Students Archives - CASW Connector

Resource Database / Guide

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

CASW Connector

On April 16, CASW Connector hosted a Chat discussing science journalism and communication in the misinformation era. The panelists talked about key concepts – and misconceptions – that journalists and communicators encounter in combating misinformation, shared insights from research on how people process information, and answered questions from the audience. This event was facilitated by Connector managing editor Kate Travis, and the panelists were: Kai Kupferschmidt, contributing correspondent at Science and Knight Science Journalism Fellow, and Briony Swire-Thompson, director of the Psychology of Misinformation Lab and assistant professor of political science, psychology, and network science at Northeastern University.

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

Summary:

On April 16, CASW Connector hosted a Chat discussing science journalism and communication in the misinformation era. The panelists talked about key concepts – and misconceptions – that journalists and communicators encounter in combating misinformation, shared insights from research on how people process information, and answered questions from the audience. This event was facilitated by Connector managing editor Kate Travis, and the panelists were: Kai Kupferschmidt, contributing correspondent at Science and Knight Science Journalism Fellow, and Briony Swire-Thompson, director of the Psychology of Misinformation Lab and assistant professor of political science, psychology, and network science at Northeastern University.

Organization:

CASW Connector

Date:

April 22, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Fellowships & Grants

HBCU Science Journalism Fellowship

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT

"This new fellowship, launched in 2024, is geared toward students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities who have an interest in science, health, and environmental reporting. The fellowship includes a one-week in-person summer camp and a one-year mentorship experience. A faculty of distinguished science journalists, a team of dedicated mentors, and editors from leading publications will provide the 10 selected fellows with intensive training, coaching, and opportunities to pitch science stories to national and regional outlets. Each fellow will receive a $5,000 stipend." Note: Applications have closed for the 2024-25 class of the HBCU Science Journalism Fellowship.

HBCU Science Journalism Fellowship

Summary:

"This new fellowship, launched in 2024, is geared toward students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities who have an interest in science, health, and environmental reporting. The fellowship includes a one-week in-person summer camp and a one-year mentorship experience. A faculty of distinguished science journalists, a team of dedicated mentors, and editors from leading publications will provide the 10 selected fellows with intensive training, coaching, and opportunities to pitch science stories to national and regional outlets. Each fellow will receive a $5,000 stipend." Note: Applications have closed for the 2024-25 class of the HBCU Science Journalism Fellowship.

Organization:

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT

Location:

Cambridge, Mass.

Category:

Training

For:

Students

VISIT

Organization

Red Mexicana de Periodistas de Ciencia (RedMPC)

Red Mexicana de Periodistas de Ciencia (RedMPC) is a network of journalists, science communicators, and students seeking to strengthen science, health, and environmental journalism in Mexico and across Latin America. The organization offers networking opportunities, workshops, training sessions, mentorship, and more. It was founded in 2016 and currently has more than 170 members. RedMPC's website and communications are in Spanish.

Red Mexicana de Periodistas de Ciencia (RedMPC)

Summary:

Red Mexicana de Periodistas de Ciencia (RedMPC) is a network of journalists, science communicators, and students seeking to strengthen science, health, and environmental journalism in Mexico and across Latin America. The organization offers networking opportunities, workshops, training sessions, mentorship, and more. It was founded in 2016 and currently has more than 170 members. RedMPC's website and communications are in Spanish.

Category:

For:

VISIT

Video

Covering Long Covid: Beyond ‘mystery’ and misunderstanding

NYU, Kavli Foundation

At this Kavli Conversation, journalist Betsy Ladyzhets and Long Covid clinician Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez discussed best practices for covering this complex disease. They talked about personal experiences reporting on and treating Long Covid, issues in past media coverage, story ideas, and more. They also answered questions from NYU students in the Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program.

Covering Long Covid: Beyond ‘mystery’ and misunderstanding

Summary:

At this Kavli Conversation, journalist Betsy Ladyzhets and Long Covid clinician Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez discussed best practices for covering this complex disease. They talked about personal experiences reporting on and treating Long Covid, issues in past media coverage, story ideas, and more. They also answered questions from NYU students in the Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program.

