this year, storyfest entrants were judged in six categories: best written story by a media student, best written story by a non-media student, best video by a media student, best video by a non-media student, best multimedia story by a media student, best multimedia story by a non-media student.

planet forward staff also selected the winners of the spotlight award and the gw award; given to the stories that best profiled the environmental work of a member of a disadvantaged community, and to the work that best captured the values of george washington university, respectively.

a special thanks goes out to this year’s storyfest judging panel, which included phil frank, john sutter, elizabeth joy herzfeldt-kamprath, melanie wallace, gina murphy-darling, jake meyers, deepti bansal gage, tik root, lauren risi, and our judging chair, larry evans.

this year’s storyfest winners will travel with lindblad expeditions to the galápagos or iceland this summer to report on stories from the field.

congratulations once more to this year’s storyfest winners!

best written story by a media student

the climate necessity defense: how activists are using civil disobedience to fight climate change

by delan li, university of connecticut

the judges said, “delan moves into the focus of her story seamlessly and has a good flow, balance, and overview of the opportunities and challenges presented by this defense of civil disobedience. she did plenty of research and talked to many people, and her work paid off in a carefully and clearly written story.”

best written story by a non-media student

making home: a story of beaver and babies

by mickki garrity, university of minnesota

the judges said, “mickki garrity has written a compelling story about our relationship with the natural world and with each other.  she begins by sharing a creation story of the nishnabek people, the story of the first man and his first teacher, the beaver.  she describes how the beaver lives in the world and how we can learn from the beaver’s example.”

best multimedia story by a media student

looking back on alto maipo: hydropower and controversy in the chilean andes

by laura isaza & sachi kitajima mulkey, uc berkeley

the judges said, “the added element of voices gives the viewer a feeling of actually knowing who is impacted by this environmental issue and is the type of storytelling that helps one learn more through local voices. one of our judges stated that, as a spanish speaker, it was great to hear the voices of the speakers interviewed first hand. for all of the above reasons, this was our number one choice.”

best multimedia story by a non-media student

your friendly neighborhood spider-party: community scientists use spider webs to monitor air pollution

by joy reeves, duke university

the judges said, “one of the most impressive submissions we have seen during our collective time with planet forward. clearly, so much effort went into this story from the research to the process to build out the story with very impressive drawings. the editorial quality is top notch. the three of us also loved the attribution at the end that provided a way to engage the audience to act.”

best video by a media student

sweltering saguaros: survival in a changing desert

by jason marmon & daniel stipanovich, arizona state university

the judges said, “it took us to a place we had not been, told us things we did not know, and did so with beautiful photography, humor, creative editing, and fun music. the featured speakers were diverse, knowledgeable, and interesting. a high quality endeavor.”

best video by a non-media student

growing gigas: farming giant clams in kosrae, micronesia

by micah seidel, rutgers university

the judges said, “micah seidel takes viewers to a place most have never been – a giant clam farm in micronesia. drone footage gives geographic context to this distant paradise, and a well-planned combination of original and acquired footage explain the intertwined plights of giant clams, corals, and entire marine ecosystems.”

spotlight award

namé recycling: combining revenue, jobs, and sustainability

by beverly ndifoin, notre dame university

the staff said, “beverly’s story expertly shows how one person can make a gigantic difference in their community. by profiling the innovative work of namé recycling in her home country of cameroon, beverly captures how one business can make a significant impact in the fight against plastic waste pollution, while creating new, useful products in the process.”

gw award

gen-z’s calling: one youth-climate org works to turn anxiety into action

by ayah mahana, george washington university

the staff said, “ayah’s story captures the fears, dreams, and energy of a group of young people who came together to create climate action. ayah chronicles the genesis of zero hour, whose members came from across the country, to descend on washington dc for a historic climate march in 2018. her story captures the power of young people to organize, have their voices heard, and create change.”

the students convened at the ford rouge complex with myself and planet forward multimedia editor aaron dye after traveling from across the country. among the students, duke university, george washington university, howard university, middlebury college, suny-esf, tuskegee university, and university of arizona, were represented.

during an intensive day with engineers, plant managers, and members of ford’s esg team, students got to see the production of ford vehicles on the assembly line as well as explore various testing facilities like ford’s wind tunnel.

