New Futures Fellows are typically recent or current undergraduate or graduate students who are passionate about climate justice and want to strengthen their personal activism and professional development. 

Fellows work in groups that can be assembled from different fields of study including natural, physical, life, and earth sciences; social sciences; arts and humanities; communications; journalism; marketing; and public relations, depending on the needs of the project. Some Fellows come with activist campaigning experience and creative skills, which they will strengthen during the fellowship.

Fellows receive professional development and training in effective public communication about complex topics and advocacy tools to advance policies or project solutions. They receive hands-on coaching in creative skills such as storytelling, digital media, graphic design, and video production. Guest speakers bring perspectives ranging from technology companies to The Financial Times, the United Nations, and environmental justice leaders in India and South Africa.

Each team produces a variety of products, including policy briefs, case studies, and an advocacy plan that advances concrete recommendations. Fellows create multimedia products such as explainer videos, social posts, and public service announcements to support the project. Planet Reimagined amplifies each team’s creative content through Planet Reimagined’s communications networks and digital channels. We work with our media and entertainment partners to make fellowship findings, advocacy solutions, and campaigns highly visible to the public, reach key audiences who can influence policy and practice, and turn research into action.

Previous fellowship themes included the interactions of climate justice with marine communities, clean energy in U.S. states, health, oceans, waste, urban farming, the music industry, and Web3.