alumni notes Archives - Knight Science Journalism @MIT

by Anna Cass / December 4th 2025 / Alumni News

Alumni Notes: A Bounty of Books and Breaking News

Former fellows of the Knight Science Journalism have been hard at work reporting stories that reveal how science impacts lives around the world. From unchecked garbage fires to academic freedom, our alumni are telling the stories that link science to policy, and the everyday impacts on communities. Read on for compelling coverage of science, whether it’s explaining the past or shaping the future.

An Eye on Science Policy

Emily Foxhall (‘25) moved back to Texas after her KSJ fellowship in June. Shortly after, on July 4, she was dispatched to report on the deadly flooding that struck a region of the state known as Hill Country. She says she hasn’t stopped covering the disaster since “because there are so many important aspects to it: How the flood traumatized people; how local leaders were unprepared; how Texans continue to live and develop in risky areas.” Over the course of two months, Foxhall reported this story about the unfathomable grief one couple is working through after losing their daughters and parents to the flood. She has also reported bereaved parents seeking policy change after their children died at summer camp, the lack of federal disaster help, and politicians weaponizing the flood response in a redistricting battle.

In July, Laura Bliss (‘23) published an investigation in Bloomberg Businessweek that uncovered the toxic consequences of trash smoldering beneath the surface of landfills in California and the efforts by the waste industry to avoid regulation in this area. In response, California regulators proposed new regulations that would address landfill fires. Then, in late November, the California Air Resources Board voted to adopt new landfill regulations, including provisions designed to lower the risk of landfill fires.

Teresa Carr (‘18) conducted an investigation on marijuana regulation for Undark, supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Foundation. The story took her from cannabis farms in Oregon to meetings between activists and regulators at the Oklahoma state capitol exploring how mislabeled and contaminated marijuana wind up on dispensary shelves. With help from Aleszu Bajak (‘13), who analyzed data obtained from open records requests, the story documents how testing labs are at the center of quality issues and how a few states are beefing up the scientific infrastructure necessary to keep better tabs on quality.

Mićo Tatalović (‘18) has been reporting for Science, Chemistry World, Science Business on an unfolding situation in Serbia. Students there have been involved in mass demonstrations against corruption for a full year now, which has affected research faculties but has been backed by academics on the whole. The government has issued policies that Tatalovic says curtail academic freedoms, and that academics see as “revenge” for supporting students. One such policy he reported on limited paid research time to just one hour a day, effectively blocking access to most big international grants. His most recent reports detail the European Union’s rebuke of the government actions.

Venkatesh Hariharan (‘99) wrote a piece for the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) on how countries with different levels of AI capabilities can think through their AI strategies. He says his KSJ fellowship influenced his approach: “I tried to cut through the enormous hype around LLMs and companies like OpenAI and offer a pragmatic path forward for all those concerned about the future of AI. At KSJ my goal was to look at technologies that can advance development and democratise access to knowledge. After talking to hundreds of technologists at MIT and Harvard, I came to the conclusion that open source software was that key technology. Since then, I have been an evangelist for open access and open source software.”

Achievements and Accolades

Rebecca Boyle (’22), Iván Carrillo (’17), and Nicola Twilley (’21) were named recipients of the 2025 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, presented by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in partnership with Schmidt Sciences. The awards honour science journalists, scientists and communicators for creative, original work that articulates scientific, engineering and medical advances to the public. These alumni swept the “Science Journalist: Freelancer” category — Carillo and Twilley as winners and Boyle as the top prize winner. A total of 24 awards were issued across eight categories.

Tasmiha Khan (‘22) is a 2025-26 Solutions Journalism Network’s Youth Building & Belonging Fellow. The yearlong program is based on the principle that “instead of only supporting healing from harm, true youth mental health solutions should aim to build lasting well-being and belonging.” The fellowship supports 10 U.S. journalists in reporting on what’s working to support well-being, economic mobility, and social connection among young people. Khan is also a member of the 2025 cohort of Nova Media Fellows.The Nova Media Fellows program supports outstanding print, digital, and broadcast journalists and nonprofit newsrooms reporting on the complex, intertwined factors that affect health and well-being.

