Environmental Scientist. Writer. Mother.

Blog and News


Yellow Moral Hazard

Moral Hazard: It’s More than Economics, Stupid

I have spent much of my adult life trying to understand the science behind environmental issues. Like the cause-and-effect relationship between industrial effluent outfalls and subsurface contamination. Why, for example, …

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Between Faith and Religion: A Walk in the Woods

Spirit in Nature Interfaith Path Sanctuary, Ripton, Vermont. I’ve come here so that I might understand, so I might traverse a path with a religious name and not feel any …

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Am I an Environmental Hypochondriac?

I know that’s what you’re thinking. It would make sense, wouldn’t it? I am, after all, a somewhat anxious person. I worry more than I probably should about my kids’ ...
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alkalilakedrums

An Archeology Lesson: On What We Leave Behind

Today’s headlines are ablaze with exciting news: “Homo Naledi, A New Species in Human Lineage, Is Found in South African Cave,” says the New York Times. From NPR, “South African …

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The Heart of My Work

It’s been a long stretch between posts, I know. But I’m settled in Vermont now, (most of) the boxes have been unpacked, and the children are almost back to school. …

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MoonriseBend

Farewell Bend

A lot of us who live in Bend, Oregon aren’t originally from here. We ask each other, “Where are you from?” and “How did you end up in Bend?” I’m …

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Earth Day is an Essay

In my MFA program, creative nonfiction writers like myself were taught all about the origin of the essay — how its pioneer, Michel de Montaigne, coined the term from the …

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The Myth of Blaming Pandora

Chemicals are in the news again.  Earlier this month, the New York Times reported on new concerns regarding the health effects of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) — a class of chemicals …

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The Moral of Little Miss AWP

Let’s face it — a lot of us like to make fun of AWP.  There’s the silly tote bags and overpriced drinks at the hotel bar.  The geekish literary panels …

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Climate Change is the New Evolution

Last week, during his State of the Union Address, President Obama boldly stated, “No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change.”  He continued, noting that 2014 …

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