The University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute, Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, and the URI Science and Story Lab are excited to introduce the third and final cohort of SciComm Identities Project Fellows!
Out of a competitive applicant pool, fourteen Fellows were selected to participate in the third cohort of this innovative science communication fellowship for pre-tenure faculty of color. The 2025 Fellowship will focus on the intersection of climate change and food-related issues, including food insecurity, agriculture, and aquaculture. While Fellows bring a diverse range of cultural and disciplinary backgrounds, they all share a strong history of personal commitment to science communication and inclusive community engagement. The Fellows bring a range of experiences that can strengthen their science communication practices, such as being immigrants, first-generation Americans, and/or the first in their family to attend college.
“My work focuses on climate change, water scarcity, and sustainable farming, areas where the stakes are high and the audiences – farmers, policymakers, and communities — need clear, actionable insights,” says 2025 SCIP Fellow Gaurav Jha, Assistant Professor at Kansas State University. Dr. Jha collaborates with diverse communities, including the Navajo Nation and Punjabi American growers, facing similar climate and water scarcity issues that may be combated with cutting-edge research and technology. “My goal is simple – to empower farmers with the tools and practices they need, turning data into meaningful insights and guiding informed decisions that help them thrive in the face of climate change. This training will help me make science more accessible and help my team and the communities we serve gain the most from our research, ultimately creating real, positive change.”
meet the 2025 fellows