Organization:

NYU, Kavli Foundation

Date:

March 6, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Workshop

ComSciCon24 Flagship Workshop

ComSciCon

The 12th annual ComSciCon Flagship Workshop will be at Emerson College in Boston. ComSciCon provides graduate student attendees with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet early career leaders in science communication while also learning from, and interacting with, a remarkable group of invited scicomm experts. ComSciCon empowers future leaders in science communication to share their research and passions with broad and diverse audiences. Attendance at ComSciCon is limited to current (or recently graduated) graduate students in residence at US or Canadian institutions. International students who study at US and Canadian institutions are gladly welcomed. Recent graduates must have graduated no earlier than December 2023. The application deadline is March 22.

Newsletter

The Seedling

Uproot Project

"The Uproot Project produces a biweekly newsletter called The Seedling, which is dedicated to keeping members up to date on all things Uproot. In each issue of The Seedling, one of our members writes to our subscribers about an impactful topic or story that is relevant for the Uproot community. Past issues have touched on topics ranging from extreme heat, to climate fiction, to Bad Bunny lyrics. We also use the newsletter to share job opportunities, fellowships and grants, upcoming Uproot events, and amplifying the work of our members."

The Seedling

Summary:

"The Uproot Project produces a biweekly newsletter called The Seedling, which is dedicated to keeping members up to date on all things Uproot. In each issue of The Seedling, one of our members writes to our subscribers about an impactful topic or story that is relevant for the Uproot community. Past issues have touched on topics ranging from extreme heat, to climate fiction, to Bad Bunny lyrics. We also use the newsletter to share job opportunities, fellowships and grants, upcoming Uproot events, and amplifying the work of our members."

Organization:

Uproot Project

Category:

For:

VISIT

Book

Special issue on careers in scientific editing and publishing

Council of Science Editors (CSE)

"The focus of this issue of Science Editor is on careers and roles in scientific editing and publishing. In 2017, we published a similar special careers-focused issue, and it seemed a good time to explore what has shifted in the past 6 years. This issue includes interviews and articles covering an array of editor roles and positions, many of which are new, have increased in prominence, or significantly changed in the last few years. There are also articles on the importance of training and preparing the next generation of researchers and editors, increasing diversity and equity, and the transition to remote work."

Resource Database / Guide

Science fiction stories with good astronomy & physics

"This is a selective list of some short stories and novels that use reasonably accurate science and can be used for teaching or reinforcing astronomy or physics concepts. The titles of short stories are given in quotation marks; only short stories that have been published in book form or are available free on the Web are included. While one book source is given for each short story, note that some of the stories can be found in other collections as well." The latest version of the list, published in January 2024, includes 88 links to published stories that are available for free online.

Science fiction stories with good astronomy & physics

Summary:

"This is a selective list of some short stories and novels that use reasonably accurate science and can be used for teaching or reinforcing astronomy or physics concepts. The titles of short stories are given in quotation marks; only short stories that have been published in book form or are available free on the Web are included. While one book source is given for each short story, note that some of the stories can be found in other collections as well." The latest version of the list, published in January 2024, includes 88 links to published stories that are available for free online.

Author:

Andrew Fraknoi

Category:

For:

VISIT

Conference

ScienceWriters 2024

NASW, CASW

The National Association of Science Writers (NASW) and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) will host their 2024 Science Writing conference in two parts: virtually on October 17 and 18 and in-person in Raleigh, North Carolina from November 8 through 11, 2024. This annual meeting serves science writing journalists, communicators, and other professionals with professional development sessions, updates on scientific research, networking opportunities, and more. Proposals for conference sessions are due on March 14.

Resource Database / Guide

A Scientist’s Guide to Working with the Media

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

"Sharing your science with media outlets can get your work in front of a broader audience and promote the value of scientific research. But it helps to have tips for working with journalists, public information, and communications officers. This guide is meant to help you effectively convey the value of your work to journalists and the audiences they represent. Read on to learn about what makes science newsworthy, how to promote your work to the press, how to prepare for interviews with journalists, best practices for effectively communicating your science message, and more."

