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Opening Reflections | Transforming Conflict | Embracing Nuance | Storytelling Science | Seeking Common Ground in Uncertain Times | Difficult Conversations | Empowering New Voices | Deep Listening | IIlíiaitchik: Centering Communities | The Storyteller’s Journey | Closing Reflections | Respectful Differences | 2025 Storyfest Winners | Impact
Our planet is facing record wildfires, drought, extreme weather, and more. But despite this, we are divided and distracted.
At this year’s Planet Forward Summit, we learned how to shift the narratives around the climate crisis and find common ground amidst chaos. Experts, advocates, students, and storytellers gathered for two days of talks and workshops to learn how we can turn conflict into collaboration and build dialogue from the division.
“Today, we’re not only reflecting on climate solutions, but we’re also amplifying them through storytelling… Together, these stories push us to think more deeply about what it means to be connected, to act with intention, and to lead with empathy. So as we begin, I invite us to be present, to listen, and to be open.”
Transforming Conflict
This year’s Summit was presented in partnership with the Conflict Transformation Collaborative at Middlebury College. Sarah Stroup, Ph.D., and Netta Avineri, Ph.D., joined us from Middlebury to discuss their work reframing conflict as a tool for change, not something to be afraid of, laying the framework for our Summit.
“Conflict does not go away, it merely changes shape,” Stroup said.
Stroup and Avineri kicked off their introduction by asking the audience what words came to mind when they heard the word conflict: “Genocide,” “tension,” “anger,” “fear,” “disagreement,” “injustice,” and “despair” were some of the words that came from the audience.
Stroup affirmed that conflict can often feel scary and destructive, but also reminded the audience that conflict is an unavoidable facet of the human experience. The key to successful conflict transformation, she said, is to transform conflict from something destructive to something constructive.
Avineri delved even deeper into the power of storytelling as a medium for conflict transformation. Conflict is present in every single story, she said, and it serves a distinctly important purpose in conflict transformation: Conflict creates an impetus for change.
A key piece of both conflict transformation and storytelling, she added, is uniting an audience around a shared goal or desire.
“A huge component of today is building coalitions, connecting with each other, and figuring out how, collectively, we can work through conflict in a way that is productive for us all.”
Panel: Embracing Nuance
“One of the biggest issues facing storytellers is how to combat mis- and disinformation,” Stroup said to kick off a panel discussion about the importance of letting people speak for themselves and embracing nuance as a critical piece of both the storytelling and conflict transformation process.
Halle Parker, health reporter for Verité News and the president of the Society of Environmental Journalists, discussed a story she’s been reporting on about a proposal to construct a grain elevator in a historically Black community in Louisiana. She found that the community was sharply divided over whether or not they supported the proposal, with some opposed to it because of their and their ancestors’ historic ties to the land, and others in favor of it because it could bring much-needed jobs and economic development to the area. The story, she said, highlights the importance of not approaching environmental journalism with any preconceived notions of what is good or bad for a community, and instead focusing on what the stakeholders in that community agree will serve them best.
Tik Root, senior staff writer at Grist, discussed a story he reported on about a community in Birmingham, Ala., that was making a collective push for fully electric lawn equipment. Root said that he “like[s] to do climate stories that people don’t know are climate stories,” instead shifting the focus of his reporting to things like economic issues, which often resonate more with broader audiences. He explained that climate change affects everyone, but not everyone knows how, and reframing stories to focus on more tangible issues for specific communities allows stories to resonate much further.
Kunjal Bastola, Planet Forward Correspondent from Northwestern University, discussed a story she reported on about salmon farming in Arctic Norway, more specifically diving into a recent surge in sea lice contamination affecting the salmon industry. During her reporting, she found intense division over the salmon farming industry, with many advocating for its abolition, and others justifying its existence as their means for income and survival. She further discussed the importance of highlighting multiple perspectives in every story, instead of just those that align with one’s original intentions or ideas for the final product.
Panel: Storytelling Science
In this panel, Planet Forward’s Education Lead Dr. Darcy Gentleman talked to three science communicators about the pros of citizen science, how to deal with divided audiences, and the importance of connecting climate stories to people’s everyday lives.
