Improving Communication of Oil Spill Research

Journalists and informal science educators who want to improve their skills in environmental reporting and communication and gain an understanding of research on the impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill are invited to apply to attend the Metcalf Science Seminar in April 2011. The Science Seminar supports 15 journalists and 10 informal science educators, preferably from the Gulf of Mexico region, with a minimum of two years' professional experience and a demonstrated interest in environmental communication and reporting. Informal science educators are only eligible for the science seminar and are not eligible for the Annual Workshop in June.

Students are not eligible.

One letter of reference should be sent via mail or email (fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org) directly to the Metcalf Institute. Reference should evaluate your abilities as a journalist or informal educator and must be from your current immediate supervisor or, for freelancers, from an editor who has most recently worked closely with you.

Only applicants from outside the U.S. may send their applications via email to (fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org). The application must be sent as one complete PDF document containing all inclusions except the letter of recommendation.

Non-U.S. citizens are eligible for the science seminar in April, but must obtain their own funding to cover full travel expenses, must obtain proper permissions and visas to attend, and must contact fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org prior to submitting an application to Metcalf Institute.

Metcalf Institute will reimburse up to $200 in travel expenses for U.S. citizens accepted to the seminar with original receipts.

Journalists from all media who want to improve their skills in environmental reporting and gain a thorough understanding of how scientific research is conducted are invited to apply for a Metcalf Institute fellowship. The Annual Workshop fellowships support 10 professional early-to-mid career journalists who are interested in science and environmental reporting and wish to gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of scientific research through field and lab experiences. Informal science educators are only eligible for the science seminar and are not eligible for the Annual Workshop in June.

Students are not eligible.

Two confidential letters of reference should be sent directly to the Metcalf Institute. References should evaluate your abilities as a journalist and comment on the potential impacts of the Metcalf fellowship on your work. One letter must be from your current immediate supervisor or, for freelancers, from an editor who has most recently worked closely with you.

Non-U.S. citizens are eligible for the annual workshop in June, but must obtain proof that they can cover full travel expenses in order to be eligible for travel support from Metcalf Institute, must obtain proper permissions and visas to attend, and must contact fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org prior to submitting an application to Metcalf Institute.

Metcalf Institute will reimburse up to $500 in travel expenses for each fellow with original receipts. Applicants from outside the U.S. must follow the guidelines above regarding travel.