The Best American Science and Nature Writing
Submission Information:
The Best American Science and Nature Writing is open to submissions from publishers, editors, readers, and writers. (Writers are welcome to nominate their own work, though I appreciate if you keep it to three pieces or fewer.)
Submissions for work published in 2023 are now closed. To submit a piece published in 2024, use this form. Please do not send submissions via email.
Eligibility: Pieces must have been published, online or in print, by an American or Canadian periodical in 2024. They must be about science, nature, or the environment. There are no length restrictions or requirements. Essays are eligible, poetry is not, nor are excerpts from books. Submissions are open through December 20, 2024. (Work published between 12/20 and 12/31 may be submitted until 12/31.)
If you would like to send a magazine subscription (though I do love when publications nominate their best handful of pieces) or if you have other questions, email me at BASNSeries@gmail.com.
Thank you!
Past Editions:
The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2023
Guest Editor: Carl Zimmer
"What's most compelling about a scientific story is the way it challenges us to think about the concepts we take for granted," writes guest editor Carl Zimmer in his introduction. The essays in this year's Best American Science and Nature Writing probe at the ordinary and urge us to think more deeply about our place in the world around us.
The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2021
Guest Editor: Ed Yong
"Where the collection shines brightest is in its ability to present human experiences and emotions in an intimate manner without sacrificing scientific rigor or specificity. Timely and informative, this anthology is sure to satisfy fans of science journalism." —Publishers Weekly
The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2020
Guest Editor: Michio Kaku
From the startlingly human abilities of AI, to the devastating accounts of California's forest fires, to the impending traffic jam on the moon, these selections explore the latest mysteries and marvels occurring in our labs and in nature. These gripping narratives masterfully translate the work of today's brightest scientists, offering a clearer view of our world and making us care.
The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2019
Guest Editor: Sy Montgomery
"The works in this annual anthology are lyrical, emotional, moving, and insightful—proof that long-form science journalism boasts some of our best writers...These pieces challenge us to look deeper and to understand better, to see the beating human heart in the soul of science." —Booklist, starred review