Gabby Ewing, Director of Programming at PBS Digital Studios, discussed the importance of authenticity and transparency in storytelling, especially when addressing divided audiences. Ewing affirmed that the online audiences are smart and they want journalists to lean into the nuance of a situation. Telling both sides of a science story or explaining the potential complications of a given solution allows for the building of trust between audience and news platform. She also told us that we shouldn’t lean away from citizen science. When we listen to our community members who are making discoveries of their own, we expand our assumptions of who the traditional science and knowledge bearers are. By uplifting multiple perspectives, it makes readers feel that science really can include everyone.
Tom Di Liberto, climate scientist and science communicator, emphasized the importance of being relentlessly civil in the face of online negativity and pushback. While he was the social media coordinator for NOAA, Di Liberto would answer every sarcastic comment with a calm explanation about why that person didn’t have all the necessary facts. Even if we can’t change every person’s mind, we can model for others the best way to respond to misinformation in our lives. Scientists try to minimize uncertainty as much as they can, but as we go into the unknown, Di Liberto affirms that we need to relate these climate issues to people’s everyday lives. It’s our job as science communicators to humanize ourselves and connect these big issues to people’s everyday lives. When talking to climate deniers, Tom wants them to connect with him first and see him as a person. The science can come later, sometimes it’s a journey, and that’s okay.
Kasha Patel, Deputy Weather Editor and a science writer at the Washington Post, does science-based stand-up comedy on the side. She told us they have more in common than you think. In reporting and comedy, Patel emphasized the importance of making things personal. Making sure our stories are not patronizing to audiences is a huge part of what makes people want to click and read stories about science and climate issues. Patel said that even though climate deniers may be the loudest voice, it doesn't mean they are the majority. If we keep trying to inform those who fall somewhere in the middle between activist and denier, we will make a lot more progress than we think.
Conversation: Seeking Common Ground in Uncertain Times
Frank Sesno began this section by introducing George Washington student Oscar Nzekwu and his podcast “Art-vironment.” Nzekwu has a passion for environmental art, and his podcast Art-vironment is a platform that uplifts Black artists who are using art to connect their community to climate and environmental justice. He was inspired by podcasting as it was a creative medium he hadn't explored much in the past, and he wanted to strengthen his skills and bring these stories to life in an engaging way. Oscar hopes Art-vironment will empower listeners to keep creating and engaging with art that leads us towards a sustainable future. All of his podcast episodes are published on Planet Forward.
We then watched a clip of a conversation Sesno had with representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) about bipartisanship on Capitol Hill regarding climate issues and other curiosity-fueled scientific research efforts.
Bonamici spoke about how there is a lot of bipartisan support for ocean conservation efforts. There is a bill called SOS, or Save Our Seas, that focuses on cleaning up marine debris. Representative Bonamici talks to other representatives in her caucus about how these efforts will impact their constituents and communities specifically. Connecting climate issues back to the economy draws Republican support in patricular.
“[Young people] please stay involved, get involved, speak up, speak out, and you will make a difference and we’ll get through this together.”
Student Panel: Difficult Conversations
When it comes to tackling issues of climate change, there are lots of conflicting perspectives about what should be done. Big companies, the government, and international players are all fighting for what they think is best, but young people are tackling these difficult conversations with grace and confidence. This panel moderated by Dr. Netta Avineri of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey featured four students: Maria Jose Vargas of Middlebury College, Danny Nicholson of Teesside University, and Maggie Rhoads of the George Washington University.
All three students worked on a story for Planet Forward last year that revolved around finding common ground either with an interview subject from another culture or as a goal for navigating opposing viewpoints. They discussed the importance of staying neutral as a journalist while still finding space to respectfully push back against experts in hopes they can better explain what their perspective is. Deciding when to engage with our own biases is crucial when communicating with people from different backgrounds.
Lunch Keynote Conversation: Carolyn Finney, Ph.D.
At lunch, Frank Sesno spoke with artist and scholar Carolyn Finney, Ph.D., currently in residence at the Franklin Environmental Center at Middlebury College. Finney, who served on the U.S. National Parks Advisory Board for nearly a decade, is the author of “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors.”
