Earth & Environmental Science Journalism
Examples of Earth & Environmental Science Journalism Graduates' Work.
Legacy Site
This site documents work done by students who graduated between 1998 and 2011. Columbia’s Earth & Environmental Science Journalism program is not accepting new students at this time.
Here are some examples of work by graduates of the E&ESJ program. These examples were chosen because (a) they are accessible on the web, and (b) they demonstrate the range of kinds of work being done by E&ESJ graduates.
General Audience Magazines (print and online supplments):
- Epstein, D. The Future: Think performance enhancers are a problem now? Welcome to the era of the genetically engineered superathlete, Sports Illustrated , First published March, 2008. (Sports Illustrated Editor's Letter praises David Epstein's dual expertise in writing and science.)
- Epstein, D., Follow the trail of broken hearts - (A congenital abnormailty, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, has become a leading killer of young athletes in the US), Sports Illustrated , First published December 2007.
- Epstein, D., Sports & Global Warming: What if? - Muddy Slopes: With less snow falling and warmer temperatures making artificial snow an expensive alternative, World Cup races are being canceled and ski resorts from the Alps to the Poconos are suffering,Sports Illustrated , First published March 7, 2007.
- Patel, S., Diamond Rush: Nineteenth century wildcatters left their marks on Brazil's landscape, Archeology, First published March/April 2007.
- Patel, S., The slum and the sacred cave: Neglect overtakes one of Mumbai's most important Hindu sites, Archeology, First published May/June 2007.
- Patel, S., Purple Reign: How ancient How ancient Chinese chemists added color to the Emperor's army, Archeology, First published Sept/Oct 2007.
- Interlandi, J., What Addicts Need: Addiciton isn't a weakness, it's an illness. The hunt for an addition vaccine. Newsweek, cover story March 3, 2008.
- Interlandi, J., A daring choice of treatment, Newsweek online supplment, first published Sept. 12, 2007.
- Interlandi, J., A neverending story (Autism and vaccines), Newsweek online supplement, first published Sept. 27, 2007.
- Interlandi, J., High Stakes Science, Newsweek, first published Dec. 6, 2007.
- Schoenfeld, A. In metal houses, behind hanging cloth, Her Circle Ezine, First published Winter 2006.
Natural Science Focused Magazines (print and online supplments):
- Kumar, M., Alaska melting into the sea, Geotimes, First published Sept. 2007.
- Kumar, M., Monitoring the Sun: A global space weather enterprise, Space Weather Quarterly, First published Summer, 2007.
- Kumar, M., New detailed images of the sun, Eos, First published 2007.
- Lubick, N., Worms bear sludge load: Researchers find that perfumes and drugs bioconcentrate in earthworms collected from soils treated with biosolids and manure., Environ. Sci. & Technol., First published Feb 20, 2008.
- Lubick, N., Perchlorate widespread in U.S. southwest, Environ. Sci. & Technol., First published 2007.
- Lubick, N., Tiny filters fix big water problems, Environ. Sci. & Technol., First published 2007.
- Lubick, N., DDT's resurrection, Environ. Sci. & Technol., First published 2007.
- Lubick, N., Order matters in pesticide exposure, Environ. Sci. & Technol., First published 2007.
- Lubick, N., Dioxins and PCBs in rural areas, Environ. Sci. & Technol., First published 2007.
- Lubick, N., Rock Candy for Martians, Science, First published 2007.
- Nobel, J., Lean green cleaning machine: Is the dry cleaning world ready to wash its hands of its dirty practices, Plenty online feature, 2007.
- Nobel, J., Vegetables on board: New York's newest greenhouse is eco-friendly and it floats, Plenty online feature, 2007.
- Opar, A., Activists protest National Parks proposal to profit from microbes, Nature, First published 2007.
- Opar, A., Bad bugs need more drugs, Nature, First published 2007.
- Opar, A., All creatures great and small, Plenty, First published August/Sept 2007.
- Opar, A., The farmer in the high-rise, Plenty, First published February/March 2007.
- Reed, C., Hot trails: To fight global warming kiss the red-eye goodbye,Scientific American, First published September 2006.
- Reed, C., Martian field test, Scientific American, First published November 2006.
- Reed, C., Sequencing Sea World, Scientific American, First published August 2006.
- Reed, C. Boiling Point, Nature, First published February 2006.
- West, K., Rebuilding a volcano, Scientific American. First published August, 2005.
- Wright, L., Open space: Drilling into deep trouble, OnEarth, First published 2007.
- Wright, L., Looking deep, deep into your genes, OnEarth, First published Summer 2007.
- Wright, L., Costa Rica goes carbon neutral, OnEarth, First published Winter 2008.
Newspapers - print and online supplements:
- Brainard, C., Retreat or retrench, New York Times. First published June 9, 2005.
- Cappiello, D., Senators concerned ruling will lead to loss of offshore oil, gas royalties, Congressional Quarterly, Nov 6, 2007.
