a group of people sits on a rug around a posterboard with a design for an immersive game

During a Storymakers work session, fellows and instructors gather around a design for an immersive environmental learning experience. The Storymakers program includes intensive workshops to help researchers develop creative ideas for sharing their work with the general public, including books, audio media such as podcasts, and immersive experiences such as board games or museum exhibits. (Photo: Vanessa Codilla/USC Wrigley Institute)

USC Wrigley Institute selects fellows for 2026 Storymakers program

Established researchers from across the United States will complete a weeklong intensive in environmental storytelling

ByKathryn Royster April 6, 2026

The USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability is pleased to announce the 2026 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 the United States.

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 >>