As part of the Pulitzer Campfires Initiative, Akiko Busch discusses the way that essay form promotes a kind of collaborative thinking, accommodating both sciences and humanities. This project is part of a collaborative series of programs facilitated by the 100th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prizes in 2016. An exploration of the changing nature of journalism and the humanities in the digital age, What is the 21st Century Essay? programming thematically focuses on environmental issues because of their urgency and relevance to our health, communities, and economy.