Science Writing
As a science writer and public information officer, I leverage my own subject matter expertise in science and over a decade of experience writing for public audiences to research, fact-check, and write compelling news stories about cutting-edge research. I regularly interview scientists about their work and collaborate closely with them to ensure accurate and compelling pieces in the style of press releases, research news, features, explainers, and researcher profiles. Below are examples of each.
By synthesizing, distilling, and translating research for broad audiences outside of scientists’ own fields, I strive to not only spread the word about that research but also to cultivate opportunities for the scientists. My work has garnered researchers speaking invitations and media interviews and has helped them to better explain their work to family, friends, and colleagues (no small feat!).
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Press releases
NC State News (2022); reposted by Phys.org and the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility (US Department of Energy, Office of Science), paraphrased by Tech Explorist
NC State News (2022); reposted by WRAL TechWire and Medical Xpress; reported on by Planetizen
Keeping track of rare mountaintop plants with drones
NC State News (2021); reposted by Phys.org
Research news
First, do no harm: Guidance for community-engaged research after disasters
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2024)
A new way to help stop insect pests in their tracks
NC State News (2019); reposted by Pest Control Technology magazine, Mirage News in Australia, Phys.org, and the Education News blog (edu.blog.news)
Remote sensing and the science of sound
NC State News (2020); reposted by the Education News blog (edu.blog.news)
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2019)
UAVs and Christmas trees: new research to help NC growers benefit from drone technology
NC State News (2019); reposted by Futurity.org and Futurism.com; the story also motivated one of the university’s advancement offices to invite the focal researcher to speak at a donor appreciation event about how drone technology helps farmers.
New research shows water use impacted by the shape of our cities
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2018); the focal researcher was subsequently interviewed by Utah Public Radio and was invited to speak to the North Carolina State Government GIS Users Executive Committee.
Where there’s smoke: reducing downwind impacts of prescribed burns
NC State News (2021); reposted by Mirage News in Australia
Collaboration, innovation address food security needs in Bangladesh with new rice mapping method
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2024)
Features
How open science can both advance and hinder equity in research
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2023)
In the battle against a spreading forest disease, strategy matters
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2019)
New multimedia story map shares experiences of veterans in fire management
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2022)
Partnership with Wake County a new think (and do) tank for harnessing spatial data
NC State News (2019); linked to by an article in StateTech Magazine (“Local Governments Experiment with Innovation Labs”)
Taking research with drones to new heights
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2020). Winner, 2nd place, Institutional Communications Division, SCONCies Science Communication Contest, Science Communicators of North Carolina.
Where fire is a treatment, GIS helps prescribe it
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2019)
First-year students learn the value of GIS for environmental justice
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2023)
Finding floods from space to support community action
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2023)
Explainers
What Is open science? An intro, common misconceptions and advice
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2023)
NC State News (2018). The focal researcher was subsequently interviewed for NPR’s All Things Considered and contacted by a reporter and the university’s media relations on behalf of The Weather Channel; a version was republished by a newspaper in Finland.
A matter of timing: climate change impacts on bird migration
Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting (2015)
Forecasting the arrival of an insect pest
Nature Ecology & Evolution Community (2022). Invited “Behind the Paper” coverage of a Communications Biology peer-reviewed paper I co-authored (“Spotted lanternfly predicted to establish in California by 2033 without preventative management”).
Researcher profiles
Putting human experience on the map
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2019)
Taking flight with drone research
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2018)
The art of storytelling, with geospatial data
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2019)
Where a great idea can take you
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2017)
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2018). The focal researcher was subsequently invited by the NC Department of Environmental Quality to give a lunch seminar on environmental justice.
Getting in touch with the designer in all of us
Center for Geospatial Analytics News (2017)
Book chapters
Shedd, J., M. Skrip, and J. Vukomanovic. Equipping firefighters with the maps they need to preserve history. (pp. 72–74) AND Shedd, J., M. Shukunobe, N. Inglis, M. Skrip, and J. Vukomanovic. 2020. Improving communication with web maps in the Mid-Atlantic. (pp. 170–172) In Mapping America’s National Parks: Preserving Our Natural and Cultural Treasures. Redlands: Esri Press.
Magazine articles
Fading drums: does hunting play a role in the decline of ruffed grouse in New York?
New York State Conservationist (2010) volume 65, issue 2, pages 12–16.
The Spruce Moose, summer 2009 issue, pages 1-2
I often write about research after it’s published, but I also help scientists edit their research manuscripts so that they’re ready to be reviewed for publication.
Learn more about my EDITING