- Cappiello, D., Proponents of alternative-energy provisions vow to push again next year, Congressional Quarterly, Nov 6, 2007.
- Cappiello, D., Bush energy budget seeks more for nuclear power, coal, Congressional Quarterly, Feb. 4, 2008.
- Cappiello, D., Concerns roll in after oil-laden fog, Houston Chronicle, January 25, 2006.
- Cappiello, D., Hot water: Our bays are getting warmer which is a chilling thought for many who make their lives along the Texas coast, Houston Chronicle, February 5, 2006.
- Cappiello, D., What lies beneath: Thousands of miles of pipelines crisscross the Gulf Coast carrying volatile fuels, oil and gas. But nobody seems to know exactly where they are located, Houston Chronicle, Nov. 12, 2006.
- Charles, J., Grunions northern trek: Only a handful made it, Point Reyes Light, First published July 26. 2007.
- Charles, J., First release of birds after the oil spill,Point Reyes Light, First published Nov. 21. 2007.
- Charles, J., Fish friendly roads in the Valley, Point Reyes Light, First published June 14. 2007.
- Charles, J., Non-native dune grass thwarts dune's drift, Point Reyes Light, First published Nov 21, 2007.
- Charles, J., Long time emblem of city roofs, still going strong, New York Times, First published June 3, 2007.
- Fairfield, H., Pushing paper out the door, (Fairfield piece and graphic) , New York Times, First published Feb, 10, 2008.
- Fairfield, H., When carbon is currency, (Fairfield piece and graphic) , New York Times, First published May 6, 2007.
- Fiondella, F., Vitamin B-like choline seems to play critical role in development of the brain, The Wall Street Journal Online. First published October 26, 2004.
- Fiondella, F., Foreign adoptions add layer of health concerns, The Wall Street Journal, First published May 11, 2004.
- Fountain, K., An ice dance in the Arctic: CRREL team studies impact of wind on a frozen world, Valley News, May 21, 2007.
- Fountain, K., Biologists rely on hunters for fresh data, Valley News, First published November 28, 2005.
- Nobel, J. Why Bolinas boom failed, Point Reyes Light, First published Nov. 21, 2007.
- Patel, S., Museums use new tools to fix old work, New York Times. First published July 5, 2005.
- Patel, S., In a marsh, sifting the past and seeing the future, The New York Times. First published November 6, 2005.
- Rankin, A., Watchdogs: Lab deal missing cleanup, Albuquerque Journal News, First published March 28, 2005.
- Rankin, A., Pair studies native trout in an effort to restore population, Online edition of the Albuquerque Journal. First published September 25, 2005.
- Schoenfeld, A., Everyday items, complex chemistry, The New York Times. First published December 22, 2007.
Special Coverages:
Articles from an investigative five day series entitled In Harm's Way which ran in the Houston Chronicle in early 2005. The series was conceived of by Dina Cappiello who covered environmental issues at the Houston Chronicle from 2002-2007.
- Cappiello, D., In Harm's Way/What's in air today? No one knows. Houston Chronicle. First published: January 16, 2005.
- Cappiello, D., In Harm's Way/Retirees say they lived with risks too long. Houston Chronicle. First published: January 16, 2005.
- Cappiello, D., In Harm's Way/Anger, Worry, Skepticism motivate volunteers. Houston Chronicle. First Published: January 16, 2005.
- Cappiello, D., In Harm's Way/People living near industrial plants may not know what toxic chemicals they breathe every day. Houston Chronicle. First Published: January 16, 2005.
Link to a Dina Cappiello's Houston Chronicle blog during her week aboard the Research Vessek Gyre where she joined 21 scientists from texas A&M University and Louisiana State University hunting for "the dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Cappiello, D., Dead Zone Diary. Houston Chronicle. First Published May 20-26, 2005.
Web-based Publications:
- Bagley, K., The silent side of oil, Columbia Journalism Review, April 2, 2008.
- Epstein, D., A silver lining to our science struggles, SeedMagazine.com, June 26, 2006.
- Epstein, D., Going where no report has gone before (how did a National Academies manifesto get science on the Bush administration's agenda, SeedMagazine.com, March 16, 2006.
- Gawrylewski, A., Opening Pandora's Box: Will Panama's planned widening of the famed interocean canal spell ecological trouble?, TheScientist.com. First published October 1, 2007.
- Gawrylewski, A., Expanding evolutionary history, TheScientist.com. First published October 1, 2007.
- Patel, S., Tidal wave: Clean energy experiment surges forward, Citylimits.org. First published December 13, 2004.
- Graham, S., Big chill: An ambitious new project uses lake water to cool off city slickers, ScientificAmerican.com. First published September 27, 2004.
- Graham, S., Newborn cetaceans skip sleep for first month, ScientificAmerican.com. First published June 30, 2005.
