Editing is the glue that holds a great science story together. Want to master the craft? We’re bringing our in-person Editing Forensics workshop to Madison on 8/21 before #OWAA26, and registration is open through this Friday 8/14. Sign up: www.theopennotebook.com/editing-fore...

Editing Forensics: Hands-On Workshop to Strengthen Editing and Writing - The Open Notebook

Great writing depends on great editing—and great editing is a skill that can be learned. In this highly interactive 6-hour workshop offered in partnership with the Outdoor Writers Association of…

theopennotebook.com

⭐ BIG NEWS ⭐ The SciCom Program is expanding its reach! We're now offering online courses on the basics of science communication beginning this September. Learn more here: www.ucsc-extension.edu/series/scien... Enroll by Aug. 15 for $100 off!

The deadline is fast approaching for the 2026 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards contest. The contest is open to journalists worldwide. @aaas.org @kavlifoundation.org 🧪

✍️Science Writing News Roundup #280

AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards + The Best Science Stories and How They Work.

sciencewriting.substack.com

COMING NEXT WEEK! The full ScienceWriters2026 program will be available online July 15. Registration for September's in-person events in Corvallis, OR and October's virtual events opens on August 4. Bookmark the SciWri26 site: sciencewriters2026.org/

ONE WEEK LEFT TO COMMENT: Proposed rule revisions of federal grant guidelines by the OMB will limit transparency and the communication of scientific findings. Learn more: www.nasw.org/article... Log your opposition by July 13: www.regulations.gov/...

Proposed OMB changes would gut science communication — Comment by July 13

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget recently proposed extensive changes to federal grant guidelines that would severely restrict how scientists communicate their research findings to the public and American taxpayers.

nasw.org

Bay Area folks, I'll be giving a book talk about Lost in Curiosity in Berkeley on July 18! Event is at Mrs Dalloway's and I'll be joined in conversation by the wonderful @svobodster.bsky.social. Event details at mrsdalloways.com/event/2026-0... and more about the book at www.robertakwok.com/book

NCSWA members: join us for a free, private tour of the Bay Model in Sausalito this Saturday, May 30! UCSF professor emeritus John Callaway will speak about water restoration projects in the San Francisco Bay and the Delta. Register at ncswa.wildapricot.org/event-6667878

IN ONE WEEK: Join NASW and the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada for a discussion of how science writing professionals can make thoughtful, responsible choices in their day-to-day work. We hope to see you online Tuesday, June 2. Learn more and register:

Joint event: The shifting landscape of science communication ethics

Science writers and editors are facing a rapidly shifting professional landscape, shaped by political pressures, evolving industry norms, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. In this one-hour webinar, panelists representing freelance writing, academia, and journalism will discuss how science communicators can approach their work ethically in a time of change.

nasw.org

Join NCSWA for an informal game night at the Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley on Friday, March 27! Drop in anytime after 5 pm and stay as long as you like. Friends and family are welcome. Register here: ncswa.wildapricot.org/event-6607654 www.victorypointcafe.com

Victory Point Cafe

Coffee, Beer, and Board Games in Berkeley, CA! Check out our retail selection of games and MTG.

victorypointcafe.com

DUE IN ONE WEEK: ScienceWriters2026 is a meeting for science writers, by science writers, and we need your help! Submit your idea by March 10: www.nasw.org/article... Learn what makes a great session: www.nasw.org/page/ho...

Submit a session proposal for ScienceWriters2026

Propose your great ideas for NASW sessions and plenaries and for CASW’s “Science + Science Writing” panel discussions at ScienceWriters2026. Help make our program relevant and timely, designed by science writers, for science writers.

nasw.org

Join me on March 5 at 10 am PT/1pm ET for a @ScienceWriters Freelance Committee bizchat with a panel of creators from niche publications @sequencermag.bsky.social, @thetransmitter.bsky.social , @wire-wildlife.bsky.social & @jmirpub.bsky.social. Sign up here!

Virtual Business Chat: Peek inside niche publications — how to create and sustain them | Virginia Gewin

Ever wanted to start your own publication? Despite numerous media outlet closures in recent years, several niche publications have emerged. On March 5 at 10 am PT/1pm ET, the National Association of S...

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ICYMI: We have dates for ScienceWriters2026! We'll see you September 25-28 at @oregonstate.edu. You can still submit a proposal for a CASW or @sciencewriters.org session by March 10. #SciWri26 casw.org/news/science...