Drawing on her family’s history of land stewardship, her acting career, five years spent backpacking through Africa and Asia, and extensive coalition-building work, she encouraged us to expand our imagination about who has environmental stories to tell. Finney also shared the importance of seeding empathy when re-telling these stories. Empathy implies an openness for someone beyond yourself. Identifying and sharing stories that affect empathy helps others identify with and understand someone else's experiences. This is especially important in these divisive times.
Ted Turner Keynote Presentation: Empowering New Voices
Planet Forward’s Correspondent Mentor and Ted Turner Professor of Environmental Media at the George Washington University Eli Kintisch introduced Bilal Motley, an environmental documentary filmmaker and this year's Ted Turner lecturer. Motley began by introducing himself and his background growing up in Chester, PA.
He was recruited to go to college at the University of Connecticut to run track and was the only one of his friends back home who made it out of Chester. Right after college, Motley began working at an oil refinery back in Pennsylvania; the gig paid well, gave him some much-needed stability, and opened him up to opportunities he would not have had otherwise. But after a while, he realized something wasn’t right.
On top of all the stress of working long hours, Bilal was experiencing headaches, dizziness, sleep issues, and he watched his mentor’s health decline and eventually pass away. Motley decided enough was enough, and he left his job at the refinery to make Midnight Oil, a documentary exposing the dangerous conditions at refineries like his.
This project inspired Motley’s ongoing coverage of environmental racism and injustice in his community. For his next film "Trash & Burn", he returned to his hometown of Chester to hear from the families impacted by childhood asthma, excessive rates of cancer, and systemic pollution that goes undressed by their local government. His next film "Farewell America" tells the story of people’s resilience amidst a harrowing political landscape. This documentary encourages young people to get involved, recognize the power they hold, and to connect with their fellow Americans for a greater purpose: protecting each other and our planet.
Student Panel: Deep Listening
Frank Sesno and Dr. Sarah Stroup of Middlebury College introduced our next panel of students and the importance of deep listening. Learning to listen deeply is a crucial skill that is harder to master than one might presume. When we open ourselves up to critique and expect to be corrected by those who have a stronger understanding of a situation, we can all become better storytellers.
One key question these students were asking themselves while on their reporting trip was:
How do we balance pursuing the story we set out to tell while being open to stories that may present themselves along the way?
Moderator Tyler Dorholt of SUNY’s Environmental Science and Forestry program sat down with three SUNY ESF students to hear about the trip they took to Vieques, Puerto Rico last November. Abbey Leibert, Brianna El-Quhir, and Daniel Vera are all majoring in fields related to environmental studies and sustainability.
The panel discussed the importance of curiosity and inquiry as key components to deep listening as a reporter. They each combined their lived experiences on the trip with the creative visions they had already planned out to create a nuanced and immersive story that truly mattered to them. Crafting a story when you have little to no guidelines is exciting, but if you don’t have that curiosity, you’re going to miss the amazing story that is right in front of you. Capturing the good, the bad, and the ugly is important to telling a well-rounded story that accurately reflects the communities you are invited into.
Centering Communities Panel: IIlíiaitchik Indigenous Correspondents Program
Professor and Chair of Intercultural Communication at Middlebury Institute Dr. Netta Avineri introduced our panel of speakers who are all in some way a part of the ICP, or the Indigenous Correspondents Program.
Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso, Editor at ICP, moderated the conversation. Towards the end of the conversation, Ivey emphasized that it is impossible to refer to native people as a monolith. There are 574 federally recognized tribes and more emerging as we connect deeper with this nation’s history. Native people are as diverse as Americans as a whole.
Robyn Iron, of the University of Montana, emphasized the importance of relearning the true realities of indigenous people and reporting on them accurately. We have all received a Western education that often whitewashes these native histories, and as reporters, it is our job to shine a light on the actual values and practices these tribes engage in.
Joshua Massey, of the University of Arizona spoke about how he has previously been boxed in as “the native guy” in professional spaces and no one wanted to get to know the real him. His indigenous identity should be recognized and acknowledged in a meaningful way.
Taliyah Medicine Horse, of Chief Dull Knife College spoke about the importance of asking communities which stories they want to be told rather than barging in with a notepad and an agenda. In all communities, but particularly when coming into indigenous communities, you have to be ready to learn, listen, connect, and share your identity/history with the people you are reporting on. Being vulnerable allows you to create a safe space and push boundaries in a respectful way.
