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!
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese is a Wisconsin family-owned farm that is carbon negative due to their anaerobic manure digester.

(ImageFlow/Shutterstock)
George Washington University
Today, we live in a world full of problems, from water crisis to climate change, from health issues to poverty. Now, imagine a world where people are well educated, and who can find solutions to these challenges.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Tick App helps researchers learn what makes some people more prone to encounter ticks than others.
Planet Forward Correspondent | Eckerd College
Single-use plastics litter our environment, but there’s something we can all do to help: reduce and refuse single-use plastics. Eckerd College took a stand — and so can you.
Planet Forward Correspondent | SUNY-ESF
The cool thing about traveling with people you don’t know is the opportunity to figure out who you really are, or at least who you want to be. You can realign with your beliefs and opinions about whatever is going on in the world.
SUNY-ESF
Everyone must purchase goods and services. If environmental costs were factored into these purchases then everyone would have a quasi-interaction with nature.
George Washington University
With people like Jana Fonda, Greta Thunberg, and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez supporting climate legislation, Capitol Hill has been hectic. As an intern for a climate crisis committee, this unique experience has shaped my view on bipartisanship.
George Washington University
Each year, as temperatures continue to rise, so does the frequency of natural disasters. This short video looks at the faces impacted by this change.
SUNY-ESF
Tourism is a big part of Caribbean life. Whether we think about it or not we leave long-lasting effects on these beautiful places that we visit. From a seven day cruise to flying seven hours to reach Barbados.
Northwestern University
A solar tariff protest, held outside the U.S. International Trade Commission, was organized by Solar Energy Industries Association. Opponents say the tariffs have hurt the U.S. solar industry, the economy, and efforts to combat climate change.