D.C. Science Writers Association

Building Stones Tour: June 21 (free)
2025-06-21 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Join geologist (and DCSWA Board Member) Leanne Wiberg in a walk along Constitution Avenue NW. Leanne will offer insights into the history and geography of that well-used stretch of roadway. We will learn about the varied types of building stones we encounter and come to appreciate how these building blocks of DC have changed over time. The tour will include conversations not only about some of our famous national monuments, but also about some lesser appreciated sites along the route.
The initial gathering place will be at the top of the escalators at the Federal Triangle Metro station at 4 pm. Wear walking shoes. The route will be 1.5 miles long, excluding a walk after the tour to a nearby restaurant or bar.
This tour is limited to DCSWA members only. Participation will be capped at 14 people. Registrants will receive details and orientation materials in advance of the tour. The rain date is June 28th.
Register here

Pizza Social at Sonny's in DC
2025-06-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Sonny’s Pizza, 3120 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20010, United States
Come grab a slice with fellow DCSWA members, and bring along friends who are considering joining! There will be dairy free and gluten free pizza, for those with dietary differences. Sonny’s is just 4 blocks from the Columbia Heights metro stop. No registration required.

Talk: Learning from the 'Legend of Zelda'
2025-07-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Webinar
Just a few months after the game’s release, Ryan Sochol, a University of Maryland associate professor in mechanical engineering, launched “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to Machine Design.”
The course began in Fall 2023 to provide undergraduate students with an uncommon opportunity to gain experience designing, prototyping, and testing new types of vehicles, robots, and machines — all within the virtual world of the game. Dr. Sochol will talk about his idea to mix video games and learning, and the similarities between real-life machine design and the game’s design.
The talk will be on Zoom. Details to follow!

Social Event: Happy Hour & Board Games
2025-07-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Board Room, 1737 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Come enjoy beverages with the DCSWA community and, if you’re so inspired, play some board games! Our next social event is at the Board Room DC in DuPont Circle. This venue serves drinks only but outside food is allowed.
Location: Board Room DC, 1737 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC
Date/Time: Thursday, July 24, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Social Event: Ice Cream
2025-07-31 18:00 - 20:00 | Ice Cream Jubilee Navy Yard, 301 Water St SE # 105, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
Free ice cream for the first 25 people who show up! If the weather is nice, we’ll sit by the waterfront and mingle.
Location: Ice Cream Jubilee at Navy Yard
Date/Time: Thursday, July 31, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Create Your Unicorn Career in SciComm - Even in a Crisis
2025-08-28 19:00 - 20:00
Even in a challenging economy, you can find unique career possibilities and land jobs! Join us for a fireside chat and Ask Me Anything with Alaina G. Levine, professional speaker, science writer, career coach to science writers, and author of Networking for Nerds and Create Your Unicorn Career (forthcoming). Ask her anything about uncovering hidden jobs in the current climate and creating Your Unicorn Career, the customized and authentic career that brings you joy, meaning, and money at a session hosted by the D.C. Science Writers Association.
Register: //us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tLQDcOdnRAe372LljSgZaQ#/registration

CANCELED - Crafting Party at Because Science
2025-09-07 12:00 - 14:00 | Because Science, 1759 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC, United States
Our next in-person social will be a crafting party at Because Science! You may remember the venue from our space painting event in 2023 — this time we’ll be creating collages from electronic waste! We’ll spend about an hour collaging and then head to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Space is limited to 15 participants and tickets are $15. If you’re interested. make sure to sign up and pay in advance!

When: OCTOBER 18, 1-3pm
Where: Because Science, 1759 Columbia Rd NW Washington DC 20009

Science Writing on Substack
2025-09-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Talk
Join the D.C. Science Writers Association (DCSWA) on Thursday, Sept. 18 to learn how to use Substack to share news about science, medicine, health, and technology.
This free online Zoom webinar will include a panel of leading science writers and communicators who will provide insight about how they got started on Substack and are using the platform to share news with followers.
This special panel includes:

Holden Thorp, Ph.D., Science Forever
Timothy B. Lee, M.A., Understanding AI
Katelyn K. Jetelina, M.P.H., Ph.D., and Andrea Tamayo, M.S., Your Local Epidemiologist

Attendees can expect to learn more about:

What does science writing look like on Substack?
What types of science writers and communicators excel on the platform?
How to start: Choose a beat, Substack name, and decide how often to post
What to post: Digital, audio, video, notes, and more
What cross-promotion efforts work well if you post across multiple sites or platforms?
Engage followers: How can you measure success and communicate with impact?
Reach: What strategies work well to expand your reach within and outside of the platform?
What subscription model — free, paid, a combo, or donations — may work best for you?

