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Library

Topic: Science literacy
Video

Press Briefing: ‘Virtually Impossible Heat’ & the Future of the American West

Covering Climate Now and Climate Central

"Hundreds of records have been shattered across the Western US amid an early spring heatwave found to be “virtually impossible without climate change.” As abnormally hot weather continues, Covering Climate Now and Climate Central hosted a special webinar highlighting the potential long-term impacts to Western snowpacks, water scarcity, and wildfire risks that will linger long after cooler weather arrives. In this press briefing, meteorologists and reporters explained how this extreme heat event offers a glimpse into our climate change future to help equip journalists with a better understanding of how to make the climate connection in their own reporting during the next “heat dome” impacting their region."
  • When: Thursday, March 26, 2026 @ 3 p.m. ET
Video

Media Briefing: Maternal Health in Rural America

"The number of rural hospitals providing obstetric care is declining, and rural residents are at greater risk of pregnancy-related death and adverse health outcomes. SciLine’s media briefing covered how living in a rural community shapes pregnancy and childbirth, the impact of hospital maternity-unit closures on care access and insurance coverage, and the long-term health consequences of limited access to maternal health care for both birthing parents and infants. Three scientific experts participated in a moderated conversation and then took reporter questions on the record."
Video

Media Briefing: Local Implications of Data Center Growth

"Data center development is rapidly accelerating across the United States. At SciLine’s briefing, jointly hosted with AAAS’ EPI Center, scientists briefed both reporters and public officials on national trends and local implications of data center growth. The briefing covered data center basics, why and at what rate their growth is accelerating, and how related increases in electricity demand, cooling needs, and backup generation are affecting local power grids, water resources, and air quality. This virtual briefing featured short conversations with three experts, followed by a moderated Q&A, all on the record."
Podcast

TMiP Podcast

"The Talking Maths in Public Podcast is a community podcast for members of the TMiP network, which collects short segments from different people working in maths communication to share their projects, ideas and thoughts, as well as discuss maths communication and education research, and provide a regular opportunity to hear from others in the community. The podcast will be produced monthly for six-month blocks, in even-numbered years (when no TMiP conference is taking place). This will allow for a more sustained exchange of ideas between events, and produce a resource for TMiP members and other maths communicators to draw on. Series 1 of the podcast began in July 2024, and episodes were released monthly until December 2024. Each episode consists of three or four segments, each covering a different aspect of maths communication."
Fellowships & Grants

EVOME Science Journalism Fellowships

Woodwell Climate Research Center

"The National Science Foundation-supported Evolving Meta-Ecosystems Institute (EVOME) will provide fellowships for six science journalists to participate in a two-week immersion in interdisciplinary evolutionary and global change biology being conducted at the University of Alaska’s Toolik Field Station in northern Alaska. Fellowships will cover transportation costs to and from the Toolik Field Station through Fairbanks, AK, plus room and board. ... EVOME Journalism Fellowships offer a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the scientists and experiments answering this critical question. The program will run June 14 to June 28, 2026. Applications from non-US citizens or green card holders are welcome." Deadline: March 27, 2026.
Fellowships & Grants

Energy Journalism Fellows

Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs

"The Energy Journalism Fellows program offers journalists the opportunity to learn about the intersecting disciplines shaping the global energy sector, including finance and markets, climate change, science and technology, policy, and geopolitics."
  • When: June 9 - 12, 2026
  • Where: Columbia University, NYC
  • Includes: Costs of air or train travel and hotel lodging
  • Deadline: March 2
Events

Causes and Responses to Extreme Winter Weather

Metcalf Institute and Solutions Journalism Network

"Recent winter extremes have raised new questions about how a warming Arctic may be reshaping weather far beyond the polar regions. Hosted by URI's Metcalf Institute and the Solutions Journalism Network, this training explores the links between Arctic ice loss, polar vortex disruptions, and the growing frequency of severe winter weather across the Northern Hemisphere. Panelists will examine what scientists know, where questions remain, and how journalists can responsibly report on these connections. The discussion will also focus on solutions — such as grid resiliency efforts in Texas — that show how communities are adapting to these emerging risks. The live training is open to working journalists only. After the event, a recording of the training will be available to the public for free on the Metcalf Institute and Solutions Journalism Network websites."
  • When: 1-2 p.m. ET, via Zoom
Article

Writing About 3D Printing’s Applications in Medicine

"Journalists can find interesting stories by speaking with surgeons or other clinicians about how they are incorporating 3D-printed models of the heart in their procedure planning, or by interviewing patients about how the tools help them understand anatomy and what the procedure will entail."
Article

Writing Science Explainers for Local Audiences

"Every local decision—from where to swim after heavy rainfall to whether masks should be required in schools—hinges on scientific questions most people struggle to answer. Science explainers give community members the clarity they need to make informed choices about issues that directly affect their lives. ... You don’t need a science background to create effective explainers. The process itself strengthens your science-writing by breaking down intimidating topics into digestible pieces."  
Video

CCNow Academy: Tropical Cyclones

Covering Climate Now and Climate Central

"In light of hurricane Melissa, Covering Climate Now has made its exclusive CCNow Academy training session public so that journalists may better explain climate change's influence on the historic storm. In this session, experts from Covering Climate Now and Climate Central highlight how warm oceans fuel stronger, more destructive tropical cyclones in every ocean across the world."
Article

