Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award 2026

🏆 About the Award

The Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award is a prestigious international recognition aimed at honoring excellence in science journalism. It actively supports the development of substantial, high-impact reporting projects.

Key Highlights:

• Purpose: To honor the career achievements of a mid-career science journalist.
• Focus: Provides dedicated funding to enable the recipient to pursue an ambitious journalism project that deepens public understanding of science.
• Sponsor Organization: Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW).

💰 Benefits

The Sharon Begley Award offers:

• Total Grant: At least $20,000.
• Initial Payment: Upon selection as the award recipient.
• Remaining $10,000: Released once the reporting project is confirmed to be actively underway.

This funding is designed to provide flexibility and independence for the awardee while working on a major reporting project.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

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.

Editorial roles are fully counted toward eligibility, recognizing the critical role editors play in shaping high-quality science journalism.

Employment Paths

Both employment paths are treated equally:

• Staff journalists.
• Freelance or independent journalists.

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?

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.

📅 Application Process

How to Apply

• Visit the application portal to apply.

Application Deadline

• 30 April, 2026

🔗 Additional Information

• View details of the award on the CASW official website.

For mid-career science journalists looking to make a significant impact in the field, this award offers a unique opportunity to pursue ambitious projects with dedicated funding and recognition.

• 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