starting in march, the students will be publishing their stories from this trip which will cover a range of topics. from water conservation in ev production to ev consumer reluctance and range anxiety, the stories will explore the challenges of the current moment in actuating the just transition to evs, as well as the solutions that ford is bringing to the table.

this trip would not have been possible without the support of the ford motor company, their partnership with planet forward, or their hospitality during the trip. we look forward to publishing the stories from this trip and can’t wait for you to read them!

editor’s note: ford motor company made this series possible by providing students with an experiential learning opportunity at their facilities in dearborn, michigan. all editorial content is created independently. we thank ford motor company for their support of our project.

click the presentation below to see photos of the incredible people and landscapes that made this a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience and storytelling expedition.

we hosted more than 200 in-person and 400+ virtual attendees over the course of two days filled with engaging panel discussions, educational workshops, and productive networking opportunities. participation this year was a wild success and we look forward to growing the summit even larger in the coming years.

but in case you weren’t able to attend, or were too busy soaking up the spring sun to see a speaker you were really interested in, you can catch up with these amazing advocates and environmental storytellers on youtube!

each block of the show was recorded and uploaded separately to youtube so you can watch the whole day or just catch up on the bits you missed.

another huge thank you to everyone who was able to attend! keep moving the planet forward and save the date for next year’s summit on april 18th and 19th, 2024!

winners will travel to iceland for a five-day voyage with lindblad expeditions aboard the newest polar vessel, national geographic resolution. together with a dedicated team of naturalists, photo instructors, an undersea specialist, and a wellness instructor, the winners will explore iceland’s remote fjords and volcanic isles, while learning how iceland is addressing conservation and natural resource protection topics in the face of climate change.

five winners in best scalable innovation, best science narrative, best use of science or data, most compelling character, and most creative story were selected by our panel of ten independent judges. thank you to judging chair phil frank, plus alison milligan, francesca edralin, tik root, don holzworth, larry evans, gina murphy-darling, dena seidel, jake meyers, and gina mccrackin!

there was one story submitted this year that seemed to defy our storyfest categories. this story received the inaugural planet forward staff award for its excellent use of science and data, variety of interviews, and incorporation of original artwork.

explore the best in student-produced written journalism, environmental video, and science communication podcasting below!

best scalable innovation

in colorado, the soil beneath solar panels is ripe for growing crops

by gabe allen & tyler hickman | the university of colorado, boulder

the judges say,

“gabe and tyler’s essay on agrivoltaics stood out for highlighting an innovative energy-saving technology that allows farmers to preserve a tradition.” 

best science narrative

solutions on the half-shell: healing florida’s waters with clams

by katie delk | university of florida

the judges say,

“katie’s story allows us to sensitively enter a threatened coastal ecosystem through the community directly impacted – the very people who take real action to protect the natural world they depend upon.”

best use of science or data

perennial grains are the future of sustainable agriculture

by cassidy hough | michigan state university

the judges say,

“cassidy’s delivery style was unique, fun, and compelling. by guiding us through historical practices, and introducing us to practical possibilities for the future she left us inspired and wanting to learn more.”

most compelling character

nebraska sandhills hint changing tides in agriculture

by vidya muthupillai | george washington university

the judges say,

“this story introduces a rancher at the forefront of efforts to change the way grazing animals are raised. it is focused on the harm to soil caused by current ranching practices and offers an alternative that repairs the soils and improves the health of the animals.”

most creative story

reconciliación en mi río

by halley hughes | university of arizona

the judges say,

“not only did halley communicate the importance of cleaning up plastic pollution in her local watershed through a video, she also built a symbolic sculpture to tell the story of how human-caused changes to the environment have had a noticeable and lasting impact on the biodiversity of the santa cruz river.”

planet forward staff award

reinventing a sustainable crab fishery

by sachi kitajima mulkey | university of california, berkeley

the judges say,

“by asking insightful questions and skillfully capturing the voices and experiences of crab fishers, sachi was able to weave together a powerful story that inspires an emotional connection with her audience. the addition of her own unique illustrations added an extra layer of depth and meaning to the story, creating a more immersive and engaging experience for readers.”

