i am thrilled to announce the eight winners of its 2025 storyfest competition — marking the 11th annual global celebration of student environmental storytelling.

these are unprecedented times and this year’s storyfest winners have risen to the challenge. from environmental justice to raging fires and rising seas, these students have produced stories that inform and inspire.

this year’s winners will embark this summer on a 10-day voyage to the galápagos islands with lindblad expeditions aboard the brand’s newest ship, national geographic gemini. guided by veteran expedition staff, including expert naturalists and scientists, plus educators, students will explore the extraordinary biodiversity of the archipelago and gain valuable insight into conservation efforts at the frontlines of climate and ecological change.

“travel has the power to open minds and build bridges of connection and understanding. it also has the power to influence how human beings engage with the natural world,” said amy berquist, vice president of conservation, education, and sustainability at lindblad expeditions. 

these outstanding student storytellers represent colleges and universities across the globe. through short films, social media videos, podcasts, longform writing, and multimedia packages, they tackled pressing topics like invasive species, emerging contaminants, and equitable access to nature. their work was selected by a panel of professional journalists, educators, and environmental leaders for its originality, clarity, and impact.

“we are honored to sponsor the planet forward storyfest awards for an eighth year,” berquist said. “the college and university storytellers who win this expedition experience are important voices for our planet; their stories will center on issues that shape the future.

“as a company that believes in the power of science and education — and making our ships available as platforms for research and learning — we are always inspired by hosting students. it is an honor to facilitate a way for them to use their energy and talents in support of the world’s wild and remote places.”

the winners’ stories illustrate the power of compelling environmental communication. above all, the 2025 storyfest winners give us hope on our journey to 2022年卡塔尔世界杯官网 . a hearty congratulations to our winners:

best short video
farron taijeron – university of guam 
“swimming with snakes: the backyard science of an invasive species in guam”

best social media video
mario castroviejo  – university of navarra | the george washington university
“how climate change impacts one of our favorite sweets: chocolate”

best podcast
avril silva – the george washington university
“a pfas problem: emerging contaminants in water in frederick, maryland”

best multimedia story
devin santikarma – middlebury college
“water gods: an ancient irrigation method in bali comes under threat”

best written story
kayla smernoff – howard university
“understanding the demographic discrepancy in park visitorship”

gw award
paul leoni – the george washington university
“cutting through the fog: the future of lobsters in the warming gulf of maine”

spotlight award
karli moore – stanford university 
“a native farmer growing a native crop: the role of fiber hemp in a more sustainable future”

fan favorite award 
sagen lily quale – university of wisconsin-madison
“seeding stories: manoomin and anishinaabeg relations”