Seeking: scientists who want to write impactful climate stories

Massive Science is a new kind of media company that helps scientists become societal and cultural leaders by training them how to effectively communicate their work. Our community is 125 scientists strong (and growing). Our staff has experience in research and media at places like MIT, Harvard, The Guardian, Fast Company, Buzzfeed, Mashable, Upworthy and more. Past work by our scientists has been picked up or linked to by Slate, Pacific Standard Magazine, Salon, Gizmodo, and the BBC.

We've successfully completed two pilot training cohorts with dozens of scientists, in genetic engineering and neuroscience. Now, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re recruiting for Massive’s final pilot cohort: climate science.

Climate change is the most important issue of our time, but the way we talk about it isn’t always productive. We’re looking for new voices to explore more impactful ways to discuss climate change with each other, policymakers, journalists, and the public. We’ll also work with science communication researchers to study the impact of your work.

Program

Those accepted will undergo an intensive, one-month online training program. You’ll write, edit and publish two pieces to our platform and syndication network. In the process, you'll learn:

• The fundamentals of storytelling
• Communicating science to lay audiences
• Forming effective arguments
• Writing clearly and accurately
• Giving peer feedback
• Talking to the media
• Much more

The program requires three to five hours of commitment per week, plus three hourlong video calls. 

In addition to training, you will become a member of our growing Consortium of 125+ like-minded peers, where you’ll be able to continue honing your abilities, get access to member discussions, Q&As, and feedback sessions, and share what you’ve learned with others.

By getting hands-on experience applying your work to a wider sphere, you’ll start to build an audience and learn leadership skills that will serve you whether you choose to stay in academia or go into business, policy, or communication.

Requirements

You don’t have to be a climate scientist to participate. Ideally, your work can be applied to climate change in some way, but the only requirements are:

• You are an active STEM researcher, in any field and at any level
• You have an interest in and passion for narrating the complexities and implications of climate change to a broader public

Maybe you’re a public health researcher looking at how climate change affects asthma rates, or a genetic engineer racing to adapt food sources to new weather systems. We are open to creative interpretations on the theme; the most important thing is your desire to write for wider audiences than scientific discourse usually allows.

Cost: Free

This is our final pilot cohort, and will be free for accepted participants. If you’re an organization interested in underwriting the program or guaranteeing members a slot, please contact us.

Apply today

The application for this cohort is now closed. You can still apply to become a member of our Consortium, where you'll have future opportunities to participate in trainings, on our application page.