PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Freelance Writer • 1984-Present
In-depth long-form stories about science, natural resources and the environment.
Short pieces haikuesque in comparison.
Publications include Atlantic, Audubon, Bay Nature, California Trees, Discover, Environmental Health Perspectives, Hakai, High Country News, National Geographic, Nature Conservancy, OnEarth, Pacific Standard, Popular Science, Scientific American, The Daily Climate, The Sacramento Bee, Utne Reader, Yes!
Northern Exposure • February 2013-2018
Northern Exposure, monthly column in Forum, The Sacramento Bee's Sunday op-ed section.
Began as News From Far Northern California, covering the wacky and wonderful in rural counties from Mendocino to Modoc.
Segued to an opinion essay about anything on my mind with a tie to northern California.
Olio
Mentor Program co-coordinator, Society of Environmental Journalists, 2006-Present.
J.P. Morgan Public Power and Gas Conference, New York, speaker: "Clean Energy From Filthy Water," Scientific American feature story, 2010.
Plumas Sketches, anecdotal history of Plumas County, California, 2002.
Across the View, Tokyo radio talk show, regular guest, 1992-1998.
Dyer Mountain lookout, Lassen National Forest, U.S. Forest Service, 1970.
Wakayama University, Wakayama, Japan, English language instructor, 1965-1967.
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
“Burn Notice: Can We Learn To Handle the Heat of Forest Fires,” Excellence in Journalism – Science, Health & Environment Reporting, Society of Professional Journalists, 2016.
"A Tale of Two Forests: Postnuclear Radiation at Chernobyl and Fukushima," Outstanding Feature Story, Society of Environmental Journalists, 2014.
Metcalf Institute, Fellow, Climate Change Science Seminar, 2013.
Fund for Environmental Journalism, Society of Environmental Journalists, 2012.
David Stolberg Award for Meritorious Service, Society of Environmental Journalists, 2013.
"Hope Rising: Mono Lake Refills," First Place, Consumer & Environmental Affairs Reporting, Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists, 2000.
Numerous first-place awards for investigative, in-depth and spot-news reporting, National Newspaper Association, California Newspaper Publishers Association, 1987-1989.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Fukushima & Chernobyl, a series of stand-alone stories about radiation in forest ecosystems. Written with Winifred A. Bird. Appeared in Environmental Health Perspectives, Earth Island Journal and Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 2013.
Tanzania: A Case Study of Agriculture and Conservation. Written/researched with Dawn Stover for Conservation International, 2010.
The 2003 Watershed Forum, California Watershed Council, writer/researcher, 2003.
Embracing Community-Based Forestry, Report to the Ford Foundation, writer/researcher, 2002.
Sacramento State of the Trees Report: A Call to Action, writer/researcher, 2000.
The Maidu Baskets of Lilly Baker, oral history and photographic documentation of the Maidu art of basket weaving, Plumas County Museum, Quincy, California, 1985.
EDUCATION
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. M.A., Japanese Cultural History. Thesis: Expressions of Zen Buddhism in the Pottery of the Iga and Shigaraki Kilns.
Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana. B.A., English Literature. Thesis: Time and Motion in The Canterbury Tales.
North Penn High School, Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
AFFILIATIONS
American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Gwynedd Friends Meeting.
Plumas Arts.
Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers Association.
Society of Environmental Journalists.