The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) is updating the science-writing community about a change regarding this year’s conference,ScienceWriters2025.
On November 6, 2024, the University of Pittsburgh sent the CASW Board a letter committing to host ScienceWriters2025, including a commitment to pay CASW a hosting fee and provide substantial logistical and financial support for the conference. Based on that commitment, CASW and NASW announced to our community of thousands of science journalists and writers that the University of Pittsburgh and their partners at Carnegie Mellon University would be the hosts of the 2025 conference. On Feb. 13, 2025, representatives of both universities informed CASW that they were withdrawing their commitment, including the financial support, for the conference. Despite our efforts, subsequent discussions have not led to a resolution.
**CASW and NASW remain committed to organizing a conference this year.**This year, more than ever, providing an opportunity for the professional science writing community to convene, network, learn, and support each other is critical. To that end, we are actively seeking new venues, sponsors, and partners.
You can help! We immediately seek concrete leads for:
Local and regional science writers’ groups interested in partnering with NASW and CASW to bring ScienceWriters to your area—like the fabulous SCONCs (Science Communicators of North Carolina) did in Raleigh in 2024
Contacts at universities, ideally at the level of deans, directors, and higher, that might be interested in hosting our conference, at a reduced rate/commitment, in Fall 2025
Philanthropic foundations or donors who could provide financial support for programming
Accessible meeting facilitiesfor 400-700 attendees, preferably with non-profit pricing or donated in-kind
While our most urgent need is for 2025 hosting sites, we will also consider leads for future hosting. We benefit enormously from our community’s involvement in planning ScienceWriters each year.
As we work on revised plans for this year’s gathering, we continue to seek proposals forNASW’s professional development sessions and CASW’sScience+Science Writing sessions for the 2025 conference, including virtual sessions. The deadline will be extended to Monday, March 24.
We welcome your questions and informative leads viasciwri25@nasw.org.
Sincerely,
The ScienceWriters2025 Steering Committee
As we have for more than 60 years, the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing remains committed to improving the quantity and quality of science news reaching the public. We are committed to excellence in the communication of science, which we advance by developing and funding programs to help reporters and writers produce accurate and informative stories about developments in science, health, the environment, medicine and technology. CASW also has adopted a focus on the quality, diversity and sustainability of science journalism, in response to challenges facing the field in the 21st century.
Founded in 1934 with a mission to fight for the free flow of science news, the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) is an organization of 2,800 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. As an organization that promotes the professional interests of science communicators both in the United States and globally, the National Association of Science Writers is committed to fostering a science writing community that is inclusive, equitable, accessible, and represented by a diversity of professionals.