Eva Wolfangel (‘20) was in South Africa at the World Conference of Science Journalists offering a session on Artificial Intelligence in Journalism. Wolfangel described the context that drove her to propose the session, “AI is transforming journalism – but not always in ways we like. Some see it as a powerful tool, others as an existential threat. As newsrooms shrink and AI is increasingly used to cut costs, we’re witnessing entire magazines produced by machines: quickly, but often poorly.” The WCSJ session covered how AI can empower journalists, where it undermines the craft, and how journalists can defend quality reporting without rejecting innovation. Wolfangel is glad to have had the opportunity to present, “as someone who has been working on AI for many years, I believe this is a conversation we urgently need to have. It’s vital that we, as journalists, help shape how this technology is used rather than being shaped by it.”

Mićo Tatalović (‘18) was awarded a Maria Leptin|EMBO Science Journalism Fellowship this autumn with a placement at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, UK. The 3-month fellowship supports science journalists who wish to deepen and broaden their knowledge of life and associated sciences. It is run by the European Molecular Biology Organization and funded by a private donation from Professor Maria Leptin, the president of the European Research Council. Tatalović focused on astrophysics and astrobiology, and also on other areas of cutting-edge science.

Pamela Ferdinand (‘04) is covering commercial determinants of health for the journalism nonprofit U.S. Right to Know, where she helped launch their Healthwire project. Healthwire is designed to bring health-related news based on reputable research studies to mainstream readers. All of their articles are available for republishing anywhere in the world, for free.

June Kinoshita (‘92) “retired” after twelve years at the FSHD Society, a research-focused patient advocacy nonprofit, to start a new project that aims to bring local journalism back to the city of Waltham, Massachusetts. She reports, “I co-founded The Waltham Times in 2024 and am thrilled to be back in journalism as we explore the nonprofit model for sustainable local news. I’m proud that we’re producing a real city news publication with a team of incredible volunteers and freelance reporters. Every day is an adventure!”

Additions to the KSJ Bookshelf

Sam Bloch (‘22) published his first book “Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource,” this summer. The nonfiction book was supported by his KSJ project fellowship. Bloch examines the key role that shade plays not only in protecting human health and enhancing urban life, but also looks toward the ways that innovative architects, city leaders, and climate entrepreneurs are looking to revive it to protect vulnerable people — and maybe even save the planet.

Melanie D.G. Kaplan (‘22) spent her project fellowship with KSJ working on the book “Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research,” which was published in October. Kaplan adopted her beagle Hammy after he had spent nearly four years in a research lab, and she was curious to know about his past and the broader world of animal research. The book takes readers on Kaplan’s quest for answers, and includes plenty of Hammy in the pages as well. She recalls “introducing Hammy to former KSJ director Deb Blum, who helped make this happen,” as a reporting trip highlight.

Meera Subramanian (‘17) collaborated with illustrator Danica Novgorodoff to create “A Better World Is Possible: Global Youth Confront the Climate Crisis,” a nonfiction graphic novel for a young adult audience that will be published by First Second Books, a Macmillan imprint, on March 3, 2026. It features four real-life youth climate activists and the forces that shaped their recognition of the climate crisis. Throughout the stories are deeply researched and fact-checked interludes that explore climate science, environmental justice, biodiversity, and more, along with— of course—solutions. The book is already a Junior Library Guild selection, and received a blurb from John Green, who called it “an urgent, helpful, and hopeful portrait of what’s possible….” Subramanian is currently an Environmental Justice Community Impact Fellow at Boston University’s Center for Media Innovation for Social Impact, where her project is to bring the book to a wider audience.

The latest book from Hillary Rosner (‘11), “ROAM: Wild Animals and the Race to Repair Our Fractured World” came out in October as well. In it, Rosner examines how human infrastructure and actions have made it increasingly hard for other species to move around the planet, and explores efforts to knit the natural world back together. Part environmental investigation, part personal journey, the book makes the case for restoring lost connections and learning to co-exist with our wild neighbors.

A third book from David Stipp (’94), “Why Rats Laugh & Jellyfish Sleep: And Other Enchanting Stories of Evolution,” was published in September by Timber Press. The book is based on the idea that Mother Nature (aka natural selection) has strewn arresting puzzles all around us in the form of adaptations that cry out for elucidation. By examining questions posed by familiar creatures — such as why rats laugh, bumblebees sometimes turn cannibalistic, and earthworms socialize — it argues that the Darwinian whydunit is science’s best answer to the enticing whodunit, and that there’s no better way to get in touch with, and treasure the living world than by looking at it through a Darwinian lens.

