From rising seas and record heat to toxic algae blooms in Florida’s waters and public distrust in climate science, there has never been a greater need for well-trained environment and science journalists committed to advancing public understanding.
CJC has trained some of the nation’s best environmental journalists and storytellers. Our regular courses in environment and science journalism train students to report on complex topics with credibility and flair. We also offer field courses that get students into communities to report on environmental justice, and out into forests, rivers and coasts. Our environment and climate journalist alumni and visiting professional programs allow students to meet some of the field’s most captivating practitioners and build their professional networks.
Cynthia Barnett Comments on How to Cultivate Community Support for Confronting Climate Change
December 11, 2024
Telling Florida’s Stories, a Report for America Corps Member Brings Insight and Passion to UF
December 11, 2024
UFCJC Student Project, “The Price of Plenty,” Wins 2024 SEJ Award for Outstanding Student Reporting on the Environment
October 23, 2024
UFCJC Researchers Win U.S. State Department Grant to Better Climate Reporting in Chile
October 2, 2024
Programs and Courses
Environment, Climate and Science Journalism programs
Our Florida Environment & Ag Desk covers the environment, climate, farming and rural issues statewide. Part of the Innovation News Center and UF’s public media platform WUFT, we publish in-depth stories on the environment and help train student journalists in specializations including water, climate and agriculture—all in demand as newsrooms around the nation expand coverage of climate change and other environmental pressures.
Our annual Climate Communication Summit brings together professional and student journalists and scientists for training in the latest climate science and best practices for telling the story of our time.
Our Science Journalist in Residence Program brings leading science writers to the UF campus in Gainesville each semester to interact with faculty and students. SJRs give public talks, speak in classes, visit laboratories and meet with one-on-one with students interested in science stories.
Environment and Science Journalism Courses
Environmental Journalism: This course will ground you in the essentials of environmental reporting—discerning uncompromised expert sources, using
human narratives and descriptive storytelling to relate real-world impact, and tapping the databases, records and other tools commonly used by environmental reporters.
Science Journalism: This course introduces the art and craft of science storytelling. Students will learn how to produce well-written, engaging science stories for general audiences. The course covers writing news and
feature articles such as might appear in a magazine, newspaper, online news publication or other science news outlet.
Advanced Science, Environment & Health Reporting: This senior-level, immersive class gives students in-depth experience reporting on a science, environment or health project over the course of the semester. Based around a single topic; past courses have published award-winning projects on fertilizer and water quality. The spring 2024 course focused on animals and the biodiversity crisis.
The Price of Plenty
A special field course investigating the cycle of fertilizer from the phosphate mines of Florida to the farm fields of the Midwest, down the Mississippi River to Louisiana’s cancer alley and the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.
Watershed
A special, Pulitzer Center-funded Environmental Journalism class series published on UF’s public media platform WUFT News investigating statewide water quality for the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Clean Water Act.
Forever in Florida
Environmental Journalism class series published on WUFT News investigating so-called “Forever Chemicals” in Florida’s freshwaters.
The Human Hazard
Environmental Journalism class project investigating the intersection of public health and climate change in Florida.
Peak Florida
Environmental Journalism class project investigating the intersection of accelerating population growth and weakened growth-management laws in Florida.
Energy Burden
Environmental Journalism class project investigating poverty and energy in Gainesville.
Blue Ether
Environmental Journalism class project investigating threats to North Florida’s springs.
For more information, contact Cynthia Barnett, director of Climate and Environment Reporting Initiatives, at clbarnett@ufl.edu or complete this form.