The Scientist and the Storyteller Workshop

This two-day intensive workshop will help bridge the gap between scientific research findings and the distribution of important health information to the public. Led by a cross-disciplinary team of experts consisting of an experienced journalist and experienced public health researcher, the workshop will integrate seminar lectures with hands-on activities to put concepts into practice. This short course will train scientists to be better communicators and journalists to be better translators of scientific information. Participants will learn how science journalists work, how scientists are trained to report their findings, and best practices for collaboration between the two disciplines.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be familiar with the following topics:

• What is journalism and how does it work?
• Newsworthiness
• The parts of a story
• Reporting
• Finding an angle
• Science writing vs journalism
• The language of reporters
• Translating research
• Writing your story
• Working better with journalists

Summer 2026: The Scientist and the Storyteller Workshop is a live, in-person training taking place at the Columbia University Irving Medical Campus in NYC. All training start and end times are in EDT. Dates will be announced soon.

More information on travel, lodging, and getting around NYC.

This workshop welcomes participants from a wide range of backgrounds, including researchers, journalists, health care policy makers, public health and communications students and educators, public relations professionals, health writers, department of health officials, and more. Individuals at all career stages are welcome to attend.

Julie Herbstman, MSc, PhD, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. She is the director of the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, where she oversees longitudinal birth cohort studies in New York City. Trained as an epidemiologist, Julie Herbstman's research focuses on the impact of prenatal exposures to environmental pollutants on child growth and development. She has also been involved in research exploring the long-term environmental health impact of exposure to pollutants from the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Her work also involves the integration of epigenetic biomarkers to explore the mechanistic pathway between prenatal exposures and disease risk.

Duy Linh Tu, Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia Journalism School. Duy Linh Tu is a journalist and documentary filmmaker, focusing on education, science, and social justice. His work has appeared in print, online, on television, and in theaters. He is also the author of Narrative Storytelling for Multimedia Journalists (Focal Press). Professor Tu teaches reporting and video storytelling courses at the Journalism School. He is also a graduate of the program.

Training scholarships are available for The Scientist and the Storyteller Workshop.

"I thoroughly enjoyed this training. We are at a critical junction in Public Health, and our ability to communicate our science and its importance is imperative." - Staff Member at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2025

"The Scientist and the Storyteller Workshop has given me the foundational skills and confidence to work more effectively with journalists. I highly recommend this workshop for scientists at all career levels interested in supporting the translation of their science for the greater public good." - Faculty Member at North Carolina State University, 2025

"This course was a game-changer. In a time when funding is tight and science is under attack, learning how to communicate research clearly and compellingly is essential for anyone working at an academic health center." - Writer at Texas Tech Health, El Paso, 2025

"This is a great workshop for early career professionals that introduces the basics of science communication in a clear and compelling way. The combination of learning theoretical background information, hearing from industry professionals, and practicing what you learned in group activities creates a unique learning experience." - Communications Associate at CLASP, 2024

"The training provided a solid introduction to some of the complexities scientists and journalists must navigate in their stories." - Faculty Member at University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2024

"Scientific writing was always a subject I struggle with. I am glad this course gave me more insight on it and I am thankful I had fun learning!" - Fellow at Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, 2024

Registration Fee is based on your category and includes course materials, breakfast, and lunch on training days. Course material will be available to all attendees during and after the workshop. Lodging and accommodation are not included. 

2026 Registration Category Rates: 

• Student/Postdoc/Trainee: 
  • Early-bird rate: $995 
  • Regular rate: $1,195
• Faculty/Academic Staff/Non-Profit Organizations/Government Agencies: 
  • Early-bird rate: $1,195 
  • Regular rate: $1,395
• Corporate/For-Profit Organizations: 
  • Early-bird rate: $1,395 
  • Regular rate: $1,595 

$200 early-bird discount is automatically applied if you register before the  deadline.  

• $200 Early-bird Discount: This is automatically applied if you register before the early-bird deadline.  
• 10% Columbia Discount: This is valid for any active student, postdoc, staff, or faculty at Columbia University. If paying by credit card, use your Columbia email address during the registration process to automatically have the discount applied. If paying by internal transfer within Columbia, see below.  
• 10% Mailman Alumni Discount: This is valid for any individual who graduated from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. To access the Mailman Alumni discount and receive a registration code, please email sharp_program@cumc.columbia.edu your graduation year and degree.  
• Group discounts are available for organizations sending 5+ participants. Please contact us directly at sharp_program@cumc.columbia.edu for more information.

If paying by internal transfer within Columbia, submit this Columbia Internal Transfer Request form (link to form coming soon) to receive further instructions. Please note: filling out this form is not the same as registering for a training and does not guarantee a training seat.

If you would prefer to pay by invoice/check, please submit this Invoice Request form (link to form coming soon) to receive further instructions. Please note: filling out this form is not the same as registering for a training and does not guarantee a training seat.

Cancellation notices must be received via email at least 30 days prior to the training start date in order to receive a full refund, minus a $75 administrative fee. Cancellation notices received via email 14-29 days prior to the training will receive a 75% refund, minus a $75 administrative fee. Please email your cancellation notice to Columbia.Scientist.Storyteller@gmail.com. Due to workshop capacity and preparation, we regret that we are unable to refund registration fees for cancellations less than 14 days prior to the training.  

If you are unable to attend the training, we encourage you to send a substitute within the same registration category. Please inform us of the substitute via email at least one week prior to the training so we can include them on attendee communications, gather registration details, and provide materials. Should the substitute fall within a different registration category (e.g., you are a faculty member and they are a postdoc), the credit card on file will be credited/charged respectively. Please email substitute inquiries to Columbia.Scientist.Storyteller@gmail.com. In the event Columbia must cancel the event, your registration fee will be fully refunded.