The Tarbell Center for AI Journalism is offering reporting grants from $1k–$20k for original, in-depth reporting on artificial intelligence and its societal impacts from experienced journalists. Writers, editors, producers – freelancers or staff – can apply by 8 March. www.tarbellcenter.org/grants

Tarbell Grants

Tarbell Grants offers awards of $1,000 - $20,000 to support journalism on AI and its impacts.

tarbellcenter.org

DEADLINE ALERT: Enter your best work from 2025 in the National Association of Science Writers' Science in Society Journalism Awards or Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards by February 1, 2026. Discounted entry fees for members. Membership not required:

Submit by Feb. 1: Entries open for NASW’s annual awards

Each year, the #SciWriAwards recognize some of the best works in science journalism and science writing, as judged by fellow science journalists and science writers. Deadline to enter is Feb. 1, 2026.

nasw.org

Seeking excellent candidates for a paid internship in science writing? Reserve your spot at NASW’s Virtual Internship Fair, scheduled for Friday, February 6 from 1-5 PM ET. NASW membership is not required for recruiters, and the “table” is free. SIGN UP TO RECRUIT:

Students and recruiters: Register now for the NASW Virtual Internship Fair on Feb. 6, 2026

NASW student members looking for great science writing internships or one-on-one networking conversation with editors at news and science organizations are invited to register for the 2026 NASW Virtual Internship Fair.

nasw.org

Join us for NCSWA's annual members' party on Jan. 29 at Jupiter in Berkeley! We'll serve pizza and beer, play games, and give out door prizes. Catch up with your fellow science writers and tell us what you want to see in 2026! Register now: www.ncswa.org/event-6462199

Have a piece from 2025 you are especially proud of? The National Association of Science Writers welcomes entries for our Science in Society Journalism Awards and Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards. Membership not required. Submit by February 1, 2026:

Submit by Feb. 1: Entries open for NASW’s annual awards

Each year, the #SciWriAwards recognize some of the best works in science journalism and science writing, as judged by fellow science journalists and science writers. Deadline to enter is Feb. 1, 2026.

nasw.org

Thank you for an amazing #SciWri25! Attendees: Don't forget to fill out our quick survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/sciwri25 And see everyone next year for #SciWri26 at @oregonstate.edu!

Come to our fall mixer at Drake's in Oakland, Oct. 30! Drop by anytime between 4 & 8 pm and meet your fellow science writers. Look for the table in the courtyard with a 'NCSWA' sign. No RSVP needed -- bring your friends! ncswa.org/event-6396348

#SciWri25 online events begin this week! Not able to join us in Chicago? Want to add to your in-person conference experience? Join us online October 22-24 for a bespoke slate of professional development sessions covering entrepreneurial science writing, AI and more.

Come to our fall mixer at Drake's in Oakland, Oct. 30! Drop by anytime between 4 & 8 pm and meet your fellow science writers. Look for the table in the courtyard with a 'NCSWA' sign. No RSVP needed -- bring your friends! ncswa.org/event-6396348

Happy OctoBEER!🍻 Gather with your fellow #scicomm professionals & students to celebrate on Tuesday, October 14, at Oak Park Brewing during our monthly networking social. Próst! #KeepScienceSpicy🌶️ Deets & RSVP info🔽

CapSciComm Networking Social, October 14: Happy OctoBEER!

Our series of monthly in-person meetups for science communication professionals and students in the Capital Region is back in Sacramento to celebrate a Happy Ocotobeer together! Drop by Oak Park Br…

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Join us on Wed., Oct. 8, for a NCSWA members-only lunchtime pitch swap! Bring your pitches and ideas to share for casual feedback, and be ready to offer helpful critiques to others. Sign up here for the Zoom link: ncswa.org/event-6199102

EARLY BIRD CONFERENCE DISCOUNT ENDS TODAY: Take advantage of early bird rates for #SciWri25 and check out the newly added data journalism pre-conference workshop and more discounted hotel rooms. Registration open through Oct 22. Register by 11:59 PM ET today to save $$! sciencewriters2025.o...

COMING TUESDAY: #SciWri25 field trip drop! Sign up for a field trip during a new registration beginning Sept. 16. Already registered? Edit your existing registration to add a field trip. REGISTRATION INFO: sciencewriters2025.o... PROGRAM: sciencewriters2025.o...

Applications are OPEN for our early-career fellowship program supported by the @bwfund.bsky.social! Work with a mentor to plan, report, and write articles for The Open Notebook and become part of the TON team. 🧵

Early-Career Fellowship Program - The Open Notebook

Every year, The Open Notebook offers a paid, part-time fellowship program for early-career science journalists. This ten-month program offers fellows the opportunity to explore their career interests ...

theopennotebook.com

Still a few spots left for our trip to "Adventures in AI" at the Exploratorium this Thurs. 8/21! We'll experience the museum After Dark and meet one of the exhibit's science writers & exhibit designers. Sign up here: www.ncswa.org/event-6275340 @exploratorium.bsky.social

Join us for a trip to "Adventures in AI" at the Exploratorium on Aug. 21, 6 - 10 pm! We'll talk with a science writer and exhibit designer who helped bring the exhibit to life, then experience the museum After Dark. Register here: www.ncswa.org/event-6275340 @exploratorium.bsky.social

Come hang out with us & @healthjournalism.org in San Francisco! Our summer mixer is July 24, 5 - 7 pm, at BareBottle Brewing in Salesforce Park. For more info & to RSVP: www.ncswa.org/event-6241973

Join us for a weekend camping trip at UC Berkeley’s Sagehen Creek Field Station, just north of Truckee in the Sierra Nevada, Aug. 1 - 3! Registration deadline is Friday, July 18. Come explore and learn about the work of the reserve! www.ncswa.org/event-6243541