ScienceWriters is the largest U.S. convening for journalists, authors, editors, producers, institutional communicators, students, and people who write and produce material intended to inform the public about science, health, engineering, and technology. The conference attracts 600-800 attendees from North America and beyond.
It is a meeting for science writers, by science writers.
The University of Arizona welcomes ScienceWriters2027 to Tucson, the “Old Pueblo” of the Sonoran Desert!
As one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in North America, Tucson prides itself on its deep history and culture, as well as the arid yet vibrant landscape that encompasses it. Today, Tucson’s identity is also shaped heavily by its scientific activity, of which the University of Arizona is a primary driver.
It is from here that the U of A – the state’s only land-grant institution – leads in research topics such as space sciences, age-related diseases, water resources, optical sciences, and environmental science, and innovates in areas such as semiconductor research, human-animal interaction and heat resilience.
In October, the relatively cool days invite outdoor adventure. Tucson is flanked by the two districts of Saguaro National Park that should be experiencing a secondary bloom following monsoon rainfall. There are also opportunities to learn about and observe native plants and animals at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum or while hiking across streams in the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. The U of A’s Biosphere 2 invites visitors to witness science on a grand scale, while its Desert Laboratory at Tumamoc Hill – an ecological reserve with a hiking trail – facilitates community gathering and climate science.
If time allows for treks farther afield, travel to Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area to see the beginnings of the massive sandhill crane migration, Kartchner Caverns State Park once the bats depart after a summer cradled in the dark, Kitt Peak National Observatory’s new visitor center or the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter to discover the wonders of the Sonoran Desert sky at night. Tucson’s clear desert air and commitment to dark skies began a regional telescope boom decades ago that has since transformed into current leadership in NASA space missions and space research.
Indoors, stroll through the stunning Alfie Norville University of Arizona Gem and Mineral Museum, be immersed in science at our top-ranked Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium or tour the Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory, where some of the world’s largest telescope mirrors are built.
If there’s downtime, explore the city using free public transportation, including the streetcar that takes riders through the heart of the city and university. Tucson’s culinary scene is world-renown – it was the U.S.’s first UNESCO City of Gastronomy – and is home to a growing wine scene because of its proximity to two American Viticultural Areas to the north and south.
Tucson International Airport is a short 20-minute drive from the university, with shuttle services available for easy travel.
We can’t wait for you to join us in this wonderful corner of the world!