{"id":27641,"date":"2025-12-04T12:48:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/?page_id=27641"},"modified":"2026-04-14T09:59:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T13:59:53","slug":"2026-annual-science-immersion-workshop-for-journalists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/2026-annual-science-immersion-workshop-for-journalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-364x243.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-1280x853.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-83-scaled.jpg 2560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by Therese Iacono<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center\"><section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-menu-wrapper\"><nav id=\"\" class=\"cl-menu  \" data-name=\"AWJ\" data-show-title=\"0\"><ul id=\"menu-awj\" class=\"cl-menu-list cl-menu-list-no-js\"><li id=\"menu-item-27637\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-27637\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/awj\/\">Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-27753\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-27753\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/2026-annual-science-immersion-workshop-for-journalists\/\">2026 Workshop<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-25604\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-25604\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/awjapplicationinformation\/\">Application Information<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-25605\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-25605\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/awjeligibility\/\">Eligibility<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/section><\/h1>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Plastics, Pollution and PFAS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2026 Workshop Dates:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sunday, June 21-Friday, June 26, 2026<\/strong> (Departure: Saturday June 27, 2026)<br>Held at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re excited to announce that we have selected 10 fellows for Metcalf Institute\u2019s 28th Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists! We received more than 80 applications from 25 countries, competing for 10 fellowship slots. We are proud to welcome the following journalists to the 2026 Metcalf Fellowship cohort:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"uri-people-tool cl-tiles halves\"><div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/issam-ahmed\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1018\" height=\"1018\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616.jpeg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616.jpeg 1018w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616-364x364.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616-400x400.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Issam-Ahmed-e1775238602616-600x600.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1018px) 100vw, 1018px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/issam-ahmed\/\">Issam Ahmed<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/elena-varela-bruess\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2342\" height=\"2342\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216.jpeg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216.jpeg 2342w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-2048x2048.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-364x364.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-1280x1280.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-2000x2000.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-400x400.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Elena-Varela-Bruess-scaled-e1774970995216-600x600.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2342px) 100vw, 2342px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/elena-varela-bruess\/\">Elena Varela Bruess<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/nikola-budzinska\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1022\" height=\"1022\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Nikola-Budzinska.jpg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Nikola-Budzinska.jpg 1022w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Nikola-Budzinska-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Nikola-Budzinska-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Nikola-Budzinska-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Nikola-Budzinska-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Nikola-Budzinska-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Nikola-Budzinska-1000x1000.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/nikola-budzinska\/\">Nikola Budzi\u0144ska<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/eric-halvarson\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813.jpg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813.jpg 1707w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Eric-Halvarson-scaled-e1774974120813-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/eric-halvarson\/\">Eric Halvarson<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/brooke-kushwaha\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1333\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha.jpeg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha.jpeg 1333w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha-364x364.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Brooke-Kushwaha-1280x1280.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/brooke-kushwaha\/\">Brooke Kushwaha<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/alice-li\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839.jpeg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839.jpeg 1500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-364x364.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-1280x1280.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-400x400.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Alice-Li-e1775073312839-600x600.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/alice-li\/\">Alice Li<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/jimmy-lovrien\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333.jpg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333.jpg 1707w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Jimmy-Lovrien-scaled-e1774974602333-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/jimmy-lovrien\/\">Jimmy Lovrien<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/milliam-murigi\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254.jpg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254.jpg 1707w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Milliam-Murigi-scaled-e1774974844254-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/milliam-murigi\/\">Milliam Murigi<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/penelope-overton\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"855\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692.jpg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692.jpg 855w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Penelope-Overton-e1774975251692-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/penelope-overton\/\">Penelope Overton<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"peopleitem h-card has-thumbnail\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/mona-zhang\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816.jpg\" class=\"u-photo  wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-364x364.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-2000x2000.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/Mona-Zhang-scaled-e1775489732816-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/meet\/mona-zhang\/\">Mona Zhang<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div class=\"inside\">\n\n\t\t<p class=\"people-title p-job-title\">AWJ 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"people-department\"><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 28th Annual Science Immersion Workshop will be an engaging and hands-on learning experience focused on one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time: plastics, pollution, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This immersive workshop will explore how plastics are produced, used, and discarded\u2014and how their breakdown contributes to widespread environmental contamination. Participants will examine the pathways through which plastic pollution enters ecosystems, impacts wildlife and human health, and persists across generations. A special emphasis will be placed on PFAS, often called \u201cforever chemicals,\u201d to understand their chemical properties, where they are found, why they persist in the environment, and the growing concerns around their health effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The 2026 Workshop will be conducted in person at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI on June 21-26, with supplementary asynchronous preparation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-364x243.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-1280x853.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1211\/RWOYSTERIMMERSION-350-scaled.jpg 2560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by Therese Iacono<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Fellows also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gain a deeper understanding of how scientists conduct research and handle scientific uncertainty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop the skills and confidence to interpret and translate the language of scientific journals for news audiences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build confidence in their abilities to discern the credibility of scientific sources<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discover new ways to write about water systems and climate change to build audience understanding and engagement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cultivate new sources by interacting with leading researchers and policy experts in an informal, off-deadline atmosphere<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Network and develop lasting relationships with journalists from a wide range of media and backgrounds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result of participating in the Annual Science Immersion Workshop, Fellows will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be able to identify important climate change and environmental stories that are relevant to their news audiences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understand how academic scientists plan, fund, conduct, and publish their research<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be better prepared to understand and communicate scientific uncertainty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be better prepared to translate scientific findings for news audiences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recognize and understand the interactions between climate change, the environment, and society, and how climate change disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to Metcalf Institute&#8217;s endowment and the generosity of private donors, the fellowships include full tuition, lodging, meals, as well as a travel stipend paid after travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>View Previous Annual Science Immersion Workshops:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/2025awj\/\">2025<\/a> <\/strong>|<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/26thawjfellows\/\">2024<\/a><\/strong> | <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/awj\/awj2023\/\"><strong>2023<\/strong> <\/a>| <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/2022-annual-science-immersion-workshop-for-journalists\/\">2022<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/awj2021-applications\/\">2021<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/2020annualworkshop\/\">2020<\/a> |<a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/awj2019\/\"> 2019<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/awj2018\/\">2018<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/2017-science-immersion-workshop-for-journalists\/\">2017<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/2016-science-immersion-workshop-for-journalists\/\">2016<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/2015-science-immersion-workshop-for-journalists\/\">2015<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plastics, Pollution and PFAS 2026 Workshop Dates: Sunday, June 21-Friday, June 26, 2026 (Departure: Saturday June 27, 2026)Held at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI We\u2019re excited to announce that we have selected 10 fellows for Metcalf Institute\u2019s 28th Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists! We received more than 80 applications from 25 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5333,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-27641","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5333"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27641"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28178,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27641\/revisions\/28178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/metcalf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}