through the generous support of the ted turner foundation, laura turner seydel, and berl brechner, planet forward was able to bring four students to the expansive mcginley ranch in northern nebraska for a unique reporting adventure. the ranch team welcomed us with heartfelt hospitality. they shared their expertise and introduced us to a team of inspiring researchers. we learned the science and we dug into everything (quite literally) from soil health to the diets and digestion of grass-fed bison. 

the nearly 80,000 acre property is the inaugural project of the ted turner institute of ecoagriculture and is a leading site of regenerative agriculture and sustainable bison ranching. the four planet forward students, who came from across the country, spent three days exploring and learning from mcginley’s experts and from ranchers and scientists. they participated in a low-stress approach to herding bison, inspected local stream health, studied the digestive processes of grass-fed bison, and more.

each of the four students chose a topic to report on. they reported from the field, interviewed the ranchers and researchers, and saw with their own eyes – and cameras – just what’s being done. their stories will publish on planetforward.org.  before the students were even back in class, however, they shared with us what the trip meant and what they learned on mcginley ranch.

vidya muthupillai: 

coming from texas, i always had some understanding of the agriculture community as an intersection of land and livelihoods, but experiencing the overlay of cultural and economic conditions with conservation elements firsthand will leave a lasting impression. far removed from the national discourse on global climate change that i have become accustomed to, farmers and ranchers in the great plains are discussing, experimenting with, and implementing agricultural practices that have profound impacts on natural ecosystem services like carbon sequestration.

these conversations on carbon are not happening about atmospheric carbon in parts-per-million, but rather about the dollars flowing in and out through the soil that many ranchers have lived on for decades. as a student of public policy, i am especially confronted by the push and pull factors of transitioning to regenerative agriculture that i was able to glimpse through my conversations with mcginley ranch’s generous staff.

beyond the immense wealth of knowledge i’ve gained insight into, i will forever remember the incredibly unique experiences i had on the ranch that reinstilled my wonderment and curiosity in the land. from smelling the different soils of the plains to partaking in the low-stress bison moving process to shoving my arm elbow-deep into the rear end of a bison to collect samples, i don’t think i’ve ever quite had a weekend like this one. and despite ending the second day covered in bison excrement, dust, and grass seeds, i would 100% do it again. 

adam goldstein: 

at mcginley, i came across a research operation that exceeded my expectations in its philosophical balance, forward thinking, and ecology-based approach to conservation. on the trip, we learned about the nonprofit model mcginley uses to fund research with land-grant universities. we also learned of the importance of their pro-bono ecological services to restore endangered species. and as someone who is more familiar with regenerative commodity farming, learning about regenerative ranching opened my eyes to potential stories i hadn’t envisioned prior. seeing mcginley’s soil health, low-stress handling, and viable economic model in-person provided proof of a working concept that a press release cannot.  

this recap, of course, does not account for the endless fun my peers and i had on the ranch. we zig-zagged across the prairie in two-by-twos, watched the stars from the sand hills, and ate perfectly-grilled bison steaks. i gathered dozens of story ideas and memories thanks to this unique experience. i would like to extend profound gratitude to mark kossler, jessica lovett, tyrell mcclain, and the rest of the mcginley crew for the hospitality they showed us. i also want to thank frank sesno, dr. imani cheers, and the planet forward/gwu sponsors for the opportunity to join you all. 

hannah krantz: 

between the hands-on experience of helping herd thousands of bison across miles of land, listening to presentations from ph.d. candidates from the university of south dakota about their niche bison and agriculture research, and directly interviewing ranch techs, i learned so much. the most eye-opening information was about the principles of regenerative agriculture, a way of using the land that goes beyond just not harming it, and actually combats climate change and improves the quality of the land while still making a profit. before this trip, i had learned a lot about sustainable agriculture, but didn’t know much about regenerative agriculture. i was almost overwhelmed with information in the best way. 

the truly invaluable experiences came from the little moments in between the structured learning times. i spoke to a ranch tech for an hour about his livelihood and family while we drove back from herding the bison, i looked at the stars with my fellow student correspondents, i met the ranch manager’s gaggle of young daughters who took my hand and enthusiastically introduced me to many chickens by name and gave me a peek into a childhood with an 80,000 acre backyard. beyond the science of regenerative agriculture, i learned a lot about the way of life that supports the rancher’s motivations, and got to understand their connection to the land. 

