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2022 Planet Forward Summit The Storyteller's Journey: Navigating Crisis, Seeking Solutions

In every crisis, we face a journey.

The story of the climate crisis is more challenging than ever.

How will we navigate it? What stories will we tell?

Planet Forward, a sustainability storytelling project based out of George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs, sought to address these questions and more at the 2022 Planet Forward Summit.

The event, hosted by Planet Forward Founding Director Frank Sesno, brought together scientists, students, and storytellers. They provided unique insight on the innovations we need and the narratives we can use to prompt action.

THE FOOD STORY

What challenges do we face as climate change and concurrent crises threaten food systems? And how can we rise to the challenge to provide food security for all? This segment, featuring José Andrés — chef, international humanitarian, and founder of World Central Kitchen — addressed these questions and more.

Andrés spoke with Dr. Tara Scully, director of the Sustainability Minor Program at George Washington University and his co-professor for their class "World on a Plate." Their conversation was followed by remarks by Jocelyn Brown Hall, director of the North American office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

THE BIODIVERSITY STORY

One of Planet Forward's heroes, Tom Lovejoy — the "godfather of biodiversity" – left us in December 2021. Tom showed us that species depend on one another to survive, that biological diversity supports the web of all life, and that powerful narratives can drive meaningful change.

The 2022 Planet Forward Summit was dedicated to Tom's enduring work on behalf of biological diversity and the Amazon rainforest. In this segment, alumni from the 2018 Planet Forward Storyfest expedition reflected on their time with Tom at Camp 41, a camp in the Amazon rainforest that support scientists and students conducting field research on biological diversity and the impacts of forest fragmentation on that diversity.

View the series Planet Forward in the Amazon.

PASS THE MIC: Inclusive Storytelling to Seek Solutions

Climate change is a planetary issue, but it does not impact all people on our planet equally. Those most impacted by climate change and environmental degradation are those already marginalized, including Black communities, Indigenous communities, communities of color, and low income communities.

Matt Scott, Manager of Storytelling and Engagement at Project Drawdown, is working to "pass the mic" to underrepresented climate change-makers. In this pairing of interviews, Matt chats with Eli Chen, Senior Editor for Overheard at National Geographic, and McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Planet Forward Comcast NBCUniversal Sustainable Storytelling Fellow, to discuss what "passing the mic" means to them.

Eli Chen (left), Senior Editor for Overheard at National Geographic, chats with Matt Scott (right), Manager of Storytelling and Engagement at Project Drawdown.
“As you navigate crisis, as you seek solutions, who are the voices who aren’t represented in these conversations?” - Matt Scott
líiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program (ICP) co-founders JoRee LeFrance (left) and Alexander Cotnoir (center) take the Summit stage.

GET INVOLVED

Planet Forward, in association with the University of Arizona, is excited to announce the launch of a brand new initiative, the líiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program (ICP). Conceptualized by two Indigenous graduate students, JoRee LaFrance of University of Arizona and Alexander Cotnoir of George Washington University, this project will create a space to tell stories and reflect the voices of Indigenous communities and the impacts of climate change on their homes.

There are a multitude of ways to get involved with Planet Forward and tell your story. These include internships with Climate and Capital Media; partnerships with FAO North America; a research and storytelling trip to Alaska and Canada; working alongside the Smithsonian Natural History Museum’s film and media producer to gather content for their upcoming exhibition, ‘Our Places: Connecting People and Nature’; and, a partnership with the Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture to hire a professor of environmental media. These are just some of our current opportunities, but keep an eye out in our newsletter for all the upcoming internships, partnerships, and experiences with Planet Forward!

“We are looking to build a movement and want you all to be a part of it!" - Frank Sesno

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Climate Disinformation

How can we combat climate disinformation?

Dr. Ethan Porter is an assistant professor at George Washington University and the Cluster Lead of the Misinformation / Disinformation Lab at GW's Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics. Ethan conducted research on misinformation using an experiment that estimated the effects of exposure to news and opinion about climate change. He shared some of his findings — both good and bad — on the topic.

National Geographic Explorer Arati Kumar-Rao gives the keynote presentation.

KEYNOTE: The Slow Violence of Climate Change

It is one thing to read statistics about the rising costs of climate change; it is another to watch the impacts unfold before your eyes.

National Geographic Explorer Arati Kumar-Rao is on a mission to document what she calls "the slow violence of climate change" through visual storytelling over time. In this keynote presentation, she transports us to the flooded banks of the Ganges River through photography and verse, and asks us to consider the responsibility we bear as chroniclers of the land in the midst of continuing crisis.

Afterward, Arati engaged in a Q&A with students.

COMPELLING CHARACTERS: Climate Theater

How does it feel to survive an extreme weather event? What is the aftermath for the local communities? How do they view the world after such an experience?

Through the theater production “Weathering the Storm,” Steven Beschloss and his team at the Narrative Storytelling Initiative explore these questions and create a space for survivor stories spread across the world. “Weathering the Storm,” which shares true stories read by actors, ignites a conversation about climate change and extreme global weather events, building empathy and examining the impacts of these environmental crises.

