Earth & Environmental Science Journalism
Case Studies in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism
Legacy Site
The seminar “Case Studies in Earth & Environmental Journalism” is no longer offered at Columbia, but the collections of readings assembled here may be of use to students or instructors in journalism or environmental science.
Overview
"Case Studies in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism" is designed to link students' expertise in science and in journalism. It is required for all first year students in the Earth & Environmental Science Journalism masters program, and is open to others with the instructor's permission.
Most of the class time is spent on "case studies." Students read the primary scientific literature about an issue, discovery, controversy, idea, or hypothesis--for example, geological disposal of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. Next, they read popular articles and broadcast transcripts convering that same issue. Finally, the class interviews a scientist who worked on the topic. From this raw material, students extract a repertoire of techniques for shaping a science story to reach different audiences, simplifying without distorting a scientific idea, and catching a reader's attention.
In addition to historical "case studies," students follow breaking stories coming out of Lamont. Depending on the nature of the story, seminar participants might read a preprint of a forthcoming journal article, discuss the story with the scientist involved, read a news release prepared by the Lamont public outreach office, discuss the preparation of the news release with the Lamont science writer, attend a news conference, and/or seek out coverage of the story in the media.
The final element of the seminar deals with how science works: as a business, as a community, and as a point of view. The goal here is for journalists to understand the forces (other than raw curiosity) that influence the behavior of scientists. Through readings, discussion, and interviews with guest scientists, students gain an understanding of the peer review system, the funding system, ethics in science, and how the scientific community judges "excellence" in science.
Jump down to Case Studies.
Jump down to How Science Works.
Requirements:
- Readings, class attendance, and participation in discussions. For each case, a set of "issues to ponder and discuss" will be provided; you should be prepared to discuss these questions in detail, using specific documentation from the readings to support your assertions.
- Each week, prepare a one page written description of a story idea. The story idea should be presented in the form of a memo to the editor or producer of a specific publication or broadcast. It should include a paragraph about why those readers, listeners, or viewers will care about the topic. Most of your story ideas should be based on something you have learned or discussed that week in one of your other classes. On weeks when we have a guest scientist, your story idea should be base on the interview.
- Before each interview with a guest scientist, prepare a list of questions; email list to instructor before interview.
- Organize one "case study" per semester: line up appropriate readings, formulate a list of "issues to ponder and discuss," find guest scientist, lead discussion.
- (Fall semester) Write a nomination for the Walter Sullivan award for Excellence in Science Journalism. This award is given by the American Geophysical Union for "work [which] enhances public awareness and understanding of the geophysical sciences--the study of the Earth including its oceans, atmosphere, and space environment." You may nominate any newspaper or magazine article, or radio or television broadcast, that was published or aired this year; however, assigned reading for this class is not eligible. Your nomination must articulate why this is an exemplary piece of science journalism.
- (Spring semester) Compile an annotated collection of devices or strategies that authors have used to try to catch and hold the attention of their readers, or to try to convey a complex scientific idea to a non-specialist audience. Your compilation should include references and quotations from specific articles which have used the device. Include both good and bad examples, and span all of the cases considered over the course of the year. Then, for each device, explain under what circumstances the device is and is not effective, bolstering your arguments with examples.
Case Studies
Five or six case studies are covered each semester. An incomplete collection of cases covered since 1996 follows with the date of most recent use in parentheses. Cases listed alphabetically:
- Agricultural Runoff & Pollution of Coastal Waters. (Spring 2007)
- Interview: Andy Juhl, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- The 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico
- Pfiesteria in Mid-Atlantic Estuaries
- Alternative Fuel Vehicles. (Fall 2001)
- Interview: Prof. Vijay Modi, Columbia University, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.
- Arsenic in Groundwater of Bangladesh. (Spring 2002)
- Interview: Jim Simpson or Lex van Geen, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Black Smokers. (Spring 2002)
- Background and Vent Animals.
- Origins of Life and Vent Mining.
- Interview: Ed Mathez, American Museum of Natural History.
- Burn This? : The Waste-To-Energy Option for Managing NYC Trash. (Fall 2002)
- Interview: Prof. Nick Themelis, Columbia University, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Dept. of Chemical Engineering; Hanwei Zhang, Post doc of Nick Themelis; Al Klive, recent master in E&EE, Thesis in MSW combustion.
- Cancer Clusters and the Toms River / Ciba Geigy Site.
- Interview: Daniel Warenberg, Rutgers University.
- Carbon Sequestration. (Spring 2008)
- Interview: Klaus Lackner, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Coastal Zone Management. (Fall 2002)
- Erosion and Development on Long Island's South Shore.
- Field Trip to Fire Island.
- Interview: Henry J. Bokuniewicz and Jay Tanski, SUNY Stony Brook.
- Cold Fusion (Spring 2001)
- Fleischmann and Pons electrochemically induced nuclear fusion.
- The confession
- The Collapse of the Atlantic Cod Fishery. (Fall 2005)
- Interview: Tim Fitzgerald, Environmental Defense, Ocean Program
- What can be learned from the collapse of a renewable resource?
- Cretaceous/Tertiary Boundary Extinction.
- Alvarez hypothesis of catastrophic meteor impact.
- Discovery of Chicxulub crater.
- Interview: Paul Olsen, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Dead Zone. (2002)
- The Gulf of Mexico and Marine Dead Zones.
- The Role of Farms.
- Deformed Frogs. (2001)
- Development of the story.
