
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 November in person program or the October virtual program. (For an idea of previous session offerings, visit the archived programs at www.sciencewritersmeeting.org)
Speakers
In addition to encouraging diversity in topics, the Programs Committee seeks a wide range of voices on the program. 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 mid May. Details of the session and confirmed speaker list will be due in late June. Organizers and speakers receive complimentary registration to the meeting.
