Founded in 1874, Chautauqua began as the “Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly,” but quickly grew to include courses on music, art, literature, and science. This year, two recent graduates affiliated with Planet Forward spent their summers covering the groundbreaking scientific research and the community’s relationship with a beloved lake.

This intensive fellowship plunges students into the reporting process, covering stories for publication on both Planet Forward and The Chautauquan Daily.

Fellows take a deep dive into a lake science research project known as The Jefferson Project, which was established in 2021 in partnership with IBM Research, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the State University of New York. The Jefferson Project uses advanced technologies to understand and address harmful algae blooms that plague Chautauqua Lake and freshwater lakes globally.

Our students will:

1. Develop and report stories based on assignment.
   
   
2. Create short, shareable videos for social media.
   
   
3. Tell stories of science and community with a focus on generational ties to land.
   
   
4. Participate and live amongst a cohort of reporting interns for 8 -10 weeks.
   

Our 2026 Fellows:

An immersive experiential learning environment

Students gain hands-on experience at a daily newspaper and create accessible and inspiring social media content, all while embedding themselves in Chautauqua’s gorgeous natural scenery.

Editor’s Note: Our Planet Forward Chautauqua Reporting Fellows are generously supported by the Chautauqua Institution’s sustainability initiative and the Berl Brechner Fund.