A Transformative Weekend of Science Storytelling, Connection, and Creativity

This summer, for the first time ever, Story Collider is hosting a weekend storytelling retreat—and you’re invited!

From Friday, August 8, to Sunday, August 10, join us at the beautiful Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, New York, for an immersive storytelling experience designed to elevate your science communication skills and help you craft a powerful, personal narrative.

Over the course of three days, an intimate gathering of participants will engage in intensive workshops led by Story Collider’s most sought-after instructors, refining their ability to tell compelling, authentic stories about science.

What You’ll Gain:

  • A fully workshopped story ready to share

  • Techniques and confidence to make your storytelling more engaging and impactful

  • New ideas and inspiration for using storytelling in research, teaching, or public engagement

  • Connections with a tight-knit group of fellow storytellers who share your passion for science and narrative

Each day will be filled with hands-on coaching, small-group exercises, and evening story shares that foster growth and community. Whether you’re a researcher, STEM faculty member, postdoc, or graduate student looking to strengthen your communication skills—or simply someone who loves science and storytelling—this retreat is for you!

Registration will close on July 1, but please be aware that it may sell out before then as space is extremely limited.

What to Expect:

  • Daily Workshops – Learn from expert instructors in a structured, supportive environment

  • Evening Story Shares – Practice in a low-pressure setting and gain valuable feedback

  • Relaxing Retreat Setting – Time to reflect, write, and connect with others in a peaceful location

  • One-on-One Coaching – Personalized guidance to help shape your story

Who Should Attend?

  • Scientists, researchers, and STEM educators looking to improve their science communication

  • Postdocs and graduate students who want to connect with broader audiences

  • Anyone curious about storytelling as a tool for engagement and connection

Meet Your Instructors

Erin Barker

Erin is the executive director and cofounder of The Story Collider. As a storyteller, she is the first woman to win The Moth's GrandSLAM storytelling competition twice. Her stories have been featured on public radio multiple times, including on PRX's The Moth Radio Hour, and on many podcasts such as The Moth, RISK, Family Ghosts, and many more. One of her stories was included in The New York Times-bestselling book The Moth: 50 True Stories. Erin received her master of fine arts in creative writing from the Stonecoast program at the University of Southern Maine in summer 2016.

 

Neeti Jain

Neeti is an environmental scientist and environmental justice practitioner. As an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at the Yale School of the Environment, she helped advance justice-centered storytelling and science communication at cultural institutions, like natural history museums. A Los Angeles native, Neeti has made her way across the three coasts and now resides in NYC with lots of winter coats and a little black cat. She spends her time kayaking, getting lost in Central Park, and lurking around the underwater dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History.

Paula Croxson

Paula is a neuroscientist, award-winning science communicator and storyteller with expertise in academic research, nonprofit work and science communication. She is President at Stellate Communications. Paula has an M.A. from the University of Cambridge and a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford. She was an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for 5 years before shifting her career focus to science communication and public engagement with science, first at Columbia University and then at the Dana Foundation. She is passionate about communicating science in meaningful and effective ways, and fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in science. She is also a musician, playing flute in alternative rock bands Wax Majestic and Marlowe Grey, and a long-distance open water swimmer. The swimming is apparently for “fun”.

 

Venue & Accommodations

Bethany Arts Community: A serene retreat space just an hour from NYC, providing the perfect environment for creativity and reflection

The Bethany Arts Community campus is situated on 25 serene and picturesque acres and combines a charming 1920’s period building with a later addition of a 1950’s dormitory and instructional style wing. The Bethany Arts Community is surrounded by abundant perennial beds, expansive lawns and a fruit orchard.

Accommodations range from single dorm rooms to multi-bedroom apartments.

Directions: 40 Somerstown Rd. Ossining, NY 10562

Nearest Airport:

  • White Plains (HPN) Airport

  • LaGuardia (LGA) Airport

  • New York JFK (JFK) Airport

Nearest Train Station: Ossining Train Station

Pricing Details

The cost of this retreat is available on a sliding scale: $1,000 for those supported by external funding; $800 for those paying out of pocket; or $600 for those making less than their local living wage. We highly encourage attendees to secure professional development funds from their employers or universities to cover the cost of registration.

Please note: Cost includes private room accommodation, meals, and quality programming throughout the weekend.

*Cancellation Policy: Any cancellations made on or before June 20, 2025, will receive a full refund minus a $50 administration fee. Cancellations made between June 20 – July 6, 2025, will receive a 50% refund minus a $50 administration fee. Refund requests made after July 6, 2025, may be considered on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.