Communicating about climate change isn’t easy, but thanks to support from donors like you, many journalists, scientists, and other science communicators are learning how to do it better at Metcalf Institute.

Imagine you’re a reporter, the latest National Climate Assessment was just released, and you have an hour to read the 1,700-page document and formulate relevant questions before a press conference with the authors of the report.  Now imagine you’re a climate scientist fielding reporters’ questions, eager to talk about the research in clear, compelling language that conveys context, relevance, and urgency. How will the story be told?

Your contributions to our annual fund, RhodyNow: Metcalf Institute, support Metcalf training that offers tools and strategies to address the communication needs on both sides of these conversations.

Our alumni attest to the impacts of Metcalf training:

“I have a better understanding of how to navigate scientific papers and relationships with scientists, and how to report on the climate.”
    Kyle Bagenstose, USA Today Network

“Metcalf training has given me the tools to make a larger impact during presentations and meetings and has helped me communicate difficult topics for public audiences.”
    Kayla Kurtz, URI Environmental Engineering

There’s an urgent need for this type of training, and we’re taking bold steps to meet that demand. Metcalf and URI have developed two transformational giving opportunities as part of Big Ideas. Bold Plans. The Campaign for the University of Rhode Island.

The Impact Accelerator Fund will leverage a $250,000 matching commitment from an anonymous donor to increase the global footprint of Metcalf Institute training.

A new Endowed URI Faculty Chair will fund the Metcalf executive director position in perpetuity and build both national recognition and impact with a high-profile director.

Help address the climate crisis. Support Metcalf programs with a RhodyNow donation, or scale up your contribution and Metcalf Institute’s impacts with a major gift to our transformative campaign initiatives.

To support the Metcalf initiatives in the Campaign for URI, contact Skip Wilson, Director of Development for the URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences, at skipwilson@uri.edu.

To support Metcalf programming this year, give to RhodyNow: Metcalf Institute by June 30 at https://urifae.org/metcalf.  Thank you!