Q&A with AAAS Mass Media Fellow Unnati Akhouri
Unnati Akhouri is a Mildred Dresselhaus Science Achievement Graduate Fellow in Physics who was recently an American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) Mass Media Fellow at WITF, Inc.
Q: What was your experience as an AAAS Mass Media Fellow like?
UA: This summer I traded my physicist hat for a climate reporter one to develop an understanding of how science trickles into society. From an investigative piece on the discrepancies between the observed data and company-reported methane emissions in Appalachia to an ongoing courtroom conflict between the state and energy operators promoting the development of more transmission lines from PA to neighboring states to attending a story on how people are coming together to restore Pennsylvania's forest for future generations, I was able to cover different aspects of the science-society relationship. I learned how to identify what medium–web story, radio, podcast episode, or animation– is best for communicating the different types of story and I am glad to say I tried all of those thanks to the mentors in the newsroom. I came with experience in communicating physical sciences, but there is a crucial way in which this summer felt different. When communicating research, the story was already there–albeit it was too bright and on its own too blinding and overwhelming. There, my job as a communicator was to find the right lens–a good narrative–that could cast an authentic yet approachable image of the too-bright-to-consume science. This style was no longer applicable when I was in a climate/energy/policy newsroom, where I realized, the story may often not be there at first. You may have a tip, or sometimes, an agenda. But the real story is found when you identify and talk to as many stakeholders as you can, something I have developed a deep appreciation for.
Q: What is one of your favorite memories as a fellow?
UA: I think that the stories I did brought me closer to the impact of climate change on the people, policy, and the biodiversity of Pennsylvania. For my final feature, I got to highlight stories of hope. Our digital producer and I drove out to report on a local group's efforts to adapt trails and forests to a warmer, wetter climate. Spending the evening with volunteers on-site, I learned how historical land use, climate change, biodiversity, and natural restoration cycles interact. I made an artwork to highlight these dynamics and the challenges trail managers face. The art is also an invitation to the audio feature that focuses on the intentional management practices being carried out by dedicated volunteers. After my piece was published, I was invited to Shippensburg-U to talk about how I crafted my piece in a room full of undergraduate students interested in science/policy journalism. That was a truly memorable experience for me!
Q: What advice do you have for future applicants?
UA: Reflect on your science news diet. This could be written news stories, podcasts, videocasts, social media channels, etc. But reflect on the sources and ensure that you are exposing yourself to contemporary science and science writing styles. That’s step zero. Knowing the landscape is an essential part of good writing.
Having news pieces published is genuinely not a must. However, the make-or-break part of your application is the writing samples that you submit. Look for inspiring science stories that you can convert into a tight news sample. For me, that looked like siding up to Google Scholar alerts, ArxiV alerts, and newsletters of some journals I like to follow.
I would also encourage international students to apply for this fellowship. This is one of the few professional fellowships accessible to international students who are working on an F1 visa. The documentation may seem intimidating but please do not let that stop you from applying. Both AAAS and the university can help with figuring out the paperwork if you are interested in developing sci-comm skills through this fellowship.
When crafting the application, make sure to keep it tight. Demonstrating that you have been active in scicomm on campus and in your research field with explicit examples—maintaining a blog, writing for department/university newspapers, attending scicomm meetings/conferences—goes a long way. This is a professional-level fellowship so focus on not only talking about why you want to do this but also, what you bring to the newsroom. Use your lived experiences to tell your unique story. Reflect on places you have lived, languages you speak, research groups you have been a part of—even if it’s from a long time ago—, and volunteer work that you may have done. Your inspiration for each answer may not just come from your academic life, so think outside the box. This will help you find your unique angle. If you would like to chat more about the application, please connect! I am happy to share my experience!
Q: What is one of the most important lessons that you will take with you from your time at Penn State?
UA: At Penn State, my most important lesson has been to participate in things outside my department. PhD work can be very isolating. Finding ways to contribute and participate in the university helps in broadening the horizon. This lesson is important for me because either has helped me see the forest rather than just the trees. I appreciate the collective contribution and work much more now than I did before my time at Penn State. This is a lesson I plan to take with me onto my next role.