NSWA - Northwest Science Writers

In very blue image we see crowd of people inside Seattle Aquarium at last year's 2024 meeting of NW Science Writers.

Thanks to sponsors of our nonprofit @nswa.bsky.social #science #facts
Including: @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social
@uwmedicine.bsky.social @geekwire.com @oregonstate.edu @outrider.org @alleninstitute.org
@kavlifoundation.org
Parse Biosciences, Kuwana Consulting, Message Lab + @seattlechildrens.org

NSWA President Michael Bradbury, VP Lynda Mapes, and board members Clayton Aldern, Christie Wilcox, Barbara Goldoftas in front of fish in Seattle aquarium

NSWA board members Bryn Nelson, Virginia Gewin, and NSWA member Robin Mejia at the Seattle Aquarium.

Seattle Aquarium’s resident octopus, Violet.

Seattle Aquarium interior with image projection of coral reefs

What a great night at the Seattle Aquarium! Thanks to all who helped us ring in 2026! 🐙 🦦 🐠

Calling all Northwest #science writers! You don’t want to miss this party! The venue is spectacular, you’ll get to meet the new resident sea otter (squeee!), learn about the aquarium’s conservation work, have great food, and mingle with some wonderful people. Details on our website. 🧪

One week left to get your submissions in for the Best of the Northwest awards! Deadline: December 26!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—the NSWA Best of the Northwest Awards are upon us! Submit your outstanding entries in these three categories: 1) Journalism writing 2) Institutional Writing 3) Multimedia.

Award winners in each category will receive a $300 prize and an award certificate.

Famous print by MC Escher of fish and birds.

Time of year to RENEW your membership in
@nswa.bsky.social
+
@sciencewriters.org

#science matters. #facts matter. #journalism matters.
Birds of a feather... flocking. #SciWri26
(NASW will meet in Oregon next year) #PNW

Did you miss the bus? Second chance at IJNR's 30th Anniversary shirts, Supporting INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM & NATURAL RESOURCES The Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources is turning 30! In 1995, a motley crew of intrepid journalists spent two weeks traveling around western Montana, learning from ranchers, scientists, and...

Last day to get your @ijnr.bsky.social tee!

Northwest Science Writers: SAVE THE DATE! Our annual holiday party will take place January 14 at the Seattle Aquarium:) 🐟🐬🐙🐢🦈🦑

A visit to the pristine Western Arctic, which faces gas and oil drilling Lynda Mapes, the former Seattle Times environment reporter, made a trip recently to the Western Arctic, a vast region in the northernmost part of North America. It’s an area that the Trump administrat...

NSWA board member, Lynda Mapes, was interviewed by @kuow.org last week. She discusses her recent article for @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social highlighting how Alaskan wildlands are at risk from the US push for "global energy dominance".

Hey #PNW, the @sciencewriters.org meeting next NOV is in Corvallis, OR. Hosts include @oregonstate.edu
#sciwri26
Travel dream - a "private car" on Amtrak bringing all the #seattle folks south
@nswa.bsky.social
sciencewriters2025.org/next-year/

NSWA showed up at @sciencewriting1.bsky.social conference in Chicago last weekend!

The big news—the 2026 NASW conference will be in the PNW. Join us in Corvallis at @oregonstateuniv.bsky.social in October.

Flowing Elwha River water at the site of the former reservoir.

Vanessa Castle, a member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, showed us the monumental restoration efforts bringing back native plants and restore the river's winding path.

At the mouth of the Elwha river, thousands of birds enjoyed the habitat restored to the beach when the dam was removed.

Local Elwha expert, John Gussman, led us on a hike along the upper Elwha river.

In September, @nswa.bsky.social members journeyed to the Olympic Peninsula to see the Elwha River restoration.

Vanessa Castle, a Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe member, shared how the removal of the river's two dams has brought both ecological renewal & spiritual healing. John Gussman led us on a hike.

7 rowboats rest on a dock with open water behind them. The boats are all different colors, including a red one. Beyond the dock is a point of land with trees.

Yes, it can be October and puffy white clouds. @fridayharbor.bsky.social
Thank you @nswa.bsky.social for our field trip to Friday Harbor labs. #invertebrates #echinoderms #eyes

Who wants to spend a weekend at Friday Harbor Labs (October 26-28)?!

NSWA’s @adrienneunderwood.bsky.social has organized a sweet retreat!

Get more details and sign up to get one of the remaining spots here.

In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations | Town Hall Seattle In relationship with Se’Si’Le, Braided River is celebrating the launch of their newest project, In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations: Conversations about Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Bein...