eva kotobuki sideris: 

each day, our hosts would present their research and current projects to inform us on how the land is managed, and also give us great content for our stories. although i knew a bit about eco-agriculture prior to this trip, i did not realize its depth on a regenerative bison farm.

the prairies at mcginley ranch support over 8,000 different types of plants that create highly specialized niches for other organisms, such as fungus, birds, and insects. the vegetation also improves soil quality and infiltration which supports excellent water quality for drinking and aquatic organisms. the sustainability of this complex ranch ecosystem requires grazing, making bison a keystone species. 

i also enjoyed how each person i spoke to expressed their perspective on bison differently. the presentations covered a unique aspect of the bison that opened my perspective on the meat industry, health, sustainable farming, and nutrigenomics. my conversations also highlighted their personal connections to this animal, ranching, and gave me access to a wealth of experiential knowledge.

***

stay tuned for these authors’ forthcoming articles and videos exploring the exciting new developments at mcginley ranch! 

this year’s student storytelling was – in a word – exceptional, and the competition for the title of storyfest 2022 winner was incredibly tough. our finalists covered everything from musicians and scientists to farmers and community activists, and highlighted solutions on everything from new irrigation technology to mammoth resurrection. you can see all our amazing finalists’ pieces right here on planetforward.org.

after a great deal of deliberation from our committee of judges, we are excited to share our our 2022 winners:

most compelling character

plantita power: microgreens in the district

jennifer cuyuch, george washington university

the judges say:

through her warm interviews and vibrant use of music and graphics, the judges say jennifer not only conveys the character of plantita power’s founder, steph, but also their community and spirit of care and life – plants! – that they cultivate.

most creative story

‘coastal degradation through fresh eyes’: a picture book come to life

delaney graham, suny-esf

the judges say:

a thoroughly absorbing story built around storybook characters. amka’s friend, is a puffin who is homeless because of coastal erosion. they embark on a journey of discovery and hope. the story works and the characters pop. the judges were taken by the character – and the content.

best scalable innovation

farzona comnas, george washington university

the judges say:

beautifully written and photographed, this story is personal to farzona, focusing on deserts in her native country of jordan. they’re becoming hotter and drier as a result of climate change. farzona proposes planting forests in desert. sound impossible? she cites an initiative in lebanon that has done just that. the practice is called afforestation. project drawdown rates it 15th of the most significant steps we could take to reverse global warming. the judges say, this story delivers!

best science narrative

a tale of two mountains: battling climate change and wildfires at home and abroad

ryan bieber, ithaca college

the judges say:

ryan weaves a compelling narrative built on the science. it is a tale of two sierras. in california, the sierra nevada has experienced “nine out of ten of the state’s largest wildfires … in the last decade.” in spain, monoculture replanting in the sierra nevada became a fire trap. this story is a compelling narrative of learning and loss showing distinct ways that human activity has led to devastating wildfires. 

best use of science & data

hope flows through the heart of tucson: the santa cruz river heritage project

halley hughes, the university of arizona

the judges say:

halley brings the science and data to real-world life in her story about the santa cruz river heritage project. a “trickle of water” that represents “enormous change.” the story captures the heart and soul of the living desert. as halley writes, “making tucson more drought resilient, conserving water resources, supporting critical biodiversity, connecting a city to its heritage, and educating a new generation.”

––

congratulations to our winners — and a huge thank you to all the students who entered this year. we are so proud of the stories you are telling to 2022年卡塔尔世界杯官网 !

most compelling character:

navigating climate change through song: a q&a with pinegrove’s evan stephens hall

ryan bieber, ithaca college

plantita power: microgreens in the district

jennifer cuyuch, george washington university

should you be taking pictures of roadkill?: citizen science aids research efforts

clarice knelly, suny-plattsburgh

‘i built my dream’: southeast asian woman grows local food, cultural acceptance in missouri ozarks

lauren ulrich, indiana university bloomington

most creative story:

‘coastal child’: a video essay on ocean conservation and education

kaitlyn copland, eckerd college

‘coastal degradation through fresh eyes’: a picture book come to life

delaney graham, suny-esf

welcoming our feathered neighbors

paula milenkova and maya thompson, university of california, berkeley

ice plant = climate change

kamryn j you mak, middlebury college

best scalable innovation:

water is life (tó éí iiná): groundwork to solving water inequity on the navajo nation

mckenzie allen-charmley, arizona state university

essay | how trees can save a drowning desert

farzona comnas, george washington university

what does $3 million of seaweed look like?

