Latest News from State of the Planet
Rivers Choose Their Path Based on Erosion—a Discovery That Could Transform Flood Planning
A new study offers insight into natural hazards and river restoration, potentially guiding infrastructure projects ahead of disasters like the recent Texas flooding.
Sustainable Development Program Awards 2025 Departmental Honors
Four graduating students were selected for their outstanding academic achievements in sustainable development.
Seeing Glacier Landscapes in a Different Light
A collaborative exhibit between art historian Patricia Maurides and scientist Karina Yager explores how humans perceive changes in the natural world.
In the Media
He’s searching for a human-made problem in areas largely untouched by humans. Answers are just emerging | CNN
California weakens major environmental law to make way for more housing
This Louisiana lawyer is suing Big Oil for billions. But don't call him a tree hugger.
Eastern U.S. sees one more sizzling hot day before temperatures are set to plunge
You're not imagining it. Humidity really has gotten worse in the last 40 years.
For the Media
Media Contact
Press Resources
Guides and information to help the media connect with our scientists and experts.
Press Releases
Top stories from State of the Planet.
Rivers Choose Their Path Based on Erosion—a Discovery That Could Transform Flood Planning
A new study offers insight into natural hazards and river restoration, potentially guiding infrastructure projects ahead of disasters like the recent Texas flooding.
Global Climate Risk Index Ranks 188 Countries by Vulnerability and Access to Finance
Columbia Climate School identifies 65 “red zone” nations across four separate climate scenarios. The index helps close the gap between risk assessments and funding allocations.
African Societies Survived Climate Shifts for Millennia by Diversifying How They Lived
New research sheds light on how communities adapted to past climate change, offering lessons for current and future challenges.
Communicating Science
There are many resources to help scientists and scholars better connect with the press, public, policymakers, and each other. Here are some handy links, including handbooks, toolkits, insights on the relationships between science and the media, and fellowships for scientists who want to hone their communication skills.
More Resources
Guides & Toolkits
- SciComm Toolkits, American Geophysical Union
- A Scientist’s Guide to Working with the Media, American Geophysical Union
- Giving a Science Presentation to Non-Science Audiences, American Geophysical Union
- Communication Toolkit, American Association for Advancement of Science
- Social Media Workshop for Scientists: Extending Your Digital Footprint with Sree Sreenivasan, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science (Slides)
- A Research Communications Toolbox, Boise State University
- Op-ed Writing: Tips and Tricks, The OpEd Project
- Science Editing Handbook, Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT
- Media Training A to Z, TJ Walker
Videos
- Scientists Ordering Breakfast, NPR
- Life After Death by Powerpoint, Don McMillan
- Undergrads Unwittingly Subjected to World’s Worst Research Talk, NanoNerds
- Masters of Storytelling, TED Talks
- Randy Olson, TEDMED Storytelling
- Gavin Schmidt: The Emergent Patterns of Climate Change, TED
Books
- A Scientist's Guide to Talking with the Media, Union of Concerned Scientists
- (Desk Reference)
- If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?, Alan Alda
- Don't Be Such a Scientist, Randy Olson
- Am I Making Myself Clear?: A Scientist's Guide to Talking to the Public, Cornelia Dean
- Explaining Research: How to Reach Key Audiences to Advance Your Work, Dennis Meredith
Articles
- Inside EurekAlert, the News Hub That Shapes the Science You Read, Wired
- Attention, All Scientists: Do Improv, With Alan Alda’s Help, New York Times
- Science Communication Requires Time, Trust, and Twitter, Science
- The Science and Art of Science Writing, New York Times
- Stop Complaining about Your PR Firm. Here’s How the Media Works
- Public Science 2.0—Back to the Future, Science
- Capably Communicating Science, Science
- Outreach: Field Hospitality, Nature
- Why Scientists and Journalists Don't Always Play Well Together, Forbes
- This Is a News Website Article About a Scientific Paper, The Guardian
- Climate Experts Tussle Over Details. Public Gets Whiplash, The New York Times
Fellowships
- Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellows Program, American Geophysical Union
- AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship, American Association for Advancement of Science
- Energy Journalism Fellows, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University