Editor’s note: In-person ScienceWriters2021 events at the CU Boulder and CU Anschutz campuses will be postponed to 2023. The NASW and CASW event steering committee made the decision to shift formats due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns. Find more information at: https://sciencewriters2021.org/.
Registration opened Aug. 11 for the top annual gathering for science writers, journalists and communicators of all stripes from across the country.
ScienceWriters2021, which runs from Oct. 8-11 with some early-bird sessions, is co-sponsored this year by the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and CU Boulder. It will shine a light on the best research that both campuses have to offer – giving attendees the chance to check out the latest advances in a range of scientific fields, from edible chemotherapy to 3D printers that create biological material for surgeries.
The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) and the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) organize the ScienceWriters conference, which takes place at a different host institution every year.
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event, originally scheduled for 2020, will include both in-person and virtual activities. Vaccines are required to attend in-person events. It’s sure to offer “something for everyone.”
The conference will include talks, tours, workshops and opportunities for “Lunch with a Scientist,” where scientists will discuss their unique research.
CU Anschutz researchers will take center stage during events on Sunday, Oct. 10.
Participants will hear from a range of researchers, including the coach of 2021 Tour de France champion, about what happens in the muscles of an elite athlete in training and Jay Lemery, MD, about how climate change effects our physical and emotional well-being. They will learn about recent developments in COVID “long-haulers” and progress toward new Alzheimer's treatments.
They will see facilities such as the Center for Drug Discovery, which is home to a new drug discovery technology that can cut the screening time for new therapies by half, and the Marcus Institute for Brain Health, a clinical care and research institute for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Psychological Health (PH) conditions, with a focus on veteran care.
COVID-19 safety is a key priority for the conference organizers. In addition to the vaccine requirement, event sites have been selected to allow for physical distancing and to keep conference activities separate from other campus activities. Safety protocols will evolve based on the latest research and guidelines from federal, state and local agencies.