Storyfest 2020
Congratulations to our Storyfest 2020 finalists:
ARTICLES
- Brooke Bowser, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Soulardarity: A community’s success in energy democracy
- Natalie Chun, Northwestern University. Climate change is simply scientific fact for Illinois school districts regardless of political party
- Codi Clark, Texas Tech. Urban resilience for rural revitalization
- Mahalia Dryak, Reed College. What do we do about urban heat islands
- Alexander Gottdiener, Princeton University. Bird-watching in an age of anxiety
- Greta Hardy-Mittell, Carleton College. A society for the birds
- Anthony Karambelas, Santa Monica College. Remember Who?
- Matilda Kreider, George Washington University. Tipping the balance for fisheries on the small scale
- Brendan Rose, SUNY Purchase. Florida’s aquifer is in crisis — but there’s still time to save it
MULTIMEDIA/PODCASTS
- Deepti Bansal Gage, GW Law School. Wait! Before you squish that bug…
- Emily Mortensen, SUNY New Paltz. Mushroom shed
- Arik Palileo, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. Saving the bees
- Lucie Rochat, Middlebury College. This is now: The climate crisis at Middlebury College
- Dylan Simard, Arizona State University. Making a home for fish in the desert takes a little help – and a lot of PVC
- Lizzie Stricklin, George Washington University. How do you speak for the river?
- Avery Van Etten, Northwestern University. Sea-level rise threatens the Florida Keys (3-part series)
PHOTO ESSAY
- Arielle Bader, George Washington University. SUPing garbage man
- Angelica Gonzalez, SUNY-ESF. Ghanian guide to sustainable living
- Matilda Kreider, George Washington University. Sandcastles and the seawall
- Paulina Oswald, Eckerd College. Seaside Seabird Sanctuary saviors
- Meg Rossie, SUNY-ESF. The effects of human disturbances on national parks
- Keaton Smith, Middlebury College. Life lessons from the farm
- Cate Twining-Ward, George Washington University. Clinging onto chimps: Why you should think of chimpanzees during the climate crisis
SHORT/SHAREABLE VIDEO
- Francesca Edralin, George Washington University. The solution is in the seaweed
- Carolyne Im, George Washington University. The myth of single-use plastic bags
- Jess Makler, George Washington University. Precious Plastic: Providing a solution to plastic waste
- Jake Meyers, University of Arizona. Can urban farming feed the future?
VIDEO
- Lindsay Eberhart, SUNY-ESF. Tourist attraction, or environmental disaster?
- Francesca Edralin, George Washington University. You’ve heard them on the streets, now hear their stories
- Jordan Elder, Arizona State University. Using sunlight to make water
- Anne Flaherty, Eckerd College. We have a plastic problem. Eckerd College took action
- Caroline Hedgcock, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Crave Brothers: Dairy farming done different
- Jake Meyers, University of Arizona. Trump’s wall divides endangered species, unites activists
- Sarah Noyse, George Washington University. What’s happening to oysters in the Chesapeake Bay?
- Sarah Sem, George Washington University. What’s the beef with meatless burgers?
See all the 2020 Storyfest entries below - and don't forget to give your favorite pieces a thumbs-up. Every entry is in the running for our Fan Favorite Award!

A Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) puffs its feathers on a cold and snowy day. (David Restivo/National Park Service)
Princeton University
This is the story of how I became fascinated by birds, accumulated over a thousand field guides, and traveled the world as a result.
Middlebury College
I traveled to farms throughout Vermont to learn about life-cycles and to discover the most effective way to confront death: action.
Planet Forward Correspondent | George Washington University
Rivers and their tributaries provide an invaluable resource to humans, supplying drinking water, transportation, and recreation. Since natural resources like water and land can't speak for themselves, how do we advocate for their conservation? With... Read More
SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
Chad Devoe shares his alternative living experience and how it has it can be a solution for the future.
University of Vermont
Toward the end of Sasco Creek Road in Westport, Connecticut, passersby witness a charming landscape change. The typical residential street opens up to a vast meadow where grasses tickle the waists of hikers and birdwatchers. Goldfinches whiz by in... Read More
SUNY ESF
The Great Swamp Conservancy strives to educate communities of all ages about environmental conservation to reach towards a sustainable future.
University of Arizona
Manzo Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona is fostering nature lovers from a young age by integrating an ecology program into their educational institution.
Planet Forward Correspondent | George Washington University
For GWU Professor Peter LaPuma, the crises he teaches about in his environmental health classes aren't just test fodder — they're dilemmas he prepares for every day. Samantha Ross and Lizzie Stricklin spoke to Professor LaPuma to learn more.
Planet Forward Correspondent | SUNY-ESF
Where do we draw the line between historical preservation and present-day environmental degradation? In the case of Glass Bottle Beach, where early 1900's garbage bleeds into the ocean with every tide, the line is surprisingly very fuzzy.
Planet Forward Correspondent | Reed College
The urban heat island effect is of increasing concern for cities around the world. But fear a little bit less--there are solutions in the works.