We’ve come a full year now since the pandemic hit us here in the United States. But despite the challenges we have all faced this year — you reported. You adapted. And you still were inspired to tell stories.

Speaking of adapting, we had to adapt Storyfest itself — on a hiatus from the experiential learning prizes we usually offer in partnership with Lindblad Expeditions. But, together we persevered.

For the 2021 contest, we are offering six grand prize winners — each of whom will receive a $500 cash prize and have 50 trees planted in their names in a national forest — thanks to our friends over at One Tree Planted.

The winners’ trees will be planted in Minnesota in the Chippewa National Forest.

The 2021 field was highly competitive, with outstanding stories from schools across the country. Judges had a tough job this year. Without further ado, we are thrilled to announce the winners of Storyfest 2021.

Best science narrative:

“The salamanders at the end of the world”

By Eva Legge, Dartmouth College

Most creative story:

“Airborne microplastics in the age of COVID-19”

By Calvin Bordas, SUNY-ESF

Best use of science or data:

“Diversifying the pack: Cross fostering helps Mexican wolf population boost genetic mix”

By Christopher Howley and Michael Hannan, Arizona State University

Best scalable innovation:

“Daylighting: A case study of the Jones Falls River in Baltimore, Maryland”

By Allison Klei, Franklin & Marshall University

This year’s fan favorite:

“Thrifting for the soul”

By Kenna Q. Kelley, Syracuse University

Congratulations, Storyfest winners! We will be in touch to share details on your prize.

Before I go, I would be remiss if I didn’t also highlight a few of other pieces highlighted by our judges — in no particular order — that I want to make sure you can check out:

• More than one pathogen, a song by Nathan Farrell Detres, Columbia University 
• Planet over plastic: Corporations are responsible for plastic waste by Kaitlyn Copland, Eckerd College
• Color The Water – Black surfers healing through the water by Marisa Umeh, UC-Berkeley
• Montreal landfill turned lunar landscape: An urban sustainability story by Clarice Knelly, SUNY-Plattsburgh
• 4 places where racism, climate change & environmental justice collided by Jayden Graham-White, Tuskegee University
• Heat, smoke, pandemic: Dangers multiply for farmworkers in 2020 by Lauren Hernandez, Arizona State University
• The quest for activism in journalism and environmentalism by Ryan Bieber, Ithaca College

Keep writing. Keep filming. Keep photographing.

Keep sharing stories.

Great job, everyone! And we’ll see — and hear from — you again soon.