Washington, DC - On Thursday, July 14, the 2015-2016 Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellows will share their experiences at a public panel discussion at National Geographic Society Headquarters.  Recently returned from their fellowships abroad, the Storytellers will discuss their individual projects and how they are using digital tools to share information about the impact of climate change, migration, commerce, and food security on individuals and societies.

The five American Storytellers are:

• Ryan Bell, a writer, photographer—and cowboy—who spent time in Russia and Kazakhstan documenting the rebirth of the cattle ranching industry in those countries.
• Ari Beser, a storyteller who traveled to Japan to offer a personal and unique voice for how nuclear technology affects people today. Ari is the grandson of Lt. Jacob Beser, the only U.S. serviceman who was aboard both B-29s that dropped atomic bombs on Japan during World War II.
• Janice Cantieri, a journalist and researcher, who spent nine months capturing the poignant and painful stories of rising seas that have resulted in both displacement and adaptation on the Pacific Island nations of Kiribati and Fiji.
• Hiba Dlewati, a Syrian-American journalist and writer, who traveled through Jordan, Turkey, and Sweden to document and narrate the compelling stories of tragedy and triumph behind the headlines of displaced Syrian populations.
• Christiana Geros, a designer, researcher, and educator, who documented how urbanism, ecology, and politics intersect in Jakarta, Indonesia, a city adapting to climate change.

Following the presentations, 2014-2015 Storyteller Daniel Koehler will share an excerpt from his short documentary, A House Without Snakes, which is the product of his 2014–15 Fulbright-National Geographic Fellowship in Botswana with the San Bushmen.

The panel discussion will be held at 3:30 p.m. at National Geographic Society Headquarters, 1600 M Street NW, Washington, D.C.