Improving Communication of Oil Spill Research

1. Am I eligible?
Journalists and informal science educators from the Gulf of Mexico region who want to improve their skills in environmental reporting and communication and gain an understanding of research on the impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill are invited to apply to attend the Metcalf Science Seminar in April 2011. The Science Seminar supports journalists and informal science educators with a minimum of two years' professional experience and a demonstrated interest in environmental communication and reporting. Students are not eligible. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible for the science seminar in April, but must obtain their own funding to cover full travel expenses, must obtain proper permissions and visas to attend, and must contact fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org prior to submitting an application to Metcalf Institute.

2. Does Metcalf Institute pay for my travel to attend the science seminar?
Metcalf Institute will reimburse Fellows for travel costs up to $200 with original receipts.

3. Does Metcalf Institute pay for my lodging and meals and are these organized by the Institute?
Yes to both questions.

4. Are there any tuition costs for the seminar?
No.

5. What will I do at the science seminar?
Participants will learn oceanographic research techniques on the R/V Acadiana, visit labs, attend lectures by scientists, learn how to translate peer-reviewed research, and discuss the communication challenges and opportunities presented by emerging research on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

6. How many participants will receive an award to attend?
This program supports 25 total; 15 journalists and 10 informal science educators.

7. Should I apply for the science seminar or the Annual Workshop for Journalists in June?
The seminar is a 2.5-day program in Louisiana intended for participants from the Gulf of Mexico region. Informal science educators are only eligible for the science seminar and are not eligible for the Annual Workshop in June.

The Metcalf Annual Workshop for Journalists is five-day fellowship in June in Narragansett, RI, at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and will provide a broader introduction to environmental research methods, including more field and lab experiences than the science seminar.

Both programs will focus on research that is emerging from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

8. Can my supervisor mail or email his/her letter of recommendation directly to Metcalf Institute?
Yes. One letter of reference should be sent via mail or email (fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org) directly to the Metcalf Institute. Reference should evaluate your abilities as a journalist or informal educator and must be from your current immediate supervisor or, for freelancers, from an editor who has most recently worked closely with you.

9. Does Metcalf Institute accept electronic submissions of the application?
Only applicants from outside the U.S. may send their applications via email to fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org. The application must be sent as one complete PDF document containing all inclusions except the letter of recommendation.

1. Am I eligible?
Journalists from all media who want to improve their skills in environmental reporting and gain a thorough understanding of how scientific research is conducted are invited to apply for a Metcalf Institute fellowship. The Annual Workshop fellowships support early-to-mid career journalists who are interested in science and environmental reporting and wish to gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of scientific research through field and lab experiences. Students are not eligible. but must obtain proof that they can cover full travel expenses in order to be eligible for travel support from Metcalf Institute, must obtain proper permissions and visas to attend, and must contact fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org prior to submitting an application to Metcalf Institute.

2. Does Metcalf Institute pay for my travel to attend the science seminar?
Metcalf Institute will reimburse up to $500 in travel expenses for each fellow with original receipts. Applicants from outside the U.S. must follow the guidelines above regarding travel.

3. Does Metcalf Institute pay for my lodging and meals and are these organized by the Institute?
Yes to both questions.

4. Are there any tuition costs for the seminar?
No.

5. What will I do at the annual workshop?
Participants will learn oceanographic research techniques, attend lectures by scientists and policy experts, conduct field research and analyze data in the lab, learn how to translate peer-reviewed research, and discuss the communication challenges and opportunities presented by emerging research on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

6. How many participants will receive an award to attend?
The annual workshop supports 10 professional journalists.

7. Should I apply for the Annual Workshop for Journalists or the science seminar in April?
The Metcalf Annual Workshop for Journalists is five-day fellowship in June in Narragansett, RI, at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and will provide more field and lab experiences than the science seminar.The Annual Workshop fellowships support up to $500 of travel expenses per fellow.

The seminar is a 2.5-day program in Louisiana with a travel reimbursement of up to $200. Informal science educators are only eligible for the science seminar and are not eligible for the Annual Workshop in June.

Both programs will focus on research that is emerging from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

8. Can my supervisors mail or email their letters of recommendation directly to Metcalf Institute?
Yes. Two confidential letters of reference should be sent directly to the Metcalf Institute. References should evaluate your abilities as a journalist and comment on the potential impacts of the Metcalf fellowship on your work. One letter must be from your current immediate supervisor or, for freelancers, from an editor who has most recently worked closely with you.

9. Does Metcalf Institute accept electronic submissions of the application?
Only non-U.S. citizens may send their applications via email to fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org. The application must be sent as one complete PDF document containing all inclusions except the letter of recommendation.