Mark your calendars! Thursday, October 16, 7:30 @townhallseattle.bsky.social will host a panel and book launch for—>

In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations: Conversations about Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in Nature.

Mary Roach with Mary Ann Gwinn | Town Hall Seattle The body is the most complex machine in the world, and the only one for which you cannot get a replacement part from the manufacturer. For centuries, medicine has reached for what’s available—sculptin...

Seattle @nswa.bsky.social members: Tomorrow night, Mary Roach will be at @townhallseattle.bsky.social. Get tix here!

DEADLINE IS TOMORROW!

Northwest Science Writers: Need $1000 to reach your professional development goals—to, for example, attend a conference or skills training? We’ve got you!

Apply for one of our Career Development Awards by Friday, September 26!

Freelancers: check out The Business of Freelancing short course. Early bird registration is open until Sept. 19 for just $189

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Finding the Money: Tips for strengthening proposals for journalism grants and fellowships. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Big ideas in journalism deserve support, and there’s money out there to make them happen. Knowing where to look — and how to make your case — is key. Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Pulitzer Center, and the National Press Foundation, three organizations that provide grant funding for reporting projects, as we pull back the curtain on how to find and position yourself to win grants and fellowships designed for journalists. We’ll also learn about an emerging platform being developed by a Reynolds Journalism Institute fellow that will aggregate funding opportunities for staff and freelance journalists. From funding that backs bold reporting projects to fellowships that provide time and resources for growth, you’ll walk away knowing what’s possible for your work — and how to go after it. Program panelists: Anne Godlasky, National Press Foundation President Marina Walker Guevara, The Pulitzer Center Executive Editor Monica Williams, Independent Journalist and Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellow Moderator: Elliot C. Williams, National Press Club Journalism Institute Training Manager Whether you’re a freelancer chasing your next big investigation or a newsroom reporter looking to back a new project, this session will give you the confidence and tools to secure the funding you need.

Thinking about applying for journalism fellowships and grants this fall? Get tips on strengthening your proposals during a panel hosted by our colleagues at the National Press Club Journalism Institute.

Register for the free Sept 9 webinar:

Who’s going to Chicago for the 2025 NASW meeting?! 🍻🧪

Now, even Senate Republicans are pushing back on Kennedy’s vaccine views Three Republican senators joined Democrats in questioning Kennedy’s contradictory statements on mRNA vaccines and Operation Warp Speed.

Three Republican senators joined Democrats in questioning Kennedy’s contradictory statements on mRNA vaccines and Operation Warp Speed.
www.statnews.com/2025/09/04/k...

Seeing hazy skies? How air quality looks in Seattle, Western WA and beyond The skies are hazy in much of the state as smoke from multiple fires wafts over. In parts of Eastern Washington, air quality has reached unhealthy levels.

With a few fires contributing to the haze across Washington, here's an air quality update for the Seattle area.

RFK Jr. rolled out that old chestnut again about how healthy Americans were in the 60’s, so here’s a fact check.

In 1965:

-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.

-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.

-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.

We’ve been on a bit of a hiatus, but we’re back—and have money to give away to 1-2 enterprising science writers!

Want to go to a conference? Learn a new skill? Applications are open for two Career Development Awards of up to $1,000 from August 29th to September 26th, 2025. 💰🤑

On a green background there are images of two women (Deirdre and Sarah) and a cover image of the book An Introduction to Error. Text on the graphic reads: Elliott Bay Book Company | Deirdre Lockwood w/ Sarah DeWeerdt | Thursday 9/18 7 pm

I'm so excited to be launching my debut poetry collection, AN INTRODUCTION TO ERROR, in conversation with the brilliant Sarah DeWeerdt! Come out and join us at Elliott Bay Book Co. on Sept. 18 at 7 pm. Cosponsored by @nswa.bsky.social. www.elliottbaybook.com/events/47800

Save Our Science Rally at Waterfront Park! · Seattle Indivisible **Save Our Science from being defunded and undermined!** We won't watch silently while the Trump administration rolls back the clock on our scientific progress. By installing science denialists at l...

Will you Stand Up for Science in #seattle Sept 14th? At the waterfront?
@sufsseattle.bsky.social @standupforscience.bsky.social
@nswa.bsky.social
#STEM #science @mobilize-za.bsky.social

www.mobilize.us/seattleindiv...

Find us @nswa.bsky.social !

Told you were weren't lying about the fire donuts!!

It was Sooooo fun! Hit us up for more great events, professional development, and generally awesome STEM and communications nerd things.