A group of people sit around a fire pit, reading stories

Storymakers fellows often gather around the Wrigley Marine Science Center fire pit at night to share ideas, stories, and encouragement. In 2023, fellow Madhur Anand captivated the group with a reading from her recently published poetry. (Photo: Nick Neumann/USC Wrigley Institute)

USC Wrigley Institute selects fellows for 2025 Storymakers program

Established researchers from the UK and across North America will complete a weeklong intensive in environmental storytelling

ByKathryn Royster May 5, 2025

The USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability is pleased to announce the 2025 cohort of fellows for the Storymakers program in environmental storytelling.

Launched in 2022, Storymakers is a first-of-its-kind program that trains established environmental and sustainability researchers in the art of storytelling, so they can reach the public with creative and compelling narratives that inspire positive change. Fellows who apply must show a significant, influential body of work on environmental or sustainability topics and a demonstrated commitment to public outreach. This year’s fellows come from leading academic institutions across North America and in the UK.

The program is held in residence each summer at the Wrigley Marine Science Center, the Wrigley Institute’s satellite campus on Santa Catalina Island, California. Fellows spend the week building new ways of thinking about their research, its place in the world, and how to share it. Catalina’s pristine surroundings also immerse the fellows in the natural world, sparking inspiration for their creative projects as they learn from award-winning instructors in publishing, podcasting, immersive media, and more.

Learn more about the Storymakers program >>