UGA Atmospheric Sciences graduate student Alex Music was recently
named a recipient of the 2025 American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS) Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship. According to
the AAAS website, “This 10-week summer program places science,
engineering, and mathematics students at media organizations nationwide.
Fellows use their academic training as they research, write, and report
today’s headlines, sharpening their abilities to communicate complex
scientific issues to the public.
This highly competitive program strengthens the connections between scientists and journalists by
placing advanced undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level scientists, engineers, and
mathematicians at media organizations nationwide. Fellows work as journalists at media
organizations such as National Public Radio, Los Angeles Times, WIRED, Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, and NOVA. The Mass Media Fellows use their academic training in the sciences as they
research, write and report today's headlines, sharpening their abilities to communicate complex
scientific issues to non-specialists. Participants come in knowing the importance of translating
their work for the public, but they leave with the tools and the know-how to accomplish this
important goal.
For 10 weeks during the summer, the AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows collaborate
with media professionals at radio and television stations, newspapers, and magazines. As part of
their job, the scientists and their journalist-hosts strive to make science news easy for the public to
understand. The program strives to improve public understanding of science by enhancing
coverage of science-related issues in the media. By embedding science students and recent grads
in media outlets, the Fellows learn how to communicate scientific topics in clear and engaging
ways, better understand how science is covered in the media, and build up a professional network
of scientists and journalists who can work together to share science effectively. In its 50-year
history, the program has supported nearly 900 fellows.” Congratulations, Alex!