The competition for the title of Storyfest winner is incredibly tough this year. After much deliberating from our committee of judges, we’re excited to announce the best of the best: this year’s Storyfest finalists. The winner of each category will be announced at the Planet Forward Summit on April 7. Here are our finalists:

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

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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.