michaela compo, george washington university

college food insecurity: eating away at student success

connor kuerbis, university of wisconsin-madison

as arizona agriculture runs dry, new irrigation tech could help

diana quintero, arizona state university

best science narrative:

eternity is upstream: a call for salmon habitat protection

claire babbott-bryan, middlebury college

a tale of two mountains: battling climate change and wildfires at home and abroad

ryan bieber, ithaca college

bats are facing an epidemic of their own: white-nose syndrome

helen bradshaw, northwestern university

iso: roommate that pays rent in nutrients & water

michaela compo, george washington university

planting seeds of mental health wellness in the face of covid-19 stressors

poonam narotam, northwestern university

best use of science & data:

breakthrough research takes a step toward converting carbon dioxide pollution into fuel

hannah krantz, george washington university

mammoth resurrection may be a climate solution. should it be?

skylar epstein, george washington university

hope flows through the heart of tucson: the santa cruz river heritage project

halley hughes, the university of arizona

fishing harbors community; development and climate change threaten it

carter weinhofer, eckerd college

––

congratulations to all our finalists — and a huge thank you to all the students who entered this year. who will be our winners? watch the summit to find out.

for more than 50 years, tom was a committed conservationist and one of the world’s leading advocates for and authorities on the amazon rainforest. tom popularized the phrase “biological diversity” and over the years, he became known as the “godfather of biodiversity.” tom was explorer in residence at the national geographic society, he led the conservation program for more than a decade at the world wildlife fund, he served as a senior fellow at the un foundation, and he was a professor at george mason university where he was scientific director for gmu’s institute for a sustainable earth.

but it was tom’s humanity, warmth, generous spirit, and unflagging optimism that we will always remember. no matter how busy he was, no matter who else he had on his calendar, he always made time for planet forward and for our students, who strive to tell stories about biodiversity, conservation, climate change, science, and the planet that can make a difference. as a council member, he always joined our meetings and brought thoughtful advice about our work and mission.

in 2017, tom led a planet forward storytelling expedition to his camp 41 research station in the brazilian amazon. we had about 15 students representing wonderfully diverse schools – from jackson state university in mississippi to the state university of new york’s college of environmental science and forestry, from the george washington university to umpqua community college in oregon. tom made it a truly unforgettable trip. he took us to an early morning sunrise over the rainforest. then we piled into well-worn suvs to drive to his remote forest research station, camp 41, deep in the rainforest. we explored by day and slept in hammocks by night. we saw and heard biodiversity firsthand. tom explained what these forests represent and what is at stake.

while at camp 41, one of our students, jayme dittmar, interviewed tom on the subject of forest fragmentation. she produced a dramatic video. i recommend it to you. it captures tom’s unique voice and the question he spent a lifetime addressing: “why is connectivity important in the rainforest?” 

we will dedicate this year’s planet forward summit on april 7, 2022, to tom lovejoy. we are supporting the creation of the thomas e. lovejoy fellowship for biological diversity, which will honor tom’s work, support science, and invest directly in people who are striving for the kind of future tom envisioned and sought to advance all his life. 

mostly, we will never forget this incredible, warm, tireless person who contributed so much to science and to so many to make this a better world for every creature upon it.

well, when adobe first approached us about highlighting planet forward as a changemaker we were honored. but when they nominated planet forward for a session on the main stage at their renowned global creativity conference, adobe max, we were astonished and thrilled. 

in 2020, because of the pandemic, adobe max went online. and then they removed one of the biggest barriers to attending: the cost. this allowed the work we do with our network of educators and communicators to reach a broad audience — tens of thousands of live viewers!

“the future is creative storytelling,” ran on wednesday, oct. 27, at 1:30 pm et. this session features yours truly, as well as one of planet forward’s rock stars: former senior correspondent and 2020 storyfest winner deepti bansal gage, who is now gainfully employed as an environmental lawyer. you can now watch the event here!

adobe singled out planet forward for several reasons: our teaching, use of media, sustainability, and creativity. i’m incredibly honored by this — it shows how this project is distinctive, embodies fabulous experiential learning, and enhances the student experience in so many ways.  

get inspired. and see what we can learn from creativity