CASW established the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting in 2000. The prize, given annually, honors a writer for a body of work published or broadcast within the last five years which, for reasons of uncommon clarity, accuracy, breadth of coverage, enterprise, originality, insight and narrative power has made a profound and lasting contribution to public awareness and understanding of critical advances in medical science and their impact on human health and well being.
 Work appearing in digital media is eligible. If an entry includes work that cannot be submitted but must be viewed online, the nominee should arrange access for the judges and explain the arrangement in the submission form.
 Editors, colleagues, scientists and others familiar with the candidate's body of work may proffer nominations. Individuals may nominate themselves, but are encouraged to send at least one letter of support from a knowledgeable colleague. Nominators may submit up to five examples of the candidate's journalistic endeavors, all published or aired since January 2020. Books are not eligible. Letters of nomination should include an assessment of the nominee's body of work  along with a biographical sketch.
Deadline for nominations: June 30.
 An account is required to submit. After you click "Create Account and Continue," you will be able to access the submission form.
 For further information about the prize, see this page.
 If you are a nominator or supporter wishing to submit only a letter in support of a candidate, use the Letter of Support submission form.
 If you have been nominated in a previous year and would like to update your nomination materials, please contact Laura Dattaro.
NOTICE: In July 2016 CASW launched Showcase, an online collection of award-winning science writing. We expect the winner of the Victor Cohn Prize to allow us to include a sample of the winning work in this database or to assist us in securing the necessary permission to do so. See the "terms and conditions" section of the form for details.
 Questions about the nomination process? Contact Laura Dattaro.

Now in its 36th year, the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award was created to recognize the contributions to journalism of both Ev Clark and Seth Payne.
    The Award is intended to encourage young science writers by recognizing outstanding reporting and writing in any field of science. The winner will receive $1,000 and expenses to attend ScienceWriters2025 in the fall. Entries may be submitted from outside the United States; however, CASW cannot reimburse expenses that exceed the cost of a domestic roundtrip.
    The award is given in memory of Ev Clark, a veteran journalist at Business Week, The New York Times, and Newsweek; and Seth Payne, his long-time friend and colleague at Business Week and a founder of the Award. It is designed to carry on the work of both men, who offered friendship and advice to generations of young journalists.
Rules
    The award is limited to non-technical, print and online journalism. Articles published in newspapers (including college newspapers), magazines, newsletters and websites are eligible. Both freelancers and staff writers are eligible. (Books, as well as articles in technical journals and trade association publications, are not eligible).
    Science writing includes, but is not limited to, writing in the biological, physical, environmental, computer, and space sciences, along with technology, mathematics, health, and science policy.
    Entries will be judged on the basis of accuracy, clarity, insightfulness, fairness, resourcefulness, and timeliness.
    Applicants must be age 30 or younger. The 2025 Award will be limited to those applicants whose 31st birthday is July 1, 2025 or later.
    Applicants may submit a single article or series, or up to four individual pieces. Articles must be published between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. A series will be accepted if most parts are published between those dates. Applications may be submitted by the author or on the author's behalf. All entries must be submitted in English.
    All applications and submissions must be received by June 30, 2025.
   Please note that judges consider only the candidate's submitted work when making their selection. Do not upload any materials (such as a recommendation letter or resume) other than journalism produced by the candidate.

Judges
    The award will be judged by a panel of science writers selected by the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. The award will be announced by August 30, 2025.
How to Enter
    You may access the nomination form after you create an account and click "Create Account and Continue" below.
    Questions about the process? Contact Laura Dattaro.

This form may be used to upload:

• a letter of support for a candidate for the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award
• a letter of support for a candidate for the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting (to submit a nomination package, please use the Victor Cohn Prize form) 
• a recommendation of an applicant for a Taylor/Blakeslee University Fellowship or Taylor/Blakeslee Project Fellowship
• a recommendation of an applicant for a New Horizons travel fellowship

To access the form, you will need to create a Submittable account.

For further information about deadlines, requirements for recommenders and nominators, and about the prizes and fellowships, see the CASW Awards and Fellowships page or contact Laura Dattaro, ldattaro@casw.org.