Projected Futures 6: Experimental Science Journalism Studies

The school's faculty include leading science journalists and journalism educators.

Keynote (TBA)

2022 Keynote: Apoorva Mandavilli
Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter for The New York Times, focusing on science and global health. She has been covering the coronavirus pandemic since its earliest days in 2020. She is the 2019 winner of the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting. Apoorva is also the founding editor-in-chief of Spectrum, an award-winning news site on autism science that grew an audience of millions. She co-founded Culture Dish, an organization dedicated to enhancing diversity in science journalism, and was the founding chair of the Diversity Committee for the National Association of Science Writers.

Special Lecturers (TBA)

Our 2022 lecturers

Roxanne Khamsi
Roxanne Khamsi is an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in publications such as The Economist, WIRED magazine and The New York Times Magazine. She has taught at Stony Brook University’s Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.

Hannah Hoag
Hannah Hoag is the deputy editor and the energy and environment editor at The Conversation Canada. She has been a science journalist for 20 years, writing for a wide variety of publications including Nature, Discover and The Globe and Mail. She was the founding editor of Arctic Deeply, which provided news and analysis about circumpolar Arctic issues. 

Samia Bouzid
Samia Bouzid is a freelance writer and audio storyteller based in Philadelphia. Her work spans a range of themes, including physics and space, language, and culture. She writes and edits scripts for the YouTube channel SciShow and is a podcast producer and sound designer for Adonde Media. She previously worked at NOVA | PBS, making videos for the YouTube channel What the Physics?! She holds an M.A. in journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and a B.S. in astrophysics from Rutgers University. 

Faculty

David Secko
Professor, Department of Journalism
Now a science journalism scholar and leader of the Concordia Science Journalism Project, David Secko previously worked as a science journalist for The Scientist magazine, Vancouver’s Tyee, the Science Creative Quarterly, Canadian Medical Association Journal and the U.S. Public Library of Science (PLoS).

Cristina Sanza
Digital Journalism Instructor, Projected Futures Coordinator, Department of Journalism
Cristina Sanza is a Digital Journalism Instructor at Concordia University, who serves as the Associate Editor of the Departmental magazine, The City, and as the department's writing coach. She previously worked as a multimedia journalist and content producer for outlets including The Review, Concordia University’s Faculty of Arts and Science and Montreal’s healthcare network. 

Projected Futures 6 is a unique, blended course that features both synchronous and asynchronous online workshops and lectures. It is an unforgettable experience.

Students will complete the following during the course:

July 24-29
Convene online to explore the foundations of evidence-based science journalism and to get to know each other (mostly asynrchonous).

July 31-August 4
Synchronous in-person classes begin, which examine a mixture of:

• Journalism skills workshops for multimedia platforms (audio, video, photo, social media);
• Theoretical examinations of models of science journalism; and 
• Interdisciplinary group-based mapping of science and society connections.

August 3
Teams are issued an all-day collaborative experimental challenge. The day ends with a virtual public lecture and reception with a noted science journalist (The rest and relaxation will be well earned!).

August 4
In the morning, teams present their work – a projected future – at the Science Journalism Educator Summit, an event dedicated to improving and shaping next generation science journalism education.

August 7-11
Course debrief online and the creation of an alumni network (mostly asynrchonous).
 

Tuition Waiver Awards

Top applicants are eligible for tuition waiver awards.

These awards will take into account your course of study, past accomplishments, particular career and/or research directions, as well as financial need if your home institution, affiliated research center, department or supervisor cannot support your travel or registration costs.

Awarded tuition waivers cover tuition costs and administrative fees associated with attending the International Graduate Summer School.

Travel

More information to come.

Time Zone

While parts of this course will be asynchronous, all mandatory synchronous workshops and events scheduled will take place at Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Application Deadline: The application deadline will be announced early 2023. When the school is full, it will be announced on this page.

Admission is competitive and based on demostrating your interest in the fundamentals of science journalism and new forms of scientific storytelling, as well as your past accomplishments. 

Interested students are invited to send, as a PDF:

1. A letter of intent (500 words);

This letter should cover your background, current program of study, motivation for attending the school, academic/professional interests and any other relevant information. 

2. A current CV;

3. Optional: 1-2 samples of any journalism, communication or media-related work.

Application packages and queries should be directed to:

david.secko@concordia.ca 

If you cannot find what you are looking for, please email us.

• Can I get credit for this course?

Yes, but if you are not registered at Concordia, contact us and we will work with you to provide you with all the information your home institution requires.

• When does the summer school start? 

The summer school begins online on July 24. Students will be given access to an online course platform to participate asynchronously. The first synchronous class is on July 31. 

• Can I apply for more funding?

Yes, you may absolutely. Funding offered for a student admitted to the school will not decrease if the student has access to other sources of financial support. However, please note that tuition waviers, in part, consider finanical need when being awarded to top applicants. 

• What is the language of instruction?

The language of instruction is English.

• I am about to start a MA or a PhD at Concordia. Can I apply to the summer school?

Yes, you can. Please contact david.secko@concordia.ca for more information about how to proceed.

• Can non-students apply?

Yes, you can. While designed for graduate students to enhance their studies and communication skills, those not in a graduate program can apply as non-students. 

• Where do the classes take place? 

The classes will be held at the Loyola Campus, in the CJ building, room 3.306.

• What is a typical day like during Projected Futures?

During the synchronous week, the first lecture/class of each day begins at 9 a.m. Students will have a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., and have a second lecture/class from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• What materials should I have?

Students will need access to the internet, a laptop or computer with audio and video capabilities, and a cell phone (that is able to capture audio, photos and videos).