Professional Development Day, a career development event for science writers, has been DCSWA’s signature event since 2006. Every year, over 100 science reporters, PIOs, editors, radio and video producers, and freelancers gather for a fun and exciting day of networking and skill-building
Our full-day(!) event will include a keynote talk, panel discussions, lunch with scientists, a pitch slam, and happy hour. Please join us on Saturday, May 6 from 9am – 5pm at George Washington University’s Student Center on the 3rd floor.
Lunch will be provided. There will also be an in-person raffle of science books and dioramas.
We will also have livestreaming – with dedicated specialist IT support – for those who want to attend the talk and panel discussions virtually.
We are excited for our slate of programming (more details below) and hope to see you on May 6!
Sincerely,
Richard Sima and the DCSWA board
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Keynote
Working title: How different will the AI future be?
It seems like we are at a technological inflection point with generative AI models. Dave Karpf has spent the past several years conducting research on the history of similar technological inflection points. In this talk, he’ll discuss what lessons we can draw from the “history of the digital future.” What should we watch for, hope for, worry about, and expect. What, generally speaking, comes next from here?
Panels
Pitch slam moderated by Michael Newman (Johns Hopkins Medicine), with John Timmer (Ars Technica), Lisa Chiu (Brain Facts), Manny Morone (Chemical & Engineering News), Caryl-Sue Micalizo (Eos), Linda Thrasybule (Everyday Health), Kat Long (Mental Floss), Jason Bardi (Proto Life), Macon Morehouse (Science News), and Traci Watson (Nature)
Boxed lunch with ~6 George Washington University researchers
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Details:
When: Saturday, May 6, 2023, 9 am – 5 pm. Registration begins at 9 am. The formal program begins at 9:30 am.
Where: George Washington University’s Student Center
800 21st Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20052
Cost:
In-person: $60 members, $105 for nonmembers, $40 student members.
Virtual only: $30 members, $52.50 for nonmembers, $20 student members.
Financial hardship rate available—please email president@dcswa.org. We are also making refunds easy if anyone needs to cancel because of illness or perceived risk to try and keep our community safe.
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Professional Development Day Agenda
Room 1 | Room 2 | |
9:00 – 9:30 am | Registration | |
9:30 – 10:00 am | Opening remarks and Newsbrief Award presentations | |
10:00 – 11:00 am | Keynote speaker: “How different will the AI future be?” by Professor David Karpf | |
11:10 am – 12:30 pm | Navigating Twitter Uncertainty: What are the Alternatives? | Writing About Science for a Kid Audience |
12:30 – 1:30 pm | Lunch with GW Scientists (boxed lunches that can be taken outdoors to eat if desired.) |
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1:30 – 2:45 pm | Science on Social Video: Practitioners Share Lessons | Timing is Everything: How Science Reporters, Journal Editors, and PIOs Can Get in Sync in the Complex Publication Landscape |
2:45 – 4:00 pm | Solutions Journalism: A New Approach to Writing About Ongoing Issues in the U.S | Pitch slam |
4:00 – 4:30 pm | Closing remarks/flock gathering (in main area); Raffle | |
5:00 – 7:00 pm | Happy hour (Tonic at Quigley’s!) |