Entry window open for 2026 CASW prizes, fellowships

Science journalists are invited to apply or nominate their colleagues for three major science journalism prizes to be awarded by the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing in 2026. Applications for Taylor/Blakeslee Graduate Fellowships, which support graduate-level study in science journalism, are also being accepted.

The prizes are the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award, a career prize recognizing the accomplishments of a mid-career science journalist and a grant of $20,000 for a significant reporting project; the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting; and the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award, which recognizes outstanding science reporting and writing by a journalist under the age of 30. Nominations are accepted for the Cohn Prize and Clark/Payne Award.

Taylor/Blakeslee Graduate Fellowships are available to students enrolling in a graduate program to study science journalism. Currently enrolled students are also eligible, as long as they have the equivalent of one year of full-time study remaining. One candidate interested in covering the physical sciences—such as physics, astronomy or chemistry—will receive an enhanced fellowship that also includes mentorship from a senior journalist and additional travel funding for reporting projects.

Deadlines for this year’s competitions are:

• Taylor/Blakeslee graduate fellowships: March 16
• Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award: April 30
• Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting: June 30
• Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for a young science journalist: June 30

All entries must be submitted through CASW’s Submittable portal. Please read the Rules and Eligibility before submitting your entry, and check the Awards & Fellowships page for more information on these and other opportunities.

Please contact Laura Dattaro with any questions.