Narragansett, RI — December 7, 2004 — The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) is offering 12 fellowships to journalists to attend a science immersion workshop on the coastal environment. The week-long program brings journalists into the field and lab with scientists to study marine and environmental science, resource management and policy implications and is structured to provide them with a better understanding of the science underlying coverage of environment.

The fellowships are available to working journalists to attend the Seventh Annual Workshop for Journalists, June 12-17, 2005, GSO Narragansett Bay Campus. Reporters will work with researchers, graduate students, and policy experts to learn how research is conducted and understand the relevance of science to public policy and issues they tackle in covering the environment. Reporters will meet informally with scientists, attend lectures and debates and learn about scientific integrity, data analysis, research methods, and the complexities of the environment beat.

Applications are available online and by request from the Metcalf Institute and must be postmarked by March 4, 2005. Fellowships are available to print, broadcast and electronic journalists who are interested in science writing. A fellowship award includes room, board and tuition; it does not include compensation for travel. Additional information and applications are available at www.gso.uri.edu/metcalf or by calling (401) 874-6211.

The Metcalf Institute was established in 1997 in memory of Michael P. Metcalf with funding from Belo Corp., The Providence Journal Charitable Foundation, The Philip L. Graham Fund, and the Telaka Foundation.