Now in its 37th year, CASW’s 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 by a writer aged 30 or younger. The 2026 winner will receive $1,000 and a certificate.

The annual deadline for submission of nominations is June 30. Submissions are judged by a panel of science writers and scientists selected by CASW. Entries will be judged on the basis of accuracy, clarity, insightfulness, fairness, resourcefulness, and timeliness. For full details, see the Rules and Eligibility page.      

All applications and submissions must be received by June 30, 2026.        

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.

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.

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.

CASW established the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting in 2000. Given annually, the prize seeks to honor 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.

Beginning in 2023, the Cohn Prize is generously underwritten by Michelson Philanthropies, a Los Angeles-based philanthropic foundation devoted to supporting medical research, equity in education, and improving animal welfare.

The honoree receives an award of $5,000 and a certificate.

The annual deadline for submission of nominations is June 30. For full details, see the Rules and Eligibility page. 

An account is required to submit. After you click "Create Account and Continue," you will be able to access the submission form.

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? Contact Laura Dattaro.

The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing offers fellowships of $6,000 to working journalists and students of outstanding ability who have been accepted for enrollment in graduate-level programs in science writing. 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.

The annual deadline for applications is mid-March, with the specific date announced in early January. For the 2026-27 academic year, the deadline is March 16, 2026. For full details, see the Rules and Eligibility page.

If you are a recommender wishing only to submit a letter in support of an applicant, please use the Letter of Support form.

To apply online, fill out the form on the next page and upload:

• Resume
• Samples of your writing
• A brief letter of recommendation from a teacher or someone who knows you. (Alternatively, the recommender can submit the letter using the Letter of Support form.) Up to two additional letters of support may be submitted.
• If you are applying for the enhanced fellowship for a student interested in covering the physical sciences, a brief statement of your background and interest in writing about physical science.

Note to applicants: The selection committee focuses on the overall quality of your application, not its length. Your personal statement should have the length that you feel is best for you. Concise writing is a valuable trait for a journalist. 

As Mark Twain put it: "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead."

Questions? 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.