ScienceWriters2025 conference is actively seeking new venues, sponsors, and partners. Read their statement to explore ways to help.

Below is a recently released joint statement from the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing and the National Association of Science Writers on the ScienceWriters2025 conference. The statement addresses the withdrawal of a previous hosting arrangement and lays out the urgent need for new hosting venues, partners, and sponsors as they remain committed to proceeding with the conference.

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 facilities for 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 for NASW’s professional development sessions and CASW’s Science+Science Writing sessions for the 2025 conference, including virtual sessions. The deadline has been extended to Monday, March 24.

We welcome your questions and informative leads via sciwri25@nasw.org.