“Indigenous people are storytellers, so you gotta share a story with them to get a story back.” -Taliyah Medicine Horse
Karli Moore, of Stanford University, is a graduate student who focuses on sustainable agricultural development. She had lots of story ideas for Planet Forward, but the one that ended up being the most compelling and inspiring to her was actually her father’s experience growing fiber hemp. They had conversations over the course of a year, he talked her through the steps, and explained the science behind the growing process.
It was then Moore’s job to take what she learned and craft this story in a way that does justice to her Dad’s experience. She emphasized how critical it is to the story that readers know her interview subject is her father. It actually makes the story more credible and compelling when we have all the necessary context.
Panel: The Storyteller’s Journey
Dr. Imani Cheers, the Director of Academic Adventures at Planet Forward, introduced three students/activists who have gone on reporting expeditions with Planet Forward in the past to tell us about what they learned and why the experience was meaningful.
Morghan Manuel of Howard University went with PF to Dearborn, Michigan, to interview and produce a short video about a company in Michigan that is using technology to innovate towards a sustainable future. She learned about Ford’s sustainability initiatives, took a tour of the factory floor, visited the newly renovated Michigan Central Station, and learned how these sustainable initiatives are helping local communities. Right before she went out on assignment, Manuel had to shift her story on the spot when the company she originally researched was unavailable. Despite the last-minute changes, Manuel conducted a great interview with a different company and built up her self-confidence at the same time. Morghan is a distinguished writer who wants to continue writing stories as they often “spill out of her faster than she can even think.”
Joy Reeves is a recent graduate of Duke University who now works as the Director of Policy and Strategic Development at the Rachel Carson Council. While she was a student, she went with Planet Forward to the Galapagos Islands to get hands-on learning opportunities and as they interacted with the nature around them they were truly “seeing with their hearts.” The opportunity to connect with communities, see ancient life forms, and get face-to-face with rare animals was an irreplaceable experience for her. Reeves was learning about cameras and crafting her story in real time as she explored the Galapagos, describing the immersive reporting experience as “purposeful and whimsical” at the same time. Joy is a “climate cartoonist” who believes that the intersection of art and storytelling is the best way to get these messages out to all audiences.
Devin Santikarma of Middlebury College was given an experimental learning fund to study water resource management in Bali. Santikarma also got to attend the World Food Forum in Rome with Dr. Cheers where they tried incredible dishes and learned about international communications. Being from Bali himself, Santikarma’s story was personally meaningful to him. As he connected with communities, he drew upon his own experiences with his family to portray this story with grace, accuracy, and dignity. Devin is interested in the power of photo essays and bringing cameras into communities to let people document their experiences themselves.
Closing Reflections: Student Opportunities
There are a lot of people who don’t want to find solutions to the multitude of problems facing our Earth today, so how do we, as storytellers, keep ourselves energized and committed to a sustainable future? In their closing remarks, our moderators Frank Sesno, Dr. Imani Cheers, Dr. Sarah Stroup, and Dr. Netta Avirneri remind us of the importance of critical empathy. While engaging in frustrating conversations with those who think differently, we need to keep in mind that everyone’s journey starts somewhere.
One conversation could be the push someone needs to start thinking differently about the climate and how we can work together to save it.
There is a difference between being uncomfortable and being unsafe. We have a responsibility to have uncomfortable conversations and put ourselves in new situations so we can all learn more about one another.
Keynote Conversation: Respectful Differences
Cheslea Henderson is the author of Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics and the Director of Editorial Content at Republic-EN, a project out of George Mason University that describes itself as “a conservative answer to climate change.”
In conservative communities, there are few spaces that are promoting open communication and opportunities to learn about the science behind climate change. A policy with bipartisan support is a successful policy, so we need to step out of our echo chambers and leave shame behind. Henderson welcomed Associate Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs Jesse J. Holland and Chief of Staff at Nature is Non-Partisan Hattie Hobart to the stage with excitement for what these conversations can mean for the future of this country.
