Planet Forward Summer Seminar
Applications for the 2023 Planet Forward Summer Seminar are now closed.
This June, spend a week in Washington, D.C., to learn from influential and creative environmental leaders and communicators.
Applications for the 2023 Planet Forward Summer Seminar are now closed.
This June, spend a week in Washington, D.C., to learn from influential and creative environmental leaders and communicators.
How can you craft compelling environmental narratives that weave the urgency of the moment, breakthroughs that may be on the horizon, and the justice and diversity to tell a compelling story? How can you use narratives to inform, have impact, and influence action?
The Planet Forward Summer Seminar will tackle these vital questions and Washington, D.C., will be your classroom:
You will learn through hands-on work and direct engagement with our accomplished experts and instructors. The week will be organized around storytelling techniques and tools, and topical themes.
Whatever your field of study or your career interests, having the ability to communicate effectively and memorably will make you more successful — because stories have power. The Planet Forward Summer Seminar will show you how to be an effective, compelling environmental storyteller.
Capture the crisis, engage, and catalyze a more socially and environmentally hopeful future.
Learning Outcomes:
Seminar Objectives:
Program fee, on-campus lodging & meals: $2,190 (scholarships available)
Please note: Day-by-day activities in this program are subject to change.
Sunday, June 4 – DAY 1
Arrivals and Welcome to Planet Forward
Planet Forward will host a meet-and-greet reception with participants and review the week’s curriculum.
Monday, June 5 – DAY 2
Engaging Your Audience | Environment & Health
We’ll consider effective framing, audience analysis, and addressing the challenges of complexity in this type of storytelling. Meet and work with scientists, media and leaders at the intersection of the environment and health.
Tuesday, June 6 – DAY 3
Stories through Sound | Indigenous Voices and Cross Cultural Perspectives
After a half day building an audio artifact, where participants will examine and practice how to communicate science and sustainability compellingly and effectively, we’ll visit media organizations to see this work in action. Today’s emphasis is Indigenous and cultural storytelling.
Wednesday, June 7 – DAY 4
Visualizing Storytelling | Water and Environmental Security
Our instructors will help students produce a video in Adobe Rush, and we’ll examine methods of data visualization that connect with audiences. Visits with global experts will share new digital tools for storytelling on water and environmental change.
Thursday, June 8 – DAY 5
Digital Storytelling | Conservation Technology and Biodiversity
Through experiential learning in digital storytelling, seminar participants will create a longform digital story and outline an infographic using Adobe tools. We will meet with subject matter experts who communicate directly with their audiences.
Friday, June 9 – DAY 6
Story Pitch Review and Send-Off | Nature Stories
On our last day, students will share their refined story pitches developed over the course of the week, and we’ll send them off to move the planet forward.