Northwest Science Writers Association

NSWA’s Mentorship Program fosters knowledge-sharing and community by pairing up people within our organization to share career advice and grow in their professions. To participate in the year-long program (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31), you must be a member of NSWA, but you can be at any stage in your career. You may be new to science writing, shifting from staff journalist to freelance writing or formulating a book proposal. You are welcome to apply to be a mentor, mentee or accountability partner.

NSWA partnered with the Seattle chapter of the Asian-American Journalists Association for a special online science trivia night via Zoom on Nov. 14. Teams tested their knowledge of arcane facts about science, science fiction, science writing, and current events.

On Oct. 8 we held the second event in NSWA’s Decolonizing Science Communication series. Our featured speakers were Emilee Gilpin and Cara McKenna, Indigenous writers from British Columbia who have deep experience covering stories about environmental issues in the Pacific Northwest that deeply affect First Nations peoples. Their work models how journalists can address the disproportionate dominance of Western thought, values, and culture in science and journalism and help to return Native thought and understanding to debates where they have been historically suppressed. [Image courtesy of ScienceLink]

On July 8, NSWA held the first in a series of virtual panels focused on decolonizing science communication. We heard from Native American journalists and a researcher who focuses on health disparities among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The speakers guided us in learning how to deconstruct the differences between Indigenous and Western world views and how each of those views shapes science and journalism. Their discussion included practical tips for incorporating this knowledge into science writing and reporting, and they pointed us toward useful resources for further exploration of this vital topic. A recorded video of the event is available. [Image courtesy of ScienceLink]

At this NSWA-hosted event, three expert fact-checkers pulled back the curtain to reveal how professional fact-checking works and the rising challenges these defenders of truth are facing. We heard from an independent, freelance fact-checker, another who spent 30 years on staff at Scientific American, and a third who cofounded Snopes, where fact-checking is the business.

Thursday, November 19