Hobart and her team at “Nature is Non-Partisan” are working to leave labels in the past and find common ground between communities. Whether that connection comes through faith, lived experiences, curiosity about new technology, or something else they are all a great place to start. When tackling these issues through legislation we have to not only uplift organizations who are already champions for the climate, but make these issues personal for legislators. Breaking things down to the smallest personal connection is where we can begin finding common ground–everyone has a connection and love for nature in some way and we can all agree that future generations deserve to experience that joy.
Storyfest Winners 2025
A panel of independent judges evaluated all of the Storyfest nominees focusing on four main criteria: creativity and effectiveness of the chosen format, excellence in written, verbal or technical skill, factual accuracy and research, and overall potential impact.
Best Written Story: Kayla Smernoff, Howard University. “Understanding the Demographic Discrepancy in Park Visitorship”
Best Podcast: Avril Silva, George Washington University. “A PFAS Problem: Emerging Contaminants in Water in Fredrick, Maryland”
Best Social Media Video: Mario Castroviejo, University of Navarra. “How Climate Change Impacts One of Our Favorite Sweets: Chocolate”
Best Multimedia Story: Devin Santikarma, Middlebury College. “Water Gods: An Ancient Irrigation Method in Bali Comes Under Threat”
Best Short Video: Farron Taijeron, University of Guam. “Swimming with Snakes”
The George Washington University Award: Paul Leoni, George Washington University. “Cutting Through the Fog: The Future of Lobster in the Warming Gulf of Maine”
Spotlight Award: Karli Moore, Stanford University. “A Native Farmer Growing a Native Crop: the Role of Sustainable Fiber Hemp in a More Sustainable Future”
Fan Favorite Award: Sagen Lily Quale, University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Seeding Stories: Manoomin and Anishinaabeg Relations”
Day 2: Bill McKibben and Various Workshops
On day 2 of the Summit, we held several workshops led by talented teachers and community leaders in our network. In the morning students and participants had the oppurtunity to sign up for one or more from this list: Science-in-Action Filmmaking: Increasing Public Trust in Science from the Bottom of the Ocean hosted by Dena Seidel and Dr. Xenia Morin alongside 10 Rutgers University Student Storytellers, Crafting Climate Stories: Framing Questions and Inviting Curiosity hosted by Dr. Sarah Stroup and Dr. Netta Avineri, Using Science to Elevate the Narrative & Draw a Crowd hosted by Darcy Gentleman, Transforming Internal Conflict to Open Storytellers' Creativity hosted by Emily Hammond, and Creating a Career in a Changing Climate hosted by the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future.
After morning workshops, activist, author, and journalist Bill McKibben came to the summit to deliver a keynote speech to audience members gathered in the auditorium. McKibben has written 20 books about climate change, founded 350.org, and he is the founder of Third Act. McKibben has been working to organize, fight corruption, and unite people around the climate crisis for decades. Check out Bill McKibben's keynote speech about solutions to the crisis below!
Impact
The 2025 Planet Forward Summit was our best attended in person event since the pandemic.
More than 300 in-person students, faculty, and staff from 50-plus colleges and universities joined Planet Forward at the George Washington University for two days of inspiring talks, invigorating panels, and enlightening workshops. We were proud to collaborate with Middlebury College and their Conflict Transformation Collaborative on key portions of the Summit. Media in attendance included: C-SPAN, Grist, PBS Digital Studios, and POLITICO.
There were attendees from organizations, companies, government, and NGOs including:
Plus: AGU, American Chemical Society, Audubon, C40 Cities, Center for American Progress, Chautauqua Institution, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Climate Justice Alliance, ESRI, Global Council for Science and the Environment, Indigenous Youth Climate Resiliency Through Public Policy (IYCRTPPP), Latinas Leading Tomorrow, Marine Stewardship Council, Natural Resources Defense Council, Nature is Nonpartisan, Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center, Project Drawdown, Rachel Carson Council, Second Nature, Third Act, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, U.S. Senate - Office of Senator Cory Booker, USAID, Walton Family Foundation, Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week, WPP / Ford Motor Company, and Xylem.
Representatives and students from over 50 schools attended, including:
George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, Middlebury College, Northwestern University, Pomona College, Columbia University, Teesside University, Stanford University, SUNY ESF, and many more.
A big thank you to our generous sponsors!