Science & Memory Science & Memory is an experiential learning project of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. From a practical standpoint, it incorporates classroom and production time with immersive trips, in-the-field work with scientists, and exploration of narrative and strategy. The program began in 2014, when SOJC faculty members Mark Blaine, Torsten Kjellstrand, Dan Morrison, and Deborah Morrison leveraged a combined 100+ years of storytelling, visual journalism, and creative production to address the complex stories of climate and environment. That year, the Science & Memory cohort included those four faculty and 17 students traveling to Cordova, Alaska and living at the Orca Adventure Lodge bunkhouse. Since then, hundreds of SOJC students and more Oregon faculty, staff, and partners have explored changing landscapes in multiple places. Our work expanded to the Oregon Coast and to Ghana, all projects finding story and data in places witnessing change. Science & Memory Oregon Coast explored the central Oregon Coast, visiting Oregon Institute of marine Biology and the affiliated Charleston Marine Life Center, and observing along the Cape Arago tidal pools and beaches. In Ghana, team members crafted a strategic campaign around the value of composting for farmers and the public. Evidence from the project grows student portfolios and develops career paths for both journalism and strategic communicators.
Science & Memory grows from these goals:
For students Provide unparalleled experiential learning for students curious about how to tell compelling stories on complex climate and environmental issues in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and global destinations by putting them in the field with innovative gear and resources For storytellers and professionals-in-training Develop stories that engage and compel audiences to be curious, thoughtful, and explore the issues of climate and its broader impacts on people For our professions Train young professionals to use a variety of narrative and visual tools that underscore an ability to translate complex data and fact into compelling factual story For our future Offer audiences an image, a thought, a quote, a social post that compels citizens about the most important issue of our time, one that connects to our economic future, to social justice themes, and to cultural legacy For our university Showcase the development of transdisciplinary professional approaches to complex cultural issues through narrative story and academic research
Climate change offers the unintended consequence of developing a growth industry for communicators. In the next decades, professionals who understand and develop compelling stories about this topic and its related implications will experience more professional growth. Journalists, strategists, writers, designers, brand managers, and producers who translate science fact into compelling story will find more professional opportunity.
2017
2016
2015
2014
Teams
2018

Ghana

Ammas Tanveer

Amar Mann

Anna Rath

Ben Kitoko

David Choe

Duane Harris

Emily Ost

Hannah Lewman

Justin Hartney

Maddie Gomez

Ryan Lund

Sam Coffaro

Tim Vandehey

 

faculty

Tom McDonnell

Senyo Ofori Parku

Leslie Steeves

 

Oregon Coast

Abbie Winn

Anna Rath

Brooke Harmon

Bryce Dole

Carl Ranney

Carolyn Keshap

Denzell Gallegos

Devin Roux

Emily Goodykoontz

Hannah Clauss

Hudson Miller

Jessica Smith

Joe Bigelow

Jordan Blackburn

Julio Jaquez

Meghan Jacinto

Noah Andrews

Olivia Dozois

Raffi Torres

Rachel Chambers

Sam Smargiassi

Sarah Frimtzis

Whitney Calvin

Xavie Tow

 

Alaska

Abbie Winn

Anna Rath

Cameron Shultz

Emily Goodykoontz

Jared Macary

Jessica Smith

Justin Hartney

Noah Andrews

Rachel Chambers

Tim Vandehey

2017

Abbie Winn

Andrew Afranji

Anna Rath

Becky Hoag

Cheyenne Thorpe

Jake Smith

Jeff Dean

Jessica Douglas

Justin Hartney

Lily Cox-Skall

Madison Hamilton

Megan Rouse

Morgan Krakow

Naomi Shao

Pam Cressall

Ted Chen

Tim Vanderhey

Topacio Beerhalter

Ty Boespflug

Will Mallery

 

 