What We’re Writing

The following compendium includes a sample of recent alumni stories curated by Federico Kukso (‘16):

Fabiana Cambricoli (‘25): “Scientists discover new coronavirus in Brazilian bats with traits similar to the COVID-19 virus,” in Portuguese, Estadao.

Yarden Michaeli (‘25): “Starvation Is Everywhere’: Virtual Tours of Gaza Clinics Expose the Scale of the Horror,” Haaretz.

Anil Oza (‘25): “Amid attacks on such work, NIH-led research links structural racism to increased heart disease,” STAT.

Ahmad Gamal Saad-Eddin (‘25): “Chemistry and Its Surroundings: A New Definition of Emptiness,” Nature Middle East.

Sharon Muzaki (Africa Middle East Fellow ‘24): “Building Africa’s next generation of vaccine scientists,” Nature Africa.

Jessica Hamzelou (‘24): “Here’s why we don’t have a cold vaccine. Yet,” MIT Technology Review.

Kai Kupferschmidt (‘24): “Cold storage: On an Arctic archipelago, frozen soil may preserve a hidden history of viruses,” Science.

Wojciech Brzeziński (’23): “Space Craft: What Makes Poland Shine in Orbit,” in Polish, Tygodnik Powszechny.

Melanie D.G. Kaplan (‘22): “Trump’s Animal-Research Plan Has a Missing Step: No one is tracking the total number of animals used across U.S. labs,” The Atlantic.

Jared Whitlock (‘21): “In China, a low-cost push to rival a life-saving, $2M medicine,” Endpoints News.

Richard Fisher (‘20): “‘The most desolate place in the world’: The sea of ice that inspired Frankenstein,” BBC.

Tim De Chant (‘19): “How one founder plans to save cities from flooding with terraforming robots,” TechCrunch.

Rowan Jacobsen (‘18): “Chasing photons in pursuit of a good night’s sleep,” Harper’s Magazine.

Federico Kukso (‘16): “How dinosaurs developed enormous bodies and long necks,” in Spanish, Agencia SINC.

Betsy Mason (‘16): “The Coyote Next Door,” bioGraphic Magazine.

Rod McCullom (‘16): “Fresh Insights Into the Stubborn Problem of Lead Water Pipes,” Undark.

Giovana Girardi (‘15): “Climate Disasters Are Traumatizing Brazil’s Children,” The Nation.

Yves Sciama (‘14): “‘Invasive species’: what if we stopped using warlike and xenophobic terms?” in French, Mediapart.

Amanda Gefter (‘13): “Finding Peter Putnam: The forgotten janitor who discovered the logic of the mind,” Nautilus Magazine.

Eli Kintisch (‘12): “Iranian missile strike devastates two buildings at Israel’s Weizmann Institute,” Science.

Esther Nakkazi (‘08): “Chronic respiratory diseases and inhalers in Africa,” The Lancet: Respiratory Medicine.

Valeria Román (‘05): “Alert in Latin America over the silent advance of kidney disease,” in Spanish, Infobae.

Claudio Angelo (‘04) with climate policy specialists Caroline Prolo, Eduardo Viola: “What Now, André?” Piauí Magazine.

Steve Nadis (‘98): “A New Geometry for Einstein’s Theory of Relativity,” Quanta Magazine.

by Knight Science Journalism / August 11th 2025 / Alumni News

Alumni Notes: A Flurry of Achievements, In Print and on Air

Whether reporting on catastrophic flooding and erosion, diving deep into the science of headaches, or taking home some of journalism’s most prestigious honors, Knight Science Journalism Fellows have been breaking new ground in storytelling, documenting the world with nuance and clarity, and making a difference with their journalism in recent months. Here’s what some of our esteemed alumni have been up to:

High-Profile Projects

Thiago Medaglia (’20) and his team at Ambiental Media recently launched an Extreme Rainfall Vulnerability Index for Rio de Janeiro — a data-driven tool using satellite imagery and AI to identify where the city is most vulnerable to floods and landslides. The index, published with support from the Pulitzer Center, is part of Rio 60°C, a collaboration between Ambiental’s journalists and researchers from the Fluminense Federal University in Brazil. And the findings are urgent: Ambiental reports that nearly 600,000 homes — or 21 percent of Rio — are in areas of high vulnerability to disasters resulting from rainfall, with historically underserved communities most affected. The project is open, accessible, and designed to inform both the public and decision-makers.

