The Desk goes to the National Association of Science Writers conference

Weekly newsletter: December 15, 2025

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The Ag & Water Desk went to learn and to share at the National Association of Science Writers conference

Ag & Water Desk Executive Director Sara Shipley Hiles (right), at the National Association of Science Writers conference with students from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Photo courtesy of Sara Shipley Hiles

Dear ,

Members of the Ag & Water Desk recently braved a winter storm and airport delays to attend the National Association of Science Writers conference in Chicago. Our team plunged into the art and science of science writing, mingled with 500 other attendees, and met award-winning journalists and researchers.

Participating in national conferences gives us the chance to learn and lead. I spoke at a workshop on building trust in science through audience engagement, where I shared the Ag & Water Desk’s groundbreaking public opinion research within the Mississippi River Basin. On another panel, I offered the Desk as a model for collaboration and advocated for increased funding for science journalism.

Also attending were four students from the Missouri School of Journalism and one of our reporters from Louisiana, Elise Plunk. Your donations made Elise’s trip possible – thank you! Here’s more from our other attendees.

From Elise Plunk, environmental reporter, Louisiana Illuminator

Writing on this beat can sometimes make me feel like a nerd in her own world. It was helpful and exciting to meet others and see a wider discussion of the topics I cover.

Making science relatable for non-scientists is important, but accurately capturing its complexities isn’t easy. A session on using short-form video and social media to communicate science was informative and fun.

My favorite session was the discussion about data centers and their water usage across the United States. I learned how communities are coming together to call for more information about data centers near their homes. Transparency is central to a functioning democracy, and communities deserve hard data to drive informed decision-making.

From Natanya Friedheim, master’s student, Missouri School of Journalism

Attending the Science Writers conference helped me understand the vast possibilities in science journalism. At a session with two reporters who had conducted their own experiments, I learned how collaborations among scientists, journalists and citizens can produce journalism that keeps public officials accountable.

Hearing from scientists about important topics, including data centers and nuclear weapons, broadened my perspective. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from an interdisciplinary group of people all bonded by their dedication to facts and science.

Sara again. Your donations enable our reporters to attend these national gatherings, do field reporting, buy equipment, and get training that they otherwise couldn’t. In addition, we’re raising money to increase beat reporting by student journalists like Natanya. Can we count on your support to help bring critical local news and information to people across the Basin?

Thank you!

Sara Shipley Hiles, Editorial Director

Help support journalists like this!

Through Dec. 31, every dollar donated to the Desk will be doubled by NewsMatch. The first $3,000 will be TRIPLED! Help us hit our goal – don’t leave money on the table!

Donate to the Ag & Water Desk today!

The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk is an independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri in partnership with Report for America, with major funding from the Walton Family Foundation. Click here for a map of the basin and our partner newsrooms.

Reach us at info@agwaterdesk.org or by replying to this email.