How To Read a Scientific Paper

"Here’s how to decode any research paper. These tips and tricks will work whether you’re covering developmental biology or deep-space exploration. The key is to familiarize yourself with the framework in which scientists describe their discoveries, and to not let yourself get bogged down in detail as you’re trying to understand the overarching point of it all."
Article

Reporting on Psychedelics Research or Legislation? Proceed With Caution

"Despite the hype, optimism and legislation involving the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, researchers warn that there's much we don't know. This research roundup looks at some of the knowns and unknowns of psilocybin, MDMA and other hallucinogens."
Article

Covering Null Results: How To Turn “Nothing” Into News

"Null results — the lack of evidence in support of a hypothesized effect — can often be dismissed as unnoteworthy, even by scientists themselves. But sometimes, the absence of an effect in a well-designed experiment can challenge existing thinking or have important policy, health, or other implications for readers."
Video

Preparing for Reporting on Autism, Vaccines and Related Science

Association of Health Care Journalists

"In this webinar, moderator Tara Haelle and an expert panel — including Paul Offit, M.D. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), and Jessica B. Steier, DrPH, PMP (Founder and CEO of Unbiased Science) — help reporters navigate the science behind autism, vaccines, and the expected Health and Human Services report on autism causes." Includes a number of additional resources.
Article

PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water: An Explainer and Research Roundup

"We summarize studies on where PFAS are found, health impacts, the efficacy of consumer water filters, new methods of destroying PFAS, and racial disparities in PFAS exposure. Journalists would do well to educate themselves on PFAS because the issue now touches almost every beat: business, consumer, environment, health, infrastructure, legal and local municipalities that include water utilities. That’s why we created this explainer and research roundup. (For more on covering PFAS, see our related tip sheet, which includes a list of data resources.)"
Article

How To Cover Environmental Exposure Studies

"Journalists play a big role in which risks get amplified versus downplayed, for better or worse. We are best poised to help the public determine what they should and shouldn’t freak out about. ... This tip sheet discusses best practices specifically for writing about environmental exposure studies."
Resource Database / Guide

How To Cover Vaccines Responsibly in 2025

"Newsrooms in 2025 face a significant challenge covering the effort to upend decades of rigorous vaccine science and the policies it has guided. Misinformation and disinformation about the development, effectiveness, and safety of vaccines are coming from the highest levels of government, and individual states are issuing their own vaccination guidance and changing their vaccine mandates. This [SciLine] toolkit provides tips and resources for journalists covering vaccines in their communities, describing basic vaccine science, providing graphics to use in your stories (coming soon), explaining causes of vaccine hesitancy, and more." Also available in Spanish.
Blog

PLOS SciComm

PLOS (Public Library of Science)

The #SciCommPLOS blog aims "to build bridges between scientists and the general public, by explaining why science is cool and important and meaningful and necessary. We hope to convey our enthusiasm for science as a process and a way of seeing the world. Our two major goals are:
  • to highlight interesting and impactful science in accessible ways, and
  • to teach scientists about the art of storytelling as an effective means to communicate science."
Blog

ScienceBlog.com

"ScienceBlog.com is a leading platform for science enthusiasts and experts to share their knowledge and insights with a dedicated audience." The website hosts multiple blogs on topics including:
  • Brain & Behavior
  • Earth, Energy & Environment
  • Health
  • Life & Non-Humans
  • Physics & Mathematics
  • Space
  • Technology
Article

Beyond the Gene: Why Metaphor Matters in the Story of Cancer

"Metaphors are more than linguistic tools in science communication. They are framing devices—cognitive shortcuts that shape what we see, what we ignore, and what we imagine as possible. And nowhere is this more apparent than in the long and layered story of cancer."
Video

Is Climate Change to Blame? Understanding and Communicating the Link Between Climate Change and Extreme Weather

"On June 12, 2024, the Yale Center for Environmental Communication hosted a conversation focused on the field of attribution science — a field focused on determining the influence of human-induced climate change on extreme weather events. We learned how scientists establish these connections as well as how to effectively communicate the impact of human-caused climate change on extreme weather events."
Article

Study Reveals Stark Divide in How Democrats and Republicans Cite Science

"An analysis of 25 years of U.S. policy documents reveals there's very little overlap in the scientific studies that Democrats and Republicans cite in congressional committees and think tanks, deepening concerns over shared facts."
Article

The Chilling Effect of DEI Crackdowns in Scientific Publishing

"Trump’s executive orders are affecting how federally funded journals operate. Some researchers have raised alarms. The federal directives have prompted conflict in academic publishing, as scientific journals and authors self-police."
Article

Story Angles for Covering Defunding of mRNA Vaccine Research

The Association of Health Care Journalists offers a tip sheet of potential story angles to follow regarding cuts to funding for research on mRNA vaccines.
Article

Finding the Most Valuable Stories in the Heart of Science Papers

"Research papers are at the forefront of the scientific process, and science writers are vital in bridging the gap between researchers and a wider audience. On 26th June, at the ABSW Science and Technology Journalism Summer School 2025, ABSW Chair Andy Extance held a workshop inviting Emma Stoye (Senior News Editor, Nature), Sarah Wild (Freelance Science Journalist), Dalmeet Singh Chawla (Freelance Science Journalist) to discuss how science journalists can navigate the science publishing landscape to find the most valuable stories within academic papers, using meaningful examples."