2016

Andrea Willingham

Brian Amdur

Dan Morrison

Emma Pindell

Karly DeWees

KJ Hellis

Madison Cameron

Mackenzie Moran

Miro Merrill

Paige DePaepe

Ryan Lund

TJ Daniel

Will Saunders

 

Allison DelFium

Ashley Graves

August Frank

Ben White

Brittany Smith

Chloe Spencer

Emilie Weiss

Emily Haugbro

Gabi DaSilva

Gabi Gomez

Hannah Lewman

Ian McTigue

Kara Jenness

Katey Harris

Kevin Camacho

Lauren Fields

Natalie Waitt-Gibson

Rhianna Gelhart

Roy Liu

Sam Coffaro

Sydney Humble

Talia Berniker

Zishan Wang

2015

Andy Abyeta

Arty Farkas

Ben McBee

Breanne Schell

Clint Wilson

Emma Pindell

Evan Norton

Hayla Beck

Jen Jackson

Karly Dewees

Kelsey Brunner

Kyra Bailey

Maria Kjellstrand

Mel Burke

Miro Merrill

Nick Walcott

Paige DePaepe

Sierra Morgan

Spencer Orofino

Taylor Richmond

Will Saunders

 

 

2014

Adrian Garcia

Alex Morrison

Elora Overbey

Grant Lemons

Guru Amar Khalsa

Helen Torney

Jesse Crowell

Jessica Hollowell Thurman

Julia Reihs

Julianne Parker

Kevin Mataraci

Lili Bayarmagnai

Madison Kirby

Mary Jane Schulte

Mel Burke

Mike Hobitzal

Monica Sagowitz

Pam Cressal

Ryan Hagan

Taylor Richmond

 

Faculty Team

Torsten Kejllstrand, Professor of Practice Filmmaker and Visual Storyteller

 

Mark Blaine, Senior Instructor II Former Director of Journalism and Science Initiative Leader

 

Dan Morrison, Senior Instructor  Visual Journalist

 

Deborah Morrison, Carolyn Chambers Distinguished Professor of Advertising

SOJC Director of Advertising

Partners

Juan-Carlos Molleda, Edwin Artzt Dean and Professor, SOJC

Lauren Wilcox, Senior Development Director, SOJC

Scott Chambers, SOJC Partner & U of O Alum

Kelsey Bruner, University of Colorado journalism student intern

Artie Farkas, Sound Technician

Clint Willson, Mike N. Dooley Professor, Director of the Center for River Studies,

Louisiana State University

Troy Elias, SOJC Assistant Professor

Ed Madison, SOJC Assistant Professor

Pam Cressall, SOJC Alum and Videographer/Producer

Dean Molleda with students Anna Rath & Abbie Winn on Sheridan Glacier

Scott Chambers enjoying the views.

Lauren Wilcox brought green and yellow to the glacier.

Troy Elias and Ed Madison photograph the scenery on a walk into town as they discuss the political ramifications of climate change.

Pam Cressall returned to Alaska in 2016 as an alumni after the original 2014 trip.

Assistant Professor Troy Elias makes his first ever s'more.

Kelsey Brunner photographing Sheridan Glacier.

Professor Clint Willson sitting by Sheridan Glacier, reading something scholarly.

Artie Farkas, skipping rocks at the lake in front of Sheridan Glacier.

Dan Morrison, contemplating
pensively.

The Process

This project began in 2013 as a “climate reporting project” to explore climate issues in the Pacific Northwest. In our first year, as we stood in the Orca Adventure Lodge bunkhouse and looked at the range of stories, faculty leaders realized two connected themes grew from the work: scientific fact and human experience. Our project offered a perspective of how the world is understood, through science and through memory. Thus, the name was born.

 

Science & Memory has been a labor of love by students and faculty from the beginning. All of the assets – words, images, art – are produced by students and faculty working together. To list credits for each, to name each of the people who worked in Alaska and in Eugene would be a formidable task. Over one hundred students have contributed in some way. But a few should be named here because of their investment and beyond obligation work ethic.