The founders of Revista Late, a narrative-style digital magazine for Latin American readers, have been awarded a Historias Sin Fronteras reporting grant for a cross-border multimedia project on high levels of fluorine in drinking water and the impact on human health.

InquireFirst, in partnership with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Department of Science Education, awarded the grant to:

In response to our call for proposals for a multimedia project in any area of science, health or environmental coverage, Historias Sin Fronteras received several outstanding proposals from cross-border teams of journalists throughout Latin America.

The judges selected the proposal by Daniel and Alejandro, which focuses on the high levels of fluorine that is contaminating water in towns and cities throughout Latin America. In Mexico alone, it is estimated that some 20 million people ingest water with fluoride at concentrations significantly higher than permitted by medical standards, the journalists noted in their proposal.

After decades of being told that drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults, “people do not know that this can harm your health,” the judges said in making their decision.

“There is a certain amount that is naturally occurring in water, but at too high a level it can be damaging,” our judges noted.

They said this project will shine a light on a little known and little understood issue involving industrial contamination, lack of government oversight and a threat to public health.

The project will be published in October 2022.

Iván Carrillo, a Mexico-based science editor and writer and co-founder of Historias Sin Fronteras, will serve as project editor. Iván is part of the 2016-2017 generation of the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT. He is a contributor to National Geographic and the Latin American editions of Newsweek and has collaborated with the Discovery Channel and CNN en Español.

By supporting this regional initiative, InquireFirst and HHMI’s Department of Science Education aim to convene, inspire and encourage the work of science writers in Latin America.

A team of journalists from South America has been awarded a Historias Sin Fronteras reporting grant for a project on the disproportionate impact that lupus has on women of color and the ways that Covid-19 has affected the availability of much-needed treatment.

InquireFirst, in partnership with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), awarded the grant to the South American team comprised of:

In response to our call for proposals on biomedical research in Latin America and/or metabolic disorders, Historias Sin Fronteras received several outstanding proposals from teams of journalists throughout Latin America.

In selecting the South American proposal, the judges said, “We were drawn to this proposal’s focus on the disproportionate impact lupus has on women of color.”

They commented that the cross-border team of journalists made a “strong pitch that brings three South American countries together with the angle of looking at underserved communities, migrants and Afro Latinas,” including the implications of a reduced supply of the much-needed medication hydroxychloroquine due to a global misinformation campaign about its effectiveness again Covid-19.  

The project “gives an opportunity to put a face on those patients who really benefit from the drug,” the judges said.

The project will be published in May 2022.

Iván Carrillo, a Mexico-based science editor and writer and co-founder of Historias Sin Fronteras, will serve as project editor. Iván is a 2021 National Geographic Explorer and he is a member of the 2016-2017 generation of the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT. He is a contributor to National Geographic and the Latin American editions of Newsweek and has collaborated with the Discovery Channel and CNN en Español.

InquireFirst will be issuing a new call for proposals in April for a multimedia cross-border project on any science, health or environment subject.

By supporting this regional initiative, InquireFirst and HHMI’s Department of Science Education aim to convene, inspire and encourage the work of science writers in Latin America.

A team of journalists from Guatemala and Honduras has been awarded a 2021 Historias Sin Fronteras reporting grant for a project on cross-border water pollution that threatens to spark an international dispute in Central America.

Historias Sin Fronteras, in partnership with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), awarded the grant to the Central American team comprised of:

In response to our call for proposals on biodiversity and/or conservation, Historias Sin Fronteras received several outstanding proposals from teams of journalists throughout Latin America.

The judges selected the Central American proposal, which focuses on environmental damage aggravated by the indifference of the governments of Guatemala and Honduras and the possibility of an international incident with geopolitical implications.

In making their decision, the judges wrote, “We are excited to see such an exemplary proposal for a cross-border journalism project. The article will dive into the tension between Guatemala and Honduras and go deeper than previous coverage to explore the environmental, social and economic impacts of the pollution problem.”

They commented that the project “shows how pollution is a binational challenge” and noted the subject is relevant to disputes among countries around the world.

The project will be published in December 2021.

Iván Carrillo, a Mexico-based science editor and writer and co-founder of Historias Sin Fronteras, will serve as project editor. Iván is part of the 2016-2017 generation of the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT. He is a contributor to National Geographic and the Latin American editions of Newsweek and has collaborated with the Discovery Channel and CNN en Español.

InquireFirst has issued an additional call for proposals for a cross-border project on biomedical research in Latin America and/or metabolic disorders.

By supporting this regional initiative, InquireFirst and HHMI’s Department of Science Education aim to convene, inspire and encourage the work of science writers in Latin America.