Volunteer to mentor a student in the NASW David Perlman Virtual Mentoring Program, Summer 2025

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Note: This form is for volunteer mentors/editors only. Student applications will open in mid-May.

The NASW Education Committee is once again sponsoring the David Perlman Virtual Mentoring Program! This program aims to connect students with experienced science writers to help them learn more about the field and expand their network of colleagues.

At minimum, a mentor/mentee relationship has the following expectations:

Attend a kickoff event with a guest speaker and orientation June 4, 2-3 PM ET.
Meet with mentee at least three times (the kickoff counts!)
Communicate regularly with mentee during the program to provide advice and guidance (some resources for discussion topics will be provided).

You will find out who your mentee is ahead of the kickoff session. We aim to pair mentors and students who have similar areas of interest, but matches may not be exact.

Help us shape this year's program!

In the past, students have each written a story for potential publication in the NASW Student Newsroom or another media outlet. This year, given the uncertain times we're living in, we're giving volunteer mentors the chance to help set the scale of the program.

Depending on your responses, we may continue the writing part of the program or make it optional with an open submission to the student newsroom after the close of the program. To offer the writing part of the program, we would need a sufficient number of mentors to serve as editors, working with students (i.e., their mentee) to develop their stories for publication.

Editing expectations

In addition to the mentor expectations above, duties would include:

Approximately 3 rounds of revisions/edits with the student, aiming for a publishable draft that is ready for minimal copyediting.
At least one 1:1 conversation with the student devoted to discussing revisions, potentially after their initial draft
Helping the student determine where their story could be published (NASW Student Newsroom vs. an external outlet)

To volunteer as a mentor and help determine the scope of this year's program, please complete the form below by May 1, 2025. We will provide final program details no later than May 12, which is when student signups will begin.

Thank you,

Courtney Gorman & Shel Evergreen

Co-Chairs, Education Committee
National Association of Science Writers

Questions? Email education@nasw.org

Note: This form is for volunteer mentors/editors only. Student applications will open in mid-May.

Email *

Select one of the following: *

I can be a mentor AND an editor (I will have conversations with a student about the field and help them develop a story, if they wish)

I can only be a mentor (I will have conversations with a student about the field, but I do not wish to work on a story)

I can only be an editor (I will help a student develop a story, but I would want someone else to serve as a general mentor for that student)

First Name *

Last Name *

Cell phone e.g. (XXX-XXX-XXXX)

Affiliation *

Title and responsibilities: *

Website (organization or personal) *

I am willing to mentor more than one student: *

Yes

Other:

Required

I am willing to mentor and edit more than one student:

Yes

Other:

I am willing to be a judge for student writing awards (early August)

Yes

Maybe

Science field(s) of interest: *

Briefly, your background is (include educational training, a summary of positions held, etc.): *

Have you been a mentor with NASW before? If so, when and how? *

NASW’s Conference and Meeting Code of Conduct applies to this virtual event. Please read and review at www.nasw.org/conference-and-meeting-code-conduct. By virtue of attendance, all participants agree to abide by this code of conduct. *

I agree to abide by the NASW Meeting and Conference Code of Conduct

Required

The professional development sessions may be audio visually recorded for NASW student members and others to refer to later and for use in NASW communications. Individuals who participate with their camera engaged, or who utilize a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded. If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, be sure to keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, individuals who un-mute during the sessions and participate verbally are agreeing to have their voices recorded. If you are not willing to consent to have your voice recorded, you will need to keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the "chat" feature, which allows participants to type questions and comments live. Breakout sessions where students meet with their assigned mentors will be monitored but not recorded. *

I agree to the participation terms

Required

Send me a copy of my responses.

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