RWU Welcomes Journalists to Explore the Environmental Benefits of Oyster Farming
Journalism fellows from the Metcalf Institute visited ĐÓ°ÉĘÓƵ University for a hands-on learning experience about the Eastern oyster’s life cycle.
BRISTOL, R.I. – From wading into Mount Hope Bay to sorting oysters at the Ferrycliffe Shellfish Farm, a cohort of journalists from across the globe got a firsthand look at aquaculture research and coastal resilience during a visit to ĐÓ°ÉĘÓƵ University last month as part of the Metcalf Institute’s 27th Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists.
Organized by the University of Rhode Island-based , the weeklong fellowship connects national and international journalists with scientists to better contextualize environmental news and its impact on communities, particularly in coastal ecosystems. At RWU, participants spent a day immersed in the environmental and economic significance of oyster farming, guided by Assistant Professor of Marine Biology Hisham Abdelrahman, RWU student researchers, and aquaculture experts.
“The Metcalf Institute supports journalists, scientists, and science communicators in conversations around the climate crisis,” said Ethan Brown, Metcalf Institute Training Program Coordinator. “I think there’s a big disconnect sometimes between journalists and scientists, where they don’t understand how each other thinks.”
The visit began with a tour of RWU’s Luther H. Blount Shellfish Hatchery, led by Assistant Professor of Biology and RWU alum Robert Holmberg ’12, who explained the life cycle of the Eastern oyster and the hatchery’s systems for cultivating oysters in their early stages. The group then walked down to the university’s working waterfront FerryCliffe Shellfish Farm, where fellows shadowed RWU Marine Biology students and had their own opportunity to get their hands wet, examine grow-out bags, observe the farm in action, and wade into the bay to experience the labor behind sustainable aquaculture.
Isaiah Porter, a junior majoring in Marine Biology and Environmental Science from Stockton, Mo., was among the students helping guide the immersive experience. “I think it’s cool, and I love doing anything to help people better understand marine life.”
Senior Heidi Hoeft, a Marine Biology major with minors in Aquaculture and Aquarium Science and Physics, emphasized the importance of engaging the public in aquaculture. “It’s such a cool thing to bring [journalists] out here and show them where their food comes from, and all the work that goes into it,” said Hoeft, of Lapeer, Mich. “Oysters, and shellfish in general, are great for restoration. The oysters clean the water. So [we’re] getting the word out there that this is a great industry not only for food, but for ecosystems and the environment.”
The experience resonated deeply with the visiting journalists, who drew connections between the challenges facing Rhode Island’s coastlines and those in their own communities. Josie Abugov, an environmental reporter for The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, reflected on the contrast in oyster farming between the Gulf and the Northeast. “Here, I noticed it's sort of flipped, where oyster farming is really leading in Rhode Island, and in Louisiana, it's really in its early baby stages,” said Abugov, who recently . “I’m really excited to go back and talk to people more about the future of oyster farming.”
For Kelesha Williams, an award-winning journalist and producer from Jamaica, the visit emphasized the global nature of the climate crisis. “When it comes to climate change, we are all just so interconnected. Some of the same issues I see here in Rhode Island are the same issues affecting us in Jamaica.”
Williams left RWU with fresh ideas for stories. “In Jamaica, we are very dependent on agriculture, fisheries, as well as tourism. So, I think climate change is very important to [Jamaica’s] economic growth and development.”
Through opportunities like this, the Metcalf Institute and ĐÓ°ÉĘÓƵ University are helping journalists gain a deeper understanding of science and the environment and represent the university’s commitment to educational outreach to the community. By connecting directly with researchers and students, reporters are better equipped to cover the complex topics surrounding climate change.