Ambiental is an award-winning newsroom, with global recognition from WAN-IFRA and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Melanie D.G. Kaplan (’22) earned two bylines in the Spring 2025 issue of National Parks Magazine: “From Sea Scrap to Sculpture: Artists Transform Marine Debris Into Art, Educating National Park Visitors in the Process” and “A Cape Crisis: An update on the collapsing houses at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.” She was also interviewed for the podcast “The Secret Lives of Parks” about the Cape Hatteras story.

The Cape Hatteras story was an update on a piece Kaplan wrote in 2023. “From when I first started reporting on coastal erosion at Cape Hatteras National Seashore for my first feature, I kept an eye on the privately owned homes that were collapsing onto the beach in Rodanthe, North Carolina,” Kaplan said. “After the article came out in 2023, I kept seeing news alerts for toppling houses — six gave way in 2024 alone. So I was glad to be able to write an update this spring — and also to report that the NPS has been working on a pilot project to purchase some of these threatened homes before they fall into the water and end up in pieces, on the beach and in ocean.”

Nicky Twilley (’21) and Cynthia Graber (‘13) recently traveled to Mexico to gather reporting for a series of Gastropod episodes — with the help of incoming KSJ Fellow, Rodrigo Perez Ortega. The first episode to come out of that reporting, “Feasting with Montezuma: Food and Farming in a Floating City,” is now available for streaming; it features axolotls, chinampas, and delicious pre-Hispanic tacos. “This was particularly fun because it demonstrates the power of collaboration between KSJ Fellows past and present,” said Twilley. “We couldn’t have made this episode without Rodrigo!”

Vivien Marx (’98) published the story “Their Personal Paths in Science,” in Nature Methods in May. The piece, about the many pressures scientists face, including those related to identity, was accompanied by an added resource list about transgender scientists. “It has been so moving to hear their perspectives,” Marx said of the scientists she interviewed for the story. “Troubling, certainly, but also empowering — at least I hope so.”

Marx said she was happy she could share with others what these researchers say and what they are experiencing. “It’s been a while since my time as a KSJ fellow,” she said, “but I do think the fellowship showed me there is a network of us science journos and it gave me stamina and muscle for these kinds of situations.”

Lindsay Gellman (’21) graced the front page of The New York Times in May, with her investigation into an unscrupulous Alzheimer’s treatment plan: “An Expensive Alzheimer’s Lifestyle Plan Offers False Hope, Experts Say.”

Mark Harris (‘14) is a consultant producer, narrator, and interviewee for the new feature-length documentary “Titan: The OceanGate Disaster,” which examines the events leading up to the infamous submersible tragedy. The documentary is available on Netflix.

New on the Bookshelf

Christoph Droesser (’94) has a new children’s book out, called “Einmal Zukunft und Zurück,” or “To the Future and Back,” published in German by Gabriel. It’s about how hard it is to predict the future, and includes some predictions for the next 50 years, their likelihood rated with a “futurometer.” Droesser presented the book at a public event on March 2 in the “Futurium” museum in Berlin.

“Einmal Zukunft und Zurück” is Droesser’s fifth children’s book; he began writing in the genre six years ago. His previous book “100 Kinder” (“100 children”) was awarded the German Youth Literature Prize.

In June, Droesser wrote a piece for the kids’ page of Die Zeit called “Jetzt fahr ich!” (“Now I’m driving!”), about the experience of letting his 13-year-old son take a Waymo ride alone (but closely followed by Droesser in his own car). Europeans and most Americans “are still thrilled by the idea of self-driving cars, while San Franciscans don’t even turn their heads when an empty Waymo comes by,” Droesser said. “And they even put their kids into those cars and let them ride alone.”

Tom Zeller Jr. (‘14) takes on one of the most maligned conditions known to medicine in his debut book, “The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction―and a Search for Relief,” published in July. Guided by Zeller’s own struggle with cluster headaches, the book explores the science behind migraines, clusters, and other forms of chronic head pain that affect 40 percent of the population but have gone vastly under-researched.

In a review for the Wall Street Journal, Brandy Schillace wrote that “Mr. Zeller provides the best articulation of what cannot be fully communicated.” What the book offers, “most powerfully, is testimony,” Schillace added. “It is not merely a headache, and it deserves our attention.”

In July, Zeller also wrote the related essay, “Why Do Headaches Feel So Different From Other Kinds of Pain?” for Undark Magazine, where he is Editor-In-Chief.

