The national event recognizing outstanding environmental storytelling by college students, a project of the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs.
"It felt great to be recognized," she said. "Making that video was deeply personal—it reflects two years of work and a community I care about. Representing Cal Poly Humboldt in a national competition was really special."
In her video, Sideris investigates the devastating impact of a 2014 Pacific Ocean heatwave, known as "the Blob," which, combined with a widespread disease affecting sunflower sea stars, decimated kelp forests along the West Coast. With their primary predator gone, purple sea urchin populations exploded by over 10,000%, creating a cascading threat to kelp ecosystems and the marine life that depend on them.
Sideris delves into the urgent mission to restore California’s disappearing kelp forests, highlighting both the environmental crisis and the creative solutions Cal Poly Humboldt and California Sea Grant researchers are exploring.
"Since the initial loss of these underwater forests, researchers and community members have been exploring innovative and creative ways to manage purple urchin populations to revive these ecosystems, local economies, and cultural connections," Sideris says.
Sideris's journey into environmental storytelling began on the East Coast, where she studied Environmental Studies at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. There, she found her passion for storytelling in a campus digital media studio. During a stewardship program at Syracuse University, she created a video on informal economies in Buffalo, which led her to Planet Forward.
"Storytelling helped me explore my intersecting interests and apply what I’ve learned in school," Sideris says. "For example, I’m really interested in the blue economy, so I’ve been able to apply some of my classroom knowledge in the field while interviewing folks and producing pieces."
Though she is currently earning her master’s degree in Business at Humboldt, Sideris hasn’t strayed far from her environmental roots. She continues to bridge business strategies and science communication.
“Business tools—like marketing strategies—can really support science communication,” she said. “There’s a lot of important research happening, but people aren’t always aware of it. I want to help bridge that gap.”
Her video was partially inspired by work she did as a science communication fellow with California Sea Grant and the Delta Stewardship Council. One of her early projects involved highlighting aquaculture research at Moss Landing Marine Labs, where researchers are finding ways to turn overpopulated purple sea urchins into valuable seafood products—a potential solution for restoring kelp forests and supporting local economies.
Planet Forward supports students like Sideris by providing a platform for environmental storytelling and connections to a national network of journalists and researchers.
"It’s empowering to have a space dedicated to environmental storytelling. Planet Forward gives me a community where I can develop and share my work," Sideris says.
As for the future, Sideris is keeping her options open. After graduating this spring, she hopes to stay on the West Coast and explore careers in environmental consulting or science communication. “This work keeps me grounded," she said. "Storytelling helps me stay connected to the environment, even while working in the business world."
