October 18, 2026

This SMPA documentary-production course trains students to research, report, and produce short-form, research-driven documentaries on the linked themes of climate change, ocean and marine conservation, coastal erosion, and the cultural heritage of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. By reporting on climate change, marine conservation, and coastal erosion at the sites where these forces are visible and lived, students confront the ethical and logistical realities of cross-cultural storytelling firsthand, build intercultural competence alongside production skill, and return with a completed film that is both a portfolio piece and evidence of what they can do when the stakes are real. 

This course will be taught and led by Professor Imani M. Cheers. Dr. Cheers is an associate professor of digital storytelling. She is also the Director of Academic Adventures for Planet Forward. Dr. Cheers received her B.F.A from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.A. in African Studies and a Ph.D. in mass communication and media studies from Howard University. Dr. Cheers is an award-winning digital storyteller, director, producer, and filmmaker. To learn more about the program, you can contact Dr. Cheers at imanimcheers@gwu.edu.

Open to: GW & Non-GW Students

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