Wojtek Brzezinski (’23) published his latest book, “Co to będzie? Krótki przewodnik po końcach świata” (“Gracious, What Now? A Brief Guide to the End of the World”), in June. Brzezinski was also named the new editor of the Polish Academy of Sciences’ news website, “Academia.”

The latest book from Jason Bittel (‘21), “Grizzled: Love Letters to 50 of North America’s Least Understood Animals,” will be published in March 2026 by National Geographic/Penguin. “This book is very much a product of the KSJ program,” Jason said. “Not only from what I learned there, but also the mentorship of Deborah Blum, as well as the support of my KSJ class, truly sustained me during the very, very long pipeline from pitching to publishing.”

Plaudits and Prizes:

Caty Arevalo (‘14), along with four colleagues at EFE Ciencia — Noemi Gomez, Elena Camacho, Carmen Rodriguez and Raul Casado — have won the CSIC-BBVA Foundation for Scientific Communication Award, the most prestigious science journalism award in Spain. The jury cited the EFE Ciencia team for a journalism job done with excellence, integrity, and dedication, and added that Arevalo and her colleagues have spent more than two decades explaining to readers the relevance of scientific findings without getting carried away by flashy or controversial headlines.

“I am particularly proud of being part of a mostly women team, believing that communicating science effectively, without getting hysterical for the clickbait, is key for the kind of journalism that contributes to a better world,” Said Arevalo. “I am happy that those who nominated us for the award and the jury share that appreciation.”

The CSIC-BBVA Foundation for Scientific Communication Award is given annually by Spain’s National Research Council (CSIC) and the BBVA Foundation, and it comes with a prize of 40,000 euros. An award ceremony will be held in October at the CSIC headquarters in Madrid.

Yarden Michaeli (’25) was shortlisted for the prestigious European Press Prize, in the innovation category, for his digital project “Road to Redemption: How Israel’s War Against Hamas Turned Into a Springboard for Jewish Settlement in Gaza.”

Jyoti Madhusoodanan (’21) was awarded the American Association of Cancer Research June Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism in April. Madhusoodanan won in the magazine category for her Scientific American article, “These Cancers Were Beyond Treatment — But Might Not Be Anymore.”

What We’re Writing

The following compendium includes a sample of recent alumni stories curated by Federico Kukso (‘16):

Yarden Michaeli (’25): “Pasta Won’t Help. Gaza Is on the Brink of an Exponential Surge in Starvation Deaths,” Haaretz.

Kai Kupferschmidt (‘24): “Will long-lasting HIV preventive be a game changer — or a missed opportunity?” Science.

Peter Whoriskey (‘24): “The billionaire betting on crypto — and the skeptic betting against him,” The Washington Post.

Jessica Hamzelou (‘23): “We’re learning more about what weight-loss drugs do to the body,” MIT Technology Review.

Andrada Fiscutean (‘20): “How organizations can secure their AI-generated code,” CSO.

Richard Fisher (‘20): “What style of curiosity do you practise?,” Psyche.

Tim De Chant (‘19): “Final GOP bill kneecaps renewables and hydrogen but lifts nuclear and geothermal,” TechCrunch.

Jeff DelViscio (‘19): “What Greenland’s Ancient Past Reveals about Its Fragile Future,” Scientific American.

Rachel E. Gross (‘19): “Sex Hormones Are Brain Hormones. What Does This Mean for Treating Brain Diseases?” The New York Times.

Teresa Carr (‘18): “This Automatic Pill Dispenser Makes Sure My Mom Takes the Right Pills at the Right Time,” The New York Times.

Mićo Tatalović (‘18): “Serbia limits academics’ research time to just one hour a day,” Chemistry World.

Jane Qiu (‘18): “Inside the thriving wild-animal markets that could start the next pandemic” and “An animal source of mpox emerges — and it’s a squirrel,” Nature; “From ‘Frankenstein Science’ to Cosmopolitan Ethics: Overlooked Perspectives on the ‘CRISPR Babies’ Scandal,” The CRISPR Journal; “The Covid ‘lab leak’ theory isn’t just a rightwing conspiracy — pretending that’s the case is bad for science,” The Guardian.

Anja Krieger (‘16): “How (Not) to Make a Plastics Treaty — Nothing is Agreed Until Everything is Agreed,” Plastisphere Podcast.

