DEADLINE TO ENTER: December 21, 2026
LATE DEADLINE: January 4, 2027. Late fees apply.
Rachel Carson Environment Book Award
Recognizes a nonfiction book addressing an environmental issue of local, national or global significance. The book should demonstrate excellence in environmental storytelling, reporting or analysis.
This category is part of the SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment. The first-place winner is automatically considered for the Nina Mason Pulliam Award, which includes a $10,000 monetary prize, a trophy and up to $2,500 toward travel, lodging and registration for the following SEJ annual conference.
Entry Guidelines
A unique invoice number is required for each entry.
Books must have an original copyright date in 2025 or 2026 for the December 31, 2026 eligibility deadline. You may submit a digital version of a published book, such as an accessible ebook or PDF. If the book is set to publish after the submission opens on October 27, 2026, authors must upload a PDF file of the galley or final manuscript. Do not submit or send physical, bound books.
Books translated into English and published for the first time during the contest year are eligible. Photojournalism books that tell a clear environmental story through imagery and text are eligible.
Republished books are not eligible, even if substantially revised, updated or altered. Memoirs and picture books are not eligible.
What to Prepare and Submit
- Entry summary letter: Brief background on the work's significance, challenges, or impact
- Include credentials valid through June 2027 for access if behind a paywall
Next Steps
To enter the SEJ Awards, all participants must complete both the online entry and online payment forms. Entries without a corresponding payment and completed entry form will not be forwarded to judges.
Before You Submit
Review the full SEJ Awards Rules before entering. While key disqualifying factors are listed on the form, familiarity with the complete rules will help ensure your entry is eligible.
How to Submit
- Pay First: Use the SEJ Awards Payment Form. Make note of your invoice number for your submission.
- Submit Entry: You'll be automatically redirected to the entry form via Submittable. If you need to come back later, use the link in your payment confirmation email. The contest site is Submittable.com. If you've entered SEJ's awards before, you already have a profile. If not, you will be asked to register for free on the site before you can proceed.
- Confirmation: You'll get a Submittable email confirming your submission. You can revise your entry before the deadline and monitor your entry status.
Didn't get a confirmation? Check your spam folder.
After Submission
Judging will conclude in spring 2027. Winners will be notified directly and a public announcement will follow in early summer 2027.
Entry Fees
| Entrant | Standard rate | Late rate |
|---|---|---|
| SEJ members | $45 | $90 |
| Nonmembers | $110 | $220 |
| Student members | Free | $25 |
| Student nonmembers | $25 | $50 |
| Journalists based in low- or middle-income countries | $10 | $20 |
Group entries follow the same fee schedule. Accepted: Visa, Mastercard and AmEx.
Want the member rate? To qualify, a current SEJ member in good standing must have a byline or hold a significant role in the entry. Apply for membership before entering. If declined, dues will be refunded and the entry will get upcharged. Check your membership status.
Need financial assistance? SEJ members may request a fee waiver via the Members in Need Fund. You can also donate to support others.
