The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW), an organization committed to improving the quantity and quality of science news reaching the public, has announced a call for nominations for the 2026 Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Journalists.
The award is aimed at encouraging young science writers by recognising outstanding reporting and writing in any field of science by a writer aged 30 or younger.
Now in its 37th year, the award was created in honour of Evert Clark, a veteran journalist who worked with Business Week, The New York Times, and Newsweek; and Seth Payne, his colleague and co-founder of the award, to encourage and support early-career science writers.
The award is open to journalists aged 30 or younger, and qualification for the 2026 cycle is limited to applicants whose 31st birthday falls on or after July 1, 2026. Both freelancers and staff writers are eligible.
Note that current CASW board members, staff, contractors, and their household members are not eligible to apply for or receive CASW awards or fellowships; however, former board members and staff are eligible to apply after a one-year waiting period. Also, former contractors can apply after a period equal to their longest contract, up to one year. Judges for a specific award are not eligible for that same award in the same year but may apply for other CASW awards, while former judges may apply in later years.
An applicant cannot submit work that was fully or partly funded by CASW. Judges prefer single-author stories and may choose not to consider submissions with multiple bylines. Meanwhile, individuals from groups historically underrepresented in science and media are encouraged to apply.
Applicants should submit a single article, a series, or up to four individual pieces published between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Judges prefer single-byline work, and eligible submissions include non-technical journalism in print, online, audio, or video formats published in newspapers (including college newspaper), magazines, newsletters, websites, or broadcasts, excluding books and scholarly or technical journal articles, except for general-audience science journalism such as IEEE Spectrum, C&EN and Science News. International entries are accepted as long as they are submitted in English, and only the submitted work is considered without resumes or recommendation letters.
Entries will be assessed based on accuracy, clarity, insightfulness, fairness, resourcefulness, and timeliness, and nominations can be submitted by the author or on their behalf, with encouragement for participation from underrepresented groups in science and media professions.
Submissions are due by June 30, 2026, and are reviewed by a panel of science writers and scientists appointed by CASW.
The 2026 winner will be awarded $1,000 and a certificate.
Click here to read more about the award. Also, see the Rules and Eligibility page on how to apply.