For more details see: the webinar website.
–> REGISTER HERE <–

Joint Happy Hour with JHU Science Writing Program
2025-09-25 18:00 - 20:00
Join us for a joint happy hour with Johns Hopkins University’s Science Writing Program on Thursday, September 25 at Crooked Run Fermentation from 6:00-8:00 PM. Meet new science writers and enjoy the venue’s menu, which includes ciders, seltzers, natural wines, NY style pizza and wings. Closest metro station is NoMa-Gallaudet U New York Ave in the red line.
Address: 550 Morse St NE Suite #120, Washington, DC 20002
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM

November Social Hour at Ris
2025-11-12 17:30 - 19:30
Join us for a joint happy hour with local scientists and federal workers on Wednesday, November 12, at Ris from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Network with fellow science writers, local scientists, and federal workers. Enjoy reduced price cocktails and bar bites. DCSWA will provide some snacks. Closest metro station is Foggy Bottom on the orange-blue-silver lines.
Address: Ris, 2275 L St NW, Washington, DC 20037
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Book talk: Paws-itive results: How dogs help science
2025-12-01 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom Webinar
Come, sit, stay. Join a virtual event to explore the science of our favorite symbiotes, dogs!
Lindsay Cordero, author of “The Great Truffle Snuffle,” and Melanie Kaplan, author of “Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research,” will talk about the intersection between dogs and science, with a special focus on one doggo profession: truffle hunting.
This event will take place online, is free to join, and is open to all members and friends of the D.C. Science Writers Association (DCSWA).
Register now and save the date!

Book Talk: Seeing Differently - A New Way to Look at Science
2026-02-03 19:00 - 20:30
Science progresses as we find new views on what we already know. Two DCSWA authors recently published books that explore the wonders that happen when you take a new perspective on an old subject.
Amy Hansen, author of Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe, shows children through an illustrated book how a blind astrophysicist uses sound to explore the universe. James Riordon, author of Crush: Close Encounters with Gravity, shows how to see gravity in your daily life – including picturing a black hole in your kitchen sink.
We’ll talk to them about their books, how they came upon these insightful viewpoints (and how they sold them to a publisher!), and what’s next for each author. Join us for a virtual session on February 3 to chat with the authors.
Amy S. Hansen is a science writer who specializes in kids’ publications. Besides the award-winning Wanda Hears the Stars, she has more than 35 books out, including the ever popular Curious About Sloths (Amicus, 2022), Touch the Earth (NASA, 2010), and the perennial favorite, Bugs and Bugsicles: Insects in the Winter (Boyds Mills Press, 2010). Amy has also worked as a journalist for NSF and AAAS, and on many newspapers.
James Riordon is a journalist who covers physics, math, astronomy, chemistry, and Earth science. His articles have appeared in Science News Magazine, Quanta Magazine, Scientific American, New Scientist, and the Washington Post, among other publications. He is currently a senior science writer with NASA’s Earth Science News team. In addition to authoring Crush: Close Encounters with Gravity, James is coauthor of Ghost Particle: In Search of the Elusive and Mysterious Neutrino.
Register here.

Happy Hour with JHU at Astro Beer Hall
2026-02-11 18:00 - 20:00
Join us for a happy hour with the Johns Hopkins Science Writing Program on Wednesday, February 11 at Astro Beer Hall in DC from 6-8 PM.
Address: 1306 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005.
WMATA Metro: Red line (Metro Center station) or Green line (Gallery Place/Chinatown station). No registration is required for this event.

Joint Networking Event with AIP
2026-04-16 18:00 - 20:00
Join us for a joint networking event with the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and the D.C. Science Writers Association on April 16 from 6-8 p.m. Along with DCSWA members, invitation is open to anyone across the AIP federation of societies who’s involved in science communications of any kind to join us for an informal evening of connection and conversation. Drinks and refreshments will be provided.
Location: AIP at American Center for Physics – DC
555 12th Street NW
Suite 250
Washington, DC 20004
Registration is required: aip.org/networking-science-writers

New Members Welcome Event
2026-07-09 18:00 - 20:00
Come join us for free pizza and meet some of our new DCSWA members! We’ll be hosting our new members’ social in the back patio of Sonny’s Pizza. Sonny’s Pizza is a long-time favorite of DCSWA and has a happy hour that goes until 7 p.m. The closest metro stops are the Columbia Heights or Georgia Avenue-Petworth stations on the green/yellow lines, and the restaurant is a short walk from there. DCSWA will provide the pizzas, but guests are responsible for any other food/drinks. No registration required. Hope to see everyone there!
Address: Sonny’s Pizza, 3120 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
Date: Thursday, July 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.

AAAS Mass Media Fellows Farewell
2026-08-17 18:00 - 20:00
Join DCSWA in saying farewell to this summer’s crop of AAAS Mass Media Fellows! We will be meeting up for a happy hour at Lost & Found Bar from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, August 17. The bar does not have a kitchen but you are free to bring in food from one of the many restaurants in the area. Lost & Found also hosts trivia on Mondays at 8 p.m. if you feel like keeping the party going afterwards! No registration required.
Address: Lost & Found Bar, 1240 9th St. NW Washington, DC 20001
Metro: Accessible via the green line (Mt. Vernon Sq. 7th / Convention Center), or Metro Center (red/blue/orange/silver lines).