A Scientist’s Guide to Working with the Media

Summary:

"Sharing your science with media outlets can get your work in front of a broader audience and promote the value of scientific research. But it helps to have tips for working with journalists, public information, and communications officers. This guide is meant to help you effectively convey the value of your work to journalists and the audiences they represent. Read on to learn about what makes science newsworthy, how to promote your work to the press, how to prepare for interviews with journalists, best practices for effectively communicating your science message, and more."

Organization:

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Date:

August 18, 2020

Category:

For:

VISIT

Video

SciCommers Mentor Chat Series

Boston University

SciCommers is a free network for scientists and engineers to improve their science communication skills and connect with science writing opportunities, hosted by Boston University. In the network's monthly Mentor Chats, communication experts video-chat with SciCommers about topics including how to start a podcast, science outreach, freelance science writing, and more. Past Mentor Chats are posted on the SciCommers YouTube channel.

SciCommers Mentor Chat Series

Summary:

SciCommers is a free network for scientists and engineers to improve their science communication skills and connect with science writing opportunities, hosted by Boston University. In the network's monthly Mentor Chats, communication experts video-chat with SciCommers about topics including how to start a podcast, science outreach, freelance science writing, and more. Past Mentor Chats are posted on the SciCommers YouTube channel.

Organization:

Boston University

Category:

For:

VISIT

Mentor program

ScienceWrite, a U.K.-based mentoring program

"The ScienceWrite Programme, supported by the Royal Society, aims to help early-stage science writers from minoritized backgrounds - based in the UK - to advance their professional development." The program includes an in-person event and four virtual sessions, in which attendees hear from science writers in different professions and receive feedback on their work. Applications for the 2024 cohort close on December 18, 2023. Aspiring and early-career science writing folks from minoritized groups are encouraged to apply.

Academic program

U.S. degree programs in science, health, or environmental writing

The Open Notebook

The Open Notebook has compiled a list of "more than 50 U.S. university-based programs that offer specialized undergraduate or graduate degree programs and/or individual courses (which may be available to undergraduates, graduate students, or both) in science, health, or environmental writing." Some of these programs also appear as independent entries in Connector's library.

Resource Database / Guide

Civic Science Career Roadmap

Rita Allen Foundation

This extensive guide provides recommendations, resources, and success stories for anyone interested in a career in civic science, "a growing field of study and area of practice committed to ensuring that all people shape and benefit from science, technology, and innovation." It shares lessons from the Civic Science Fellows, a program that supports leadership and collaboration in this field.

Community

The Uproot Project

The Uproot Project is a network of and for environmental journalists of color. It has a national membership composed of journalists from across national and regional media institutions. The Uproot Project is open to journalists of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds, but its goal is to uplift and support journalists of color who have been underrepresented in the journalism industry for far too long. The group is currently funded by and assisted operationally by Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. The website includes a publicly available journalist database for people seeking to connect with editors, mentors, experts, sources, and other journalists of color within the environmental space.

The Uproot Project

Summary:

The Uproot Project is a network of and for environmental journalists of color. It has a national membership composed of journalists from across national and regional media institutions. The Uproot Project is open to journalists of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds, but its goal is to uplift and support journalists of color who have been underrepresented in the journalism industry for far too long. The group is currently funded by and assisted operationally by Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. The website includes a publicly available journalist database for people seeking to connect with editors, mentors, experts, sources, and other journalists of color within the environmental space.

Category:

For:

VISIT

Conference

World Conference of Science Journalists 2025

World Federation of Science Journalists

The next world conference of the World Federation of Science Journalists will be held at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, in December 2025. The WCSJ2025 will be hosted by the South African Science Journalists Association (SASJA), in partnership with the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA). Visit the conference website for updates.

Article

How Science Writing Fuels My Ph.D.

Duke University

"Research can be an insulating endeavor, but bringing my work out of the lab and sharing it with the wider world of politics helped deepen my appreciation for science and the people that fund that science," writes Ph.D. student Jameson Blount. In this blog post, Blount describes his experience pairing research with science writing.

