KINGSTON, R.I.—Sept. 9, 2025—The inaugural Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy (MONA) took place this summer. A new journalism fellowship created by the University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute and Ocean Nexus, in collaboration with the The Uproot Project, this innovative program supports journalists exploring the deep connection between ocean issues and social justice. The University welcomed Luis Joel Méndez González, Rachel Ramirez, and Eva Tesfaye to its Kingston campus for the 2025 workshop, which was held in person June 30–July 3, 2025.

“The Metcalf Institute gave me the opportunity to speak with a group of scientists and researchers, which allowed me to better understand and engage with their language,” said González on the workshop.

Shared Tesfaye, “I learned a lot about how the equity issues I’ve been covering on Louisiana’s coast connect with ocean equity issues globally. But most of all I appreciate that the MONA fellowship connects me with scientists doing incredible ocean research around the world.”