Here at HBSciU, we’ve made it a mission to spotlight the exciting and important scientific research being performed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. We want as many talented writers as possible to join us in the effort. To that end, we’re pleased to announce the HBSciU.com Science Writing Fellowship, made possible by a generous grant from the National Association of Science Writers.
All HBCU students are welcome to apply. From the pool of applicants, we’ll select three fellows to receive a crash course in science news writing. Each will work one-on-one with a professional science journalist to produce three stories for HBSciU.com, the internet’s home for thoughtful, engaging coverage of science being done in the HBCU community—and by black scientists everywhere. Fellows will walk away with an understanding of the basic elements involved in pitching, reporting, and writing a story. And they’ll have published pieces—clips, as they’re called—that could help them land their next science writing gig.
Award
Each fellow will receive a $1500 prize plus up to $1000 to cover travel expenses to the ScienceWriters2016 conference, co-hosted by the National Association of Science Writers and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. Fellows do not need to relocate to participate in the program. All program obligations can be fulfilled at the student’s home institution. Fellows should expect to commit roughly the equivalent of two days per month to completing their writing duties.
Eligibility
To be eligible, an applicant must be an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at an HBCU. No prior journalism experience is required; all we ask is that you have a passion for writing and a deep curiosity for science.
Application
Applicants should submit the following documents:
* A resume. (No longer than two pages)
* A brief statement describing your interest in science writing and the ways you feel you could enrich the field of science journalism. (No more than 500 words)
* A short pitch for a story on an interesting science development at your school or at another HBCU. (No more than 100 words)
To apply online, click here. Application materials may also be sent as pdf or word files to hbsciu.editors@gmail.com.
The application deadline is Monday, April 18, 2016.
Winners will be notified in early May.
Fellowship details
Mentored by an experienced editor, each fellow will write one news story per month between May and July, for a total of three stories. (Fellows may do all of this work remotely; editor-fellow interactions will be conducted mainly through email, Skype, and other digital media.) Finished pieces will be published at HBSciU.com.
Fellows are strongly encouraged, but not required, to attend the ScienceWriters2016 conference, to be held Oct. 28 through Nov. 1 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. Travel expenses of up to $1000 will be covered by the fellowship.
The HBSciU.com Science Writing Fellowship is funded in full by a grant from the National Association of Science Writers. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement of or recommendation by the National Association of Science Writers, and any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the National Association of Science Writers.
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