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2024 SciComm Fellowships

New River Gorge, WV

 

Applications for 2025 will open in Spring. 

The purpose of the project is to support communications related to high-profile regional resource initiatives that are addressing the impacts of climate change and other stressors initially in the Northeastern National Parks.  We hope to expand to other regions in the future. This project is made possible with a grant from the National Park Service through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) program. 

What is the purpose and the goals of this project?

For more background details about the SCIP program, please visit the Overview page.

What will Fellows be working on?

NPS liaisons have identified priority science topics for scicomm projects. Descriptions of these topics are available here.

Who Should Apply? 

  • Students, postdocs or early career scientists (within 8 years of highest degree)
  • Should have some experience with science communications 
  • Individuals from underrepresented communities in science are strongly encouraged to apply

Eligibility

  • U.S. citizen or US permanent resident 
  • Active ESA membership  – OR- Affiliated with a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) in the CESU national network

To check if your institution is an MSI, please refer to the
US Dept of Education listing or the NASA MSI Exchange list.
If in doubt, please contact your CESU regional coordinator.

Benefits

  • Stipend of $3,000 to be paid in two installments 
  • Professional development in science communication  
  • Monthly check-ins and collaborative product design with peers  
  • Mentoring by project manager who is also a SciComm professional  
  • Access to network of NPS professional personnel and others with indepth perspectives on science in the national parks 
  • Potential travel to selected NPS sites  

Expectations and Timelines

  • Commitment of ~ 20 hours a month from September 2024 through June 2025 
  • Fellows must attend all six SciComm training sessions to be scheduled between September – November (about one per week) – schedule TBD  90 mins each.
  • First SciComm product due January 2025 
  • Second SciComm product due May 2025 
  • Attend 60-minute monthly peer check-ins  (after the SciComm training)
  • Meet one-on-one with project manager on product development monthly – (after the SciComm training)
  • Interview NPS personnel and/or audience for background understanding and feedback on SciComm products 

What We ask for in the Application Form

The application form is divided into five sections:

  1. Eligibility – we will screen for eligibility requirements (see above)
  2. Contact information 
  3. Academic and/or professional employment Information
  4. SciComm experience
    • Choice of science topic 
    • Upload a sample of a SciComm piece you produced
    • Statement of Interest
      • Describe your interest in this fellowship
      • Specify how this fellowship would further your educational and/or career goals
      • Summarize your experience thus far in science communications activities
      • Describe your experiences with the specified audiences of the top two science topics (see description)
      • Describe how your participation contributes to or enhances the NPS mission and ESA’s core values
  5. Personal information

Choice of Science Topic

Applicants will be asked to select the top two topics of interest offered by NPS for the SciComm products that you will develop as part of the SCIP Fellowship. Please review the descriptions of each of these topics and the intended audiences here. Based on your selection, ESA will forward your application to the relevant NPS Science liaisons for review. 

You are only expected to develop products for ONE topic. 

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FAQs

 

1. What types of SciComm products are expected?

Fellows may choose from a variety of formats / media depending on need, such as story maps, short videos, infographics, various social media posts, blogs, and in-depth articles. Products will also depend on the science projects and audiences involved.  See descriptions of science topic priorities here.

2. What support will I receive for product development? 

We will provide six professional development sessions in SciComm techniques and provide resources for you to develop ideas. 

The monthly check-ins with your peers and meetings with your project manager are opportunities to share ideas and to receive constructive feedback from product conception and outline to design. 

ESA will also set up opportunities for NPS personnel and others as relevant to give feedback during the process. 

3. When will the SCIP Fellowship begin and end?  

The SCIP Fellowship will begin with a kick off meeting expected to take place in the week of September 9, 2024.  

The fellowship is expected to end around May-June 2025. A short extension to may be granted to July for all final products to be submitted.  

4. When will stipends be paid? 

Stipends will be paid in two instalments upon delivery of final SciComm products expected in January 2025 and in May 2025. 

5. How will stipends be paid? 

ESA will set up direct deposit payments to your bank account.  

6. Do I have to pay taxes on the stipend? 

Yes, your stipend is considered income and ESA will issue a 1099-MISC. Please note that you are responsible for all tax payments. You will not be considered an ESA employee and ESA will not withhold any taxes on your behalf.Â