#SciWriUnited: A regional sciwri groups congress

The first-ever Congress of Regional Science Writers Groups (SciWriCongress) was held with rousing success in Washington, D.C., at ScienceWriters2018. From the opening to closing gavel, the room was filled with vibrant discussions and insightful presentations by nearly 50 delegates, from 12 regional groups across the United States, as well as unaffiliated guests.

At the Second SciWriCongress this October in Pennsylvania, we are once again gathering delegates from across the United States to discuss challenges and best practices in organizing local professional networks. Delegates will have "floor time" to pose issues and questions for discussion in subsequent "committee" breakout sessions. These breakouts will center on common aspects of regional group management: operations and leadership, funding, member recruitment and engagement, and professional programming.

As one SciWriCongress delegate so succinctly remarked, "Regional Groups are the footprint of NASW for every month there isn't a national conference. We extend the 'in real life' experience beyond the once-a-year." The dynamic conversations, ideas, and energy we generate during SciWriCongress convenings are our way as Regional Groups of giving back to our national community. So come represent your region — and let us unite at Penn State!

Participating networks

• Appalachian Science Communicators
• Austin Science Writers
• Badger Science Writers
• Capital Science Communicators
• Chicago Science Writers
• D.C. Science Writers Association
• New England Science Writers
• Northern California Science Writers Association
• Northwest Science Writers Association
• Philadelphia-area Science Writers Association
• San Diego Science Writers Association
• Science Communicators of North Carolina
• Science Talk Science Writers in New York
• SoCal Science Writers

Drop-in participants welcome: This session is open to all ScienceWriters2019 attendees, especially those who are interested in forming their own regional science writers groups.

Please RSVP to Marla Broadfoot so we can plan accordingly for seating and logistics.

#SciWriCongress #SciWriUnited