UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Aara'L Yarber wants to bridge a critical gap she sees in journalism — localized news tailored to Black communities. Through a National Science Foundation (NSF) internship this fall, the meteorology and atmospheric science doctoral candidate said she hopes to be able to do just that.
Recently, Yarber was selected to be a part of the NSF INTERN program, which provides graduate students in science and engineering with experiential learning opportunities through research internships in non-academic settings.
Yarber, an experienced science writer, said she is hoping to expand her journalism skills to include more on-the-ground reporting during her time in Atlanta. She is also hoping to take her skills and push it in a visual direction with her work.
“I think it’s wonderful that NSF is investing in people who don’t necessarily see themselves taking traditional academic career paths. It shows they think alternative paths are of value, which they are,” Yarber said. “I feel very supported by NSF, and I’m excited about their broadening scope.”
Yarber will spend five months working with Atlanta-based Capital B News, a nonprofit startup that produces in-depth journalism on topics of crucial importance to Black people throughout the country, such as education, housing, health, climate and the environment, criminal justice, and politics.
For Yarber, being able to contribute to an organization like Capital B News is an opportunity to make a positive impact and serve vulnerable communities.
"I was really interested in centering stories relevant to Black people. I think there’s just a general lack of local news coverage, as national news becomes more prevalent, especially in communities of color,” she said. “There’s a lot of science that I think is relevant to communities of color that’s not necessarily being directly communicated to them. I want to bridge that gap. Capital B News works to contextualize national news at a more local level so that folks can get information that’s tailored to them.”
Being able to contribute to the science communications community, whether through writing or multimedia, is something of importance to Yarber. Although her doctoral research is focused on West African air quality, in particular pollution, she has had a variety of experience in the science journalism field.
"I’ve always been interested in storytelling. Although I love research, I found myself wanting to do something a bit more creative and interact with the public more, so I started writing for the Daily Collegian at Penn State covering different student and faculty research,” Yarber said on the beginnings of her interest in science communications.
That led to an internship with the American Geophysical Union working in public relations, and eventually being accepted for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Fellowship and her current summer position with the Washington Post.
Yarber is also part of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), a program whose applicants are pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The purpose of the GRFP, according to the group’s website, is “to ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. GRFP seeks to broaden participation in science and engineering of underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.”
Whether her work is done in State College, Washington, D.C., or Atlanta, Yarber said, she hopes to continue to make an impact on her community.
“I really want to be of service to people like members of my family, my friends, and people that don’t have the same access to the level of education that I’ve been able to acquire,” Yarber added. “I’m all about using whatever privilege I have to help those that have less.”