Planet Forward Correspondent Diana Quintero (left) interviews Mala Sharma (right), Vice President and General Manager of Adobe Creative Cloud.

TOOLS, CREATIVITY, AND STORYTELLING featuring Adobe Creative Cloud

Creativity is critical to crafting innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Creativity is also critical to communicating those solutions and inspiring change. Adobe Creative Cloud is at the forefront of this crusade.

In this conversation, Mala Sharma, Vice President and General Manager of Adobe Creative Cloud, shares her creative expertise, inspiration, and advice for emerging storytellers with Planet Forward Correspondent Diana Quintero. Sharing lessons learned over the years, Mala reminds us that the most important things to keep in mind in creative storytelling are to know your audience, be curious, get all the facts, and — above all — be authentic.

Planet Forward was honored to be featured as a "creative changemaker" at the 2021 Adobe Max Conference. Watch the video!

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Alaskan Permafrost

What does it mean when ground that has long remained frozen begins to thaw? How can communities respond to the shifting of their very foundations?

Dr. Kelsey Nyland, a research scientist and adjunct professor at the George Washington University Department of Geography, is studying permafrost through the U.S. National Science Foundation-funded project Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM). She discussed long-term trends of warming and thaw in Alaska – and the resulting impact on local ways of life.

The Storyfest 2022 finalists were invited to the stage. From L to R: Frank Sesno, Diana Quintero, Kamryn J You Mak (front), Michaela Compo (back), Leo from Plantita Power, Jennifer Vilcarino, Halley Hughes, Sven Lindblad, Farzona Comnas, Ryan Bieber, Imani Cheers, Carter Weinhofer, Hannah Krantz, Kaitlyn Copland, Clarice Knelly, Claire Babbott-Bryan, Skylar Epstein

Storyfest

At the Planet Forward summit, climate leaders shared the spotlight with student storytellers – especially those who participated in Planet Forward Storyfest. Through this annual competition, Planet Forward awards students for stories that share climate solutions in mediums including articles, photo essays, short videos, and multimedia stories.

This year’s student storytelling was – in a word – exceptional, and the competition for the title of Storyfest 2022 winner was incredibly tough. Our finalists covered characters from musicians and scientists to farmers and community activists, and highlighted solutions from new irrigation technology to mammoth resurrection.

See all of the Storyfest 2022 submissions.

Congratulations to the Storyfest 2022 winners!

Frank Sesno, Dr. Imani Cheers, and Sven Lindblad announced the winners in five categories. These students were awarded a storytelling expedition to Southeast Alaska with Storyfest sponsor Lindblad Expeditions.

Read stories from the expedition in the Astonishing Alaska series.

From left: Planet Forward Founding Director Frank Sesno; Leo, Operations Coordinator at Plantita Power; Jennifer (Cuyuch) Vilcarino, George Washington University, whose story covered Plantita Power; Halley Hughes, University of Arizona; Sven Lindblad; Farzona Comnas, George Washington University; Ryan Bieber, Ithaca College; and Dr. Imani M. Cheers, GW's Director of Academic Adventures. (Not pictured is Delaney Graham, SUNY-ESF.)

Most Compelling Character: Jennifer (Cuyuch) Vilcarino, George Washington University, “Plantita Power: Microgreens in the district

Most Creative Story: Delaney Graham, SUNY-ESF, “‘Coastal Degradation Through Fresh Eyes’: A picture book come to life

Best Scalable Innovation: Farzona Comnas, George Washington University, “How trees can save a drowning desert

Best Science Narrative: Ryan Bieber, Ithaca College, “A tale of two mountains: Battling climate change and wildfires at home and abroad

Best Use of Science & Data: Halley Hughes, The University of Arizona, “Hope flows through the heart of Tucson: The Santa Cruz River Heritage Project

Dr. Monyai Chavers, from Tuskegee University, asks a question at the Town Hall.

Town Hall

Dr. Tara Scully shares ideas with Associate Professor at GW's School of Engineering and Applied Science Dr. Saniya LeBlanc (center), Frank Sesno, and the virtual and in-person audiences at the Town Hall.

To find and highlight the innovations moving the planet forward, we need to collaborate to share ideas and expertise. After listening to the speakers and awarding the Storyfest winners, Frank Sesno opened up the floor for a town hall, asking the audience, “What stories should we be covering throughout this next year?”

Francesca Edralin (left) and Frank Sesno address the room at the town hall.

Some virtual and in-person attendees suggested highlighting settings, such as the car-free Fire Island National Seashore, to communities, like farmers of color in Alabama. Some students stressed broader themes, like the importance of telling environmental stories over time and the role of public art in climate storytelling. The town hall highlighted the connections between people, places, and environments and inspired students to dive into stories of their own

Lisa Palmer, Planet Forward Senior Editor and Education Lead, record story ideas and themes to explore in the year to come.

Our Impact

The 2022 Planet Forward Summit had more than 600 attendees, who joined in person and virtually. There were registrants from more than 80 schools, including:

The 2022 Planet Forward Summit also hosted professionals from a variety of sectors, including representatives from:

Planet Forward thanks the sponsors of the 2022 Summit!