Living and teaching during a pandemic emphasized the urgency of communicating science to the public. I am passionate about using effective science communication to bridge the gap between what we do as scientists with non-scientists, particularly in this polarized political climate. Producing evidence-based articles that invite non-scientists to learn and engage in science research is critical for our future.
In 2019, I was a AAAS Mass Media Fellow, writing for National Geographic! It was an incredible experience and I learned so much about reporting science stories thanks to the great writers and editors there. In January–July 2022, I was an Editorial Fellow at Audubon Magazine, where I was delighted to read, write, and talk about birds for my job. I have written for Massive Science and Hakai Magazine (under my maiden name, Jenny Howard), and continue to write for Audubon Magazine. If you are looking for a science writer (both science journalism and academic writing), editor, copy editor, and/or fact-checker, please get in touch!
Science Writing
Communicating science for all
Featured Articles
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Full Portfolio
Audubon Magazine
A New Birding Club Wants to Help COVID Long-Haulers Safely Enjoy Nature Together. April 12, 2024.
How Extreme Weather Tests Facilities Housing the Last of a Species. March 29, 2024.
On Mainland New Zealand, Crafty Kakapo Are Thwarting Reintroduction Efforts. March 13, 2024.
Cuddle up With These Ridiculously Cute Baby Bird Photos. December 19, 2023.
Foraging Isn’t Just for the Birds. Fall 2023.
10 Gorgeous Shots Showcasing Birds and the Native Plants They Need. September 25, 2023.
Fieldwork for All. Summer 2023.
Unpaid Labor is a Problem for Conservation. Summer 2023.
Could an Invasive Fungus Seal the Fate of Hawaii’s Endangered Forest Birds? April 13, 2023.
Take a Peek Into Avian Family Life with These Cute Chick Pics. February 15, 2023.
These Stellar Photos Show the Special Link Between Birds and Native Plants. February 1, 2023.
Is It Time for Birders to Move Away from High-Carbon Birding? January 9, 2023.
Let's Talk Turkey Beards. November 18, 2022.
A Beginner’s Guide to Using eBird. October 7, 2022.
The Guam Kingfisher Could Soon Return to the Wild After a 30-Year Absence. September 9, 2022.
Scientists Are Racing to Understand the Aleutian Tern’s Mysterious Decline. August 8, 2022.
10 Fun Facts About the Pileated Woodpecker. July 19, 2022.
New Study Shakes Up Long-held Belief on Woodpecker Hammering. July 14, 2022.
Hit the Beach With A Shorebird Biologist. July 11, 2022.
Bird Poop: The Next Frontier of Avian Conservation. July 7, 2022.
Should I Talk to a Stranger Walking a Dog Off Leash Near Nesting Birds? July 1, 2022.
Wildlife Officials Want to Make it Easier to Relocate Climate-Imperiled Species. June 24, 2022.
How to Get the Most Out of BirdCast’s Migration Forecasts. May 11, 2022.
Injury or Illusion? Why a Bird With a Broken Wing May Not Be What It Appears. April 28, 2022.
To Experience Migration in a New Way, Check Out a Bird Banding Station. April 13, 2022.
A Lunar Eclipse Sheds Light On a Fascinating Behavior In Birds. April 11, 2022.
Feral Honey Bees Pose a New Threat to Endangered Seabirds. April 1, 2022.
10 Fun Facts About the White-throated Sparrow. March 17, 2022.
The Amazon Could Soon Transition to a Dry, Savanna-like Ecosystem. March 8, 2022.
Make Some Time for These Adorable and Awkward Baby Bird Photos. March 3, 2022.
These Delightful Photos Highlight How Native Plants Support Birds. February 11, 2022.
A Magnetic ‘Stop Sign’ Tells These Birds Where to Nest. January 27, 2022.
Hakai Magazine
Light from ships disorients, and even kills, seabirds. December 6, 2021.
Sea bass don't like surprises. August 12, 2020.
Please do not feed the wildlife. July 10, 2020.
One songbird, four forms, one tiny island. June 8, 2020.
What do birds do in a hurricane? January 3, 2020.
Sea urchins stress out. May 30, 2019.
Hungry mice are attacking and killing adult seabirds. February 20, 2019.
Loons are getting squeezed by wind farms. January 14, 2019.
National Geographic Magazine
Plague, facts and information. August 20, 2019.
Some animals can adapt to climate change—just not fast enough. August 19, 2019.
Groundbreaking earthquake catalog may have just solved a seismic mystery. August 13, 2019.
This toddler-size parrot was a prehistoric oddity. August 6, 2019.
Avalanche safety tips and preparation. August 5, 2019.
Marine pollution, explained. August 2, 2019.
Dead zones, explained. July 31, 2019.
Go inside a penguin rescue center with new 360 video. July 29, 2019.
Alaskan Glaciers melting 100 times faster than previously thought. July 25, 2019.
Megadroughts could return to Southwestern U.S. July 24, 2019.
Flood safety tips. July 23, 2019.
Avalanches, explained. July 19, 2019.
These slumbering fish may offer clues to the origins of sleep. July 9, 2019.
These eggs aren’t hatching. The culprit? Light pollution. July 8, 2019.
A brief history of moon exploration. July 5, 2019.
Red tides, explained. July 5, 2019.
Why shark attacks are more common in the Atlantic than the Pacific. July 2, 2019.
12-foot bird lived alongside early human relatives, fossils reveal. June 26, 2019.
These corals choose to eat plastic over food. June 25, 2019.
The brief (and bizarre) history of selfies in space. June 21, 2019.
Massive Science
Meet Marjory Stoneman Douglas, champion and savior of the Everglades. May 31, 2019.
Thinking about releasing thousands of balloons for your local Indy 500? That's littering. May 30, 2019.
Blue whales and orcas and more form an emotional bond with humans in “The Breath of a Whale”. April 4, 2019.
How to be a better tourist? Look to the Galápagos. September 3, 2018. Syndicated in Salon.
There was so much more to Rachel Carson beyond ‘Silent Spring’. July 12, 2018.
How weather radar can predict bird migration. June 29, 2018. Syndicated in Salon.
Meet Mary Golda Ross, one if the first Native Americans in Engineering. May 17, 2018.
Meet Katherine Johnson, the computer who helped send men to the moon. March 22, 2018.
My life in butterflies: how a childhood hobby shaped my career. March 19, 2018.
How an interloper snake decimated Guam’s delicious wild chilies. March 2, 2018. Syndicated in Pacific Standard.
How fieldwork on a remote, tiny island taught me to navigate family dinners. December 18, 2017. Syndicated in Salon.
Boobies of the Galápagos are replacing their disappearing food source with junk fish. November 30, 2017.