Career Development Awards

Each year, the Northwest Science Writers Association offers two Career Development Awards of up to $1,000 for science communicators in the region seeking to take their skills and opportunities to the next level. The awards are open to print, broadcast, or online science communicators who have a primary residence in the states of Washington, Oregon, or Idaho.

These grants are meant to defray the expenses of attending a training, conference, or class related to the professional development of science communicators, and are not intended to cover the costs of reporting.

Applicants must be members of NSWA at the time of application.

Past Awardees

  • 2021: Freelance journalist Britany Robinson attended the Society of Environmental Journalists conference and independent journalist Robin Donovan attended the Santa Fe Science Writing Workshop.
  • 2020: Awards postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 2019: Freelance science writer Meredith Fore attended the Science Writers conference and freelance environmental journalist Jen Monnier attended the Society of Environmental Journalists conference.
  • 2018: Freelance environmental journalist Janice Cantieri attended the Solutions Journalism Summit and freelance science writer Rebecca Heisman attended the Science Writers 2019 Meeting.
  • 2017: University of Washington PhD student Ian Haydon and Christianity Today science editor Rebecca Randall attended the 10th World Conference of Science Journalists. Read highlights of their experiences.
  • 2016: Independent journalist Wudan Yan attended the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR) Conference and freelance journalist Chris Solomon attended the Latest in Longform: Berkeley Narrative Journalism Conference. Read highlights of their experiences.
  • 2015: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration science writer Ashley Braun attended Courage Camp: A master class on the business of freelancing.
  • 2014: Freelance journalist Madeline Ostrander attended Courage Camp: A master class on the business of freelancing. Read highlights of Ostrander’s experience.
  • 2012: InvestigateWest co-founder Robert McClure and freelance journalist Michelle Martin attended the Society of Environmental Journalists conference.