News Highlights from State of the Planet
The Changing Shape of Extreme Rain in the U.S.
A recent study led by researchers at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory asks how and why the spatial footprint of extreme rainfall in the U.S. has changed since 1980.
Columbia Climate School Welcomes Inaugural Cohort of Climate, Earth and Society Distinguished Fellows
The new initiative is bringing five renowned experts and changemakers to campus this year. Their work spans climate science, public service, finance, entrepreneurship and the arts.
Climate School Students Analyze Extreme Heat Risk and Mitigation Efforts at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
A Columbia Climate School student team examined extreme heat, poor air quality and emergency management at MetLife Stadium during the FIFA World Cup in New York/New Jersey.
In the Media
Choose Your Own Climate Adventure with Columbia’s Dr. Smerdon
The Endangerment Finding and Climate Policy: Fact, Fiction, and Fairness
For the Media
Media Contact
Press Resources
Guides and information to help the media connect with our scientists and experts.
Press Releases
Top stories from State of the Planet.
Long-Term Study Suggests Landfill Methane Emissions Are Far Higher Than Estimates
The study used continuous ground-based measurements to determine that landfill methane emissions are likely much higher than current assessments.
July Research Roundup: Select Papers
This month, we covered the 2026 Environmental Performance Index; how gas bubbles shaped Kīlauea’s lava flow; and the Pacific’s contrasting effects on wildfires. Here are some additional studies worth noting.
Pacific Ocean Pattern Helps Explain Diverging Wildfire Trends in U.S. and Australia
Two of the world’s most fire-prone regions have followed strikingly different wildfire trajectories despite both experiencing a warming climate.
Communicating Science
There are many resources to help scientists and scholars better connect with the press, public, policymakers, and each other. Here are some handy links, including handbooks, toolkits, insights on the relationships between science and the media, and fellowships for scientists who want to hone their communication skills.
More Resources
Guides & Toolkits
- SciComm Toolkits, American Geophysical Union
- A Scientist’s Guide to Working with the Media, American Geophysical Union
- Communication Toolkit, American Association for Advancement of Science
- Social Media Workshop for Scientists: Extending Your Digital Footprint with Sree Sreenivasan, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science (Slides)
- A Research Communications Toolbox, Boise State University
- Op-ed Writing: Tips and Tricks, The OpEd Project
- Science Editing Handbook, Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT
- Media Training A to Z, TJ Walker
Videos
- Scientists Ordering Breakfast, NPR
- Life After Death by Powerpoint, Don McMillan
- Undergrads Unwittingly Subjected to World’s Worst Research Talk, NanoNerds
- Randy Olson, TEDMED Storytelling
- Gavin Schmidt: The Emergent Patterns of Climate Change, TED
Books
- A Scientist's Guide to Talking with the Media, Union of Concerned Scientists
- If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?, Alan Alda
- Don't Be Such a Scientist, Randy Olson
- Am I Making Myself Clear?: A Scientist's Guide to Talking to the Public, Cornelia Dean
- Explaining Research: How to Reach Key Audiences to Advance Your Work, Dennis Meredith
Articles
- Inside EurekAlert, the News Hub That Shapes the Science You Read, Wired
- Attention, All Scientists: Do Improv, With Alan Alda’s Help, New York Times
- Science Communication Requires Time, Trust, and Twitter, Science
- The Science and Art of Science Writing, New York Times
- Stop Complaining about Your PR Firm. Here’s How the Media Works
- Public Science 2.0—Back to the Future, Science
- Capably Communicating Science, Science
- Outreach: Field Hospitality, Nature
- Why Scientists and Journalists Don't Always Play Well Together, Forbes
- This Is a News Website Article About a Scientific Paper, The Guardian
- Climate Experts Tussle Over Details. Public Gets Whiplash, The New York Times
Fellowships
- Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellows Program, American Geophysical Union
- AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship, American Association for Advancement of Science
- Energy Journalism Fellows, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University