- Graham, S., Deep impact collision provides comet clues, ScientificAmerican.com. First published July 6, 2005.
- Graham S., Predatory dinasaurs breathed like birds, study suggests, ScientificAmerican.com. First published July 14, 2005.
Special Media
Graphic displays of data and information are a critical piece of many publications. With publication space, and reader time in short supply, publications are finding that graphics and visual displays are an efficient way to convey complex ideas.
- Bronzan, J., Scientists detail climate change, poles to tropics, (Bronzan's graphic clip only ), New York Times. First published April 7, 2007.
- Bronzan, J., The tale of a dominant gene, (graphic clip only) , New York Times. First published March 18, 2006.
- Bronzan, J., Reports reveal hurricanes' impact on human landscape (Bronzan's graphic clip only ), New York Times. First published June 7, 2006.
- Bronzan, J., Diabetes and its awful toll quietly emerges as a crisis (Bronzan's graphic clip only), New York Times, First published January 6, 2006.
- Bronzan, J., Tracing human history with Genetics (Bronzan graphic clip only), New York Times, First published December 10, 2006.
- Bronzan, J., Coming soon, 9 million stories in the crowded city (Bronzan graphic clip only), New York Times, First published February 19, 2006.
Multimedia journalism pieces have developed prominance as an extension of print journalism. Follow up investigation and in depth interviews to investigative pieces are often presented as video clips or narrated slide presentations.
- Graham, S. The Climate Divide, New York Times. First published April 2, 2007.
- Graham, S., Gateway to antiquity: Archaeologists are trying to restore a monument at Shunet el-Zebib in Egypt that was a shrine to King Khasekhemwy from 2780 B.C., New York Times. First published January 8, 2007.
- Graham, S., Rerouting a River, New York Times. First published September 18, 2006.
- Graham, S., Unravelling a Genetic Mystery, New York Times. First published March 20, 2006.
- Graham, S., A Marsh Mess, New York Times. First published November 14, 2005.
Outreach For Science Initiatives and Science Institutions:
- Kumar, M., Climate change in Greenland: Past and present, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Alumni and Friends News, 2007.
- Pratt, S., Frozen in time: A cold war relic gives up its secrets, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Website. First published November 28, 2005.
- West, K., GPS reveals slow movement in Western US. Earthscope, First published November 11, 2002.
- West, K. Studying volcanoes under the EarthScope. Earthscope, First published December 30, 2002.
- West, K. The day Denali moved, Earthscope. First published January 23, 2003.
- West, K. US Array and the Great Plains: A Pre-EARTHSCOPE Workshop, Earthscope. First published February 13, 2003.
Book Contributions:
- Kostel, K., Chapters in State of the Wild 2006: Reflecting back, looking ahead. Published by Wildlife Conservation Society, Island Press, December 2005:
- New conservation methods and technologies, pgs. 20-21
- Regulating the wild, pgs. 22-25
- Africa, pgs. 36-44
- Asia, pgs. 45-51
- Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, pgs. 52-57
- Middle East and North Africa, pgs. 69-71
- West, K. The Elements: Bromine, Published 2007.
- West, K. Biofeedback, Published 2007.
- West, K. Series with Rosen Publshing Group, Published 2006.
- Critical Perspectives on Environmental Protection
- Critical Perspectives on the Ocean
- Underwater warfare of the future
- West, K., Series of children's books on Earth systems and Geosciences. Published by Powerkids Press August 1, 2002.
- Hands-On Projects About Oceans
- Hands-On Projects About Weather and Climate
- Hands-On Projects About Changes in the Earth
- Hands-On Projects About Earth and Space
- Hands-On Projects About Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils
- Hands-On Projects About Saving the Earth's Resource
Radio Clips
- Lubick, N. "New ant species discovered" (discovery of Adeeda merma in the forest of Madagascar by Brian Fisher, California Academy of Sciences; 1:30; Jan. 2001), Environmental News Network, ENN.com.
- Lubick, N. "Ant evolution" (Brian Fisher of the California Academy of Sciences talks about the evolutionary implications of discovering Adeeda merma; 1:30; Jan. 2001), Environmental News Network, ENN.com
- Rankin, A. "Dusty Coral" (How microbes from Saharan Desert dust might be implicated in the health of Caribbean coral reefs. Dec. 30, 2001), Earth & Sky radio series.
- Rankin, A. "Life's Formula" (Studying Earth to understand more about the possibility of life on another planet. Dec. 18, 2001), Earth & Sky radio series.
- Rankin, A. "Changing Arctic Wind" (The effect of greenhouse gases on an Arctic wind pattern that helps regulate cold polar air reaching heavily populated areas of the northern hemisphere. Nov. 29, 2001), Earth & Sky radio series.
E&ESJ Program
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
61 Route 9W
Dept. of Earth & Environmental Sciences
106 Geoscience Building
Palisades, NY 10964
845.365.8550