Article

Ask TON: Crafting a winning fellowship proposal

"What are the essentials of a strong proposal for a journalism fellowship? Fellowships can boost your career in many ways. They provide a supportive environment that can yield more impactful stories. They supplement commissions from journalism outlets (and often provide financial assistance for travel). And the prestige of a big fellowship doesn’t hurt a person’s résumé, either. Fellowships are also a great way to build relationships with your peers—camaraderie shaped during a fellowship can endure long after the fellowship period ends. Here, we’ve gathered advice about how to assemble a top-tier proposal."

Ask TON: Crafting a winning fellowship proposal

Summary:

"What are the essentials of a strong proposal for a journalism fellowship? Fellowships can boost your career in many ways. They provide a supportive environment that can yield more impactful stories. They supplement commissions from journalism outlets (and often provide financial assistance for travel). And the prestige of a big fellowship doesn’t hurt a person’s résumé, either. Fellowships are also a great way to build relationships with your peers—camaraderie shaped during a fellowship can endure long after the fellowship period ends. Here, we’ve gathered advice about how to assemble a top-tier proposal."

Published By:

The Open Notebook

Date:

February 20, 2018

Category:

Advice

For:

VISIT

Article

Paying for it: Getting grants and fellowships

"Grants and fellowships have long been important funding sources, providing writers time and money to dig deeper into a story or subject area than they otherwise could. These sources of outside support range from small travel grants of a few hundred dollars to in-residence fellowships that last as long as a year and provide stipends of $50,000 or more to support academic studies or career-development goals." This article from The Open Notebook covers the basics of considering a fellowship, finding the right one for your idea, crafting a winning proposal, and more.

Paying for it: Getting grants and fellowships

Summary:

"Grants and fellowships have long been important funding sources, providing writers time and money to dig deeper into a story or subject area than they otherwise could. These sources of outside support range from small travel grants of a few hundred dollars to in-residence fellowships that last as long as a year and provide stipends of $50,000 or more to support academic studies or career-development goals." This article from The Open Notebook covers the basics of considering a fellowship, finding the right one for your idea, crafting a winning proposal, and more.

Published By:

The Open Notebook

Date:

February 24, 2015

Category:

Advice

For:

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

Sci Comm Resources — Dan Vahaba

Dan Vahaba is the director of communications at the Duke University Institute for Brain Sciences. He compiled this Google doc full of science writing resources, including articles and books to read, tips about how to pitch, conferences, academic journals, newsletters, and more.

Sci Comm Resources — Dan Vahaba

Summary:

Dan Vahaba is the director of communications at the Duke University Institute for Brain Sciences. He compiled this Google doc full of science writing resources, including articles and books to read, tips about how to pitch, conferences, academic journals, newsletters, and more.

Author:

Dan Vahaba

Category:

For:

VISIT

Fellowships & Grants

Erice Science Communication and Journalism International School

Erie International School of Science Communication

"The Erice International School of Science Communication and Journalism is a summer school of the Italian Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) held yearly at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Center for Scientific Culture in the village of Erice, in Sicily. The school is organized by INFN in collaboration with Nature Italy, the digital magazine on Italian research and science policy published by Nature Portofolio, and provides 20 scholarships for young science journalists and communicators." The deadline to apply for this fellowship typically occurs in the summer, with the program itself occurring in early fall. In 2023, the program's theme is: "The Big Data Society: What quantum, supercomputing, and AI can and cannot do for science."

Erice Science Communication and Journalism International School

Summary:

"The Erice International School of Science Communication and Journalism is a summer school of the Italian Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) held yearly at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Center for Scientific Culture in the village of Erice, in Sicily. The school is organized by INFN in collaboration with Nature Italy, the digital magazine on Italian research and science policy published by Nature Portofolio, and provides 20 scholarships for young science journalists and communicators." The deadline to apply for this fellowship typically occurs in the summer, with the program itself occurring in early fall. In 2023, the program's theme is: "The Big Data Society: What quantum, supercomputing, and AI can and cannot do for science."

Organization:

Erie International School of Science Communication

Location:

Erice, Italy

Category:

Training

For:

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

Being a Science Journalist

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT

"So you want to be a science journalist? People arrive at science journalism from all manner of professional backgrounds. Whether you’re a scientist ready for a career change, a journalist interested in specializing in a science-related beat, a student, or a recent graduate, this curated list of resources can help you get started on your journey." Resources include: Breaking In, Learning the Craft, Societies and Conferences, Academic Programs, Internships and Fellowships, Freelancing.