- Frogs - a sentinel species?
- Drought in the U.S. Southwest. (2007)
- How is drought defined or measured?
- How does drought relate to climate prediction
- Drilling for Oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (2002)
- Interview, Roger N. Anderson, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Earthquake Prediction. (Spring 2000)
- Loma Prieta, 1989.
- Iben Browning's New Madrid prediction, 1990.
- Interview: Lynn Sykes, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, seismologist & former chair of National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council.
- Ecotourism: Sustainable Solution or Eco-Fraud? (Spring 2006)
- Interview: Jake Kheel, Environmental Director, Punta Cana Ecological Foundation
- Defining the term Ecotourism.
- Does the industry regulate ecotourism? How?
- What are the benefits? The community sacrifices?
- El Nino and Climate Prediction. (Fall 2005)
- First successful El Nino forecast.
- Link with rainfall/crops in subSahara Africa.
- Interview: Mark Cane, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
- Endocrine Disruptors. (Spring 2001)
- Interview: Darcy Kelly, Biology Department, Columbia University.
- Evolution, Creationism, and Curriculum. (updated for Spring 2007)
- Evolution and Creationism, general.
- 1999 Kansas decision to remove evolution from state education standards.
- Interview: O. Roger Anderson, Teacher's College, or Kent Greenwalt, First Amendment expert at Columbia Law School.
- Evolution: Did it play a role in Religion? (Spring 2007)
- Interview: Robert Pollack, Center for the Study of Science and Religion
- Flu: When to Cry Wolf - 1918 & Today (Fall 2005)
- Fact Versus Fear
- It's Epidemic! or Not?
- "Geological" Storage of Nuclear Waste at Yucca Mountain. (Spring 2000)
- Could a volcano erupt through the repository and cause a radioactive release?
- Could water table rise and flood the repository?
- Interview: Brent Turrin, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, geochemist who dated young volcanics.
- Global Warming. (Fall 2000)
- Hansen's Testimony to Congress.
- Fertilization of oceans with iron.
- Interview: Jim Hansen, Goddard Institute for Space Science.
- Green Roofs. (Fall 2005)
- Site visit to Queens Botanical Gardens
- Are green roofs a 'feel good' investment or is ther measurable science behind them?
- Hurricane Katrina. (Updated Fall 2007)
- Foreseeing (or not foreseeing) a Katrina-like disaster.
- Is there a link between climate change & hurricanes?
- Industrial Meat: Environmental & Public Health Consequences of CAFO's. (Spring 2007)
- Interview: Dickson Despommier, Professor of Public Health in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Microbiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
- Jaws 2001: Shark Attacks & the Media.(2001)
- Interview: Hans Walters, NY Aquarium, Coney Island.
- Makah Whaling. (Spring 2003)
- Interview: Alonso Aguirre, Wildlife Trust.
- Marine Mammals and Sonars. (Spring 2006)
- Interview: G. Michael Purdy or Maya Tolstoy, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Methane Hydrates, Global Climate, and the Late Paleocene Thermal Maximum (LPTM). (Fall 2000)
- Interview: Mimi Katz, Rutgers University.
- The Neanderthal Extinction. (Spring 2001)
- Interview: Prof. Ralph Holloway, Columbia University, Department of Anthropology.
- North American Bald Eagle and the Endangered Species Act. (Fall 2007)
- Was it the ban on DDT or the Endangred Species Act?
- Noah's Flood. (Spring 2003)
- Interview: Bill Ryan and Walter Pitman, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Ozone Layer Depletion and the Montreal Protocol. (1987)(Fall 2007)
- Interview: Drew Shindell, NASA Goddard Insitute for Space Science
- PCBs in the Hudson River: the EPA, General Electric, and the People. (Spring 2004)
- Interview: Steve Chillrud, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Peak Oil. (Spring 2006)
- Oil, how will it all end?
- Plate Tectonics. (Spring 2006)
- Does the Earth move?
- Species Introductions. (Spring 1999)
- Reintroduction: Restoration of Wolves to Yellowstone.
- Introduction of Exotics: The Imported Fire Ant.
- Interview, Jim Wetterer, Columbia University, Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
- Snowball Earth. (Updated Spring 2004)
- Interview: Nick Christie-Blick, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Spotted Owl Debate and the Endangered Species Act. (Spring 2001)
- Interview: Stuart Pimm, Columbia University, Center for Environmental Research & Conservation.
- Three Gorges Dam, China. (Spring 2002)
- Interview: Upmanu Lall, Columbia School of Engineering.
- Tsunamis and landslides. (Updated Fall 2005)
- Interview: Art Lerner-Lam, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Interview: Mohi Kumar, E&ESJ student.
- Water on Mars: The Search for Life. (Spring 2008)
- Interview: Vivien Gornitz, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University’s Center for Climate Systems Research
- Wetlands Mitigation Banking. (1999)
- Interview: Peter LeTourneau, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
- Wildlife Corridors. (Fall 2006)
- Interview: Eric Sanderson, Wildlife Conservation Society
- Zebra Mussel Invasion. (2002)
- Interview: Dan Malloy, N Y State Education Dept., NY Museum in Albany
How Science Works
- Ethics in Science
- Interviewee: Columbia official who deals with misconduct in science.
- Reading list.
- Peer review & funding of science
- Guest scientists: one former NSF Program Manager and one current or former Journal Editor from among the L-DEO staff.
- Reading list.