Bio

I started out as a photojournalist, but later earned a graduate degree in science writing from New York University's Science and Environmental Reporting Program. (See resume for more.)

Afterward, I went to Australia as a Fulbright Postgraduate Traveling Fellow, and supported myself as a freelance foreign correspondent. During my time there, I also taught a university writing course for young scientist grad students, in which I showed them how to write in plain English — or plain Australian — for the rest of us.

More recently, I gave seminars at New York University and at UMass-Dartmouth, and moderated a panel discussion called "Exotic Stories, Exotic Lands" at the annual meeting of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Panelists included editors from National Geographic, Discover, Scientific American, and the author of a prize-winning book on evolution.

I hosted a panel at UMass/Amherst in fall 2003, called "Risky Business: Travel/Adventure Writing for the Intrepid Freelancer."

If you want to know more about how I wound up down under — or want to see some tips about landing a Fulbright
— read the story here.