Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, when I was a teenager. Can you believe it!
What does it mean to be a journalist?
We don't just have to be reporters, we can be thought leaders, commentators, policy advocates, cheerleaders for good practice.
What's your favorite social network?
LinkedIn, because it's serious, substantive and enables good conversations without undue trollers.
Who do you wish followed you?
World leaders. State and provincial leaders. County and legislative district leaders. City councilors. And students.
Why did you become a journalist?
I'm a global change scientist who was always determined to change the way we think about our planet and how we live on it. I added careers!
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I submitted all kinds of high-minded rants. I never really outgrew that.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I guess it's the world scientists' warning of a climate emergency - we've just about run out of time.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be aware of this absolutely pivotal moment in time. And use your superpowers to guide society.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Guardian Weekly. My former father-in-law, probably a Tory, saw how much I loved it and subscribed for us for decades in southern Africa.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That scientists are about doom and gloom. We're not! We're about positive aspirations - the society that we can all "do" so much better.
