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Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) is currently accepting applications for its Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
The Sharon Begley Award is a prestigious international award designed to recognize excellence in science journalism while actively supporting the development of substantial, high-impact reporting projects.The award honors the career achievements of a mid-career science journalist and provides dedicated funding to allow the recipient the time, focus, and resources needed to pursue an ambitious journalism project that deepens public understanding of science.
The Sharon Begley Award provides:
A total grant of at least $20,000
An initial payment upon selection as the award recipient
A remaining $10,000 released once the reporting project is confirmed to be actively underway
The funding is specifically designed to give the awardee flexibility and independence while working on a major reporting project.
Who Is Eligible?
Professional Experience Requirements
Applicants must:
Be mid-career science journalists
Have approximately 8–10 years of professional journalism experience
Demonstrate substantial experience covering science-related topics
Time spent in editorial roles is fully counted toward eligibility, acknowledging the critical role editors play in shaping high-quality science journalism.
Staff journalists
Freelance or independent journalists
Both employment paths are treated equally.
Geographic Eligibility
Applications are open worldwide
Journalists may be based in any country
Work must have been published in news outlets accessible to international audiences
Who Is Not Eligible?
To ensure transparency and integrity, the following individuals are not eligible:
Current board members, staff, or contractors of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW)
Members of their households
Journalists currently serving on the award’s advisory committee
Former advisory committee members may apply only after a three-year waiting period following the end of their service.