Being a Science Journalist

Summary:

"So you want to be a science journalist? People arrive at science journalism from all manner of professional backgrounds. Whether you’re a scientist ready for a career change, a journalist interested in specializing in a science-related beat, a student, or a recent graduate, this curated list of resources can help you get started on your journey." Resources include: Breaking In, Learning the Craft, Societies and Conferences, Academic Programs, Internships and Fellowships, Freelancing.

Organization:

Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT

Category:

For:

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

CLIPS — Communication Learning in Practice for Scientists

The University of Queensland

"In the same way that you learn to be a good scientist, you can learn to be a good communicator. Furthermore, being a good communicator will make you a much better scientist! The CLIPS website was built to provide some of the essential information on communication skills that a science student needs during their degree and in the workplace." The website includes videos and educational modules, divided into different categories for scientific study and the science workplace.

CLIPS — Communication Learning in Practice for Scientists

Summary:

"In the same way that you learn to be a good scientist, you can learn to be a good communicator. Furthermore, being a good communicator will make you a much better scientist! The CLIPS website was built to provide some of the essential information on communication skills that a science student needs during their degree and in the workplace." The website includes videos and educational modules, divided into different categories for scientific study and the science workplace.

Organization:

The University of Queensland

Category:

For:

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

SciCommers Community Resources

Boston University

This spreadsheet shares resources and programs from the SciCommers community, a network of undergrads, graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and industry researchers who are interested in improving their science communication skills. In the database, you can find: links to interviews with expert science writers, a guide to pitching stories, a list of science writing articles, stories by SciCommers, and more.

SciCommers Community Resources

Summary:

This spreadsheet shares resources and programs from the SciCommers community, a network of undergrads, graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and industry researchers who are interested in improving their science communication skills. In the database, you can find: links to interviews with expert science writers, a guide to pitching stories, a list of science writing articles, stories by SciCommers, and more.

Organization:

Boston University

Published By:

SciCommers

Category:

For:

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

The ultimate science writing resource guide

This Medium post by science journalist Shel Evergreen covers the basics of what science writing is, and shares a variety of resources for getting started. The post covers: science writing basics, educational resources, careers, and freelancing. "But I could never find a single source that concisely summed up where to go for questions, resources, jobs, and more," Evergreen writes. "So, I hope this will serve as a useful tool for emerging science writers and seasoned professionals alike."

The ultimate science writing resource guide

Summary:

This Medium post by science journalist Shel Evergreen covers the basics of what science writing is, and shares a variety of resources for getting started. The post covers: science writing basics, educational resources, careers, and freelancing. "But I could never find a single source that concisely summed up where to go for questions, resources, jobs, and more," Evergreen writes. "So, I hope this will serve as a useful tool for emerging science writers and seasoned professionals alike."

Author:

Shel Evergreen

Date:

January 30, 2023

Category:

For:

VISIT

Find a resource

Library

Tip sheet: Science journalism and communication in the misinformation era

HBCU Science Journalism Fellowship

Red Mexicana de Periodistas de Ciencia (RedMPC)

Covering Long Covid: Beyond ‘mystery’ and misunderstanding

ComSciCon24 Flagship Workshop

Special issue on careers in scientific editing and publishing

Science fiction stories with good astronomy & physics

ScienceWriters 2024

A Scientist’s Guide to Working with the Media

SciCommers Mentor Chat Series

ScienceWrite, a U.K.-based mentoring program

U.S. degree programs in science, health, or environmental writing

Civic Science Career Roadmap

The Uproot Project

World Conference of Science Journalists 2025

How Science Writing Fuels My Ph.D.

Ask TON: Crafting a winning fellowship proposal

Paying for it: Getting grants and fellowships

Sci Comm Resources — Dan Vahaba

Erice Science Communication and Journalism International School

Being a Science Journalist

CLIPS — Communication Learning in Practice for Scientists

SciCommers Community Resources

The ultimate science writing resource guide