Federico Kukso (‘16): “The Way of the Dog: How This Beloved Animal Conquered the American Continent,” in Spanish, Agencia SINC.

Betsy Mason (’16): “The Coyote Next Door,” bioGraphic.

Rod McCullom (‘16): “Norway Is All In on Electric Cars. What Can the U.S. Learn?,” Undark.

Giovana Girardi (‘15): “When fear of violence meets stress from extreme heat,” in Portuguese, Agência Pública.

Yves Sciama (‘14): “Oysters, sparse survivors of forgotten marine forests,” in French, Mediapart.

Alister Doyle (‘12): “My tiny contribution to Harvard: an English accent,” Medium.

Valeria Román (‘05): “There is concern about the risk of more cases of rabies in animals in Latin America,” in Spanish, Infobae.

by Eva Wolfangel / June 12th 2025 / Guest Posts

Under Attack: How Journalists Can Defend Themselves Against Digital Threats

Red and black glitching pattern over cell phones.

Editor’s Note: The Knight Science Journalism Program has often found that the best resource we can offer science journalists is the opportunity to learn from each other. This piece is the first in an intermittent series written by former Knight Science Journalism Fellows sharing their expertise for the benefit of others in the field.

In recent months, an alarming number of journalists and activists have been stopped at borders, pressured to hand over their devices, or subjected to other forms of surveillance. Some have faced heightened scrutiny from state actors eager to access their data. Increasingly, governments and spies want to know what journalists are working on, who their sources are, and what stories they are uncovering. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we journalists take digital security seriously. Protecting our data isn’t just about personal privacy, it is about protecting the very foundation of democracy.

Protecting yourself also protects those around you. If an attacker compromises your email for example, they can send convincing phishing emails to your colleagues. Hackers who gain access to an account within a major media organization can often move deeper into the system, potentially spying on colleagues and causing even greater widespread harm.

The good news is that you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. Even a few simple, practical steps can make a huge difference. Good security isn’t about perfection. You don’t have to master technical jargon or adhere to long lists of security measures. I’ve been researching cybercrime for many years. Based on that experience, here are seven practical and realistic tips that can deliver a lot of protection with minimal effort. Want to go deeper? Look at one of the many resources linked in this article to delve into the details of digital security and learn even more ways to protect yourself.

1. Keep Your Device Lean and Up to Date

One of the simplest but most crucial rules is: Keep everything updated. When a company such as Microsoft or Apple releases a security patch for an app or parts of the operating system, the accompanying notes will typically explain vulnerabilities in the previous versions of the software. As a result, attackers know exactly which vulnerabilities they can target in outdated systems. I know of at least one major institution that fell victim to ransomware simply because they were a few minutes too slow to update a vulnerability in their operating system.

The next rule follows naturally: The fewer apps and programs you have, the fewer vulnerabilities you’re likely to have on your device. Every additional piece of software is a potential weak spot, so uninstall what you don’t need.

2. Use Secure Authentication

Passwords should be long — ideally, a full sentence. This makes them significantly harder to crack using raw computing power. If the system allows, write out an entire phrase. Always use a unique password for every service. A password manager can help.

Even more important is two-factor authentication, or 2FA. Yes, it’s an extra step, but using an authenticator app like FreeOTP or Google Authenticator makes it exponentially harder for attackers to take over your accounts.

3. Be Cautious with Emails and Attachments

Emails are still one of the easiest ways to get hacked. Just because an email appears to be from a trusted source doesn’t mean it actually is. Even if the sender’s address is an exact match, be cautious with attachments. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails, and if a website asks you to enter your credentials, double-check the URL carefully — attackers often create fake login pages to steal passwords. When in doubt, I often verify a message’s authenticity with the sender through another communication channel, such as Signal.

If an attachment isn’t sensitive — a press release, for example — I sometimes upload it to VirusTotal, a Google-owned service that scans files with multiple antivirus programs. You can also paste links for them to check. But be careful — anything you upload to VirusTotal is accessible to others, including security firms and intelligence agencies and all other paying customers of Virustotal, who could also theoretically read the documents.

4. Use Secure Messengers (and Reduce Email Dependence)

Email encryption is complicated, and most people don’t use it. That’s why I rely more and more on encrypted messengers like Signal and Threema. They offer end-to-end encryption by default, and you don’t even need a phone number to register.

I also publish my Signal and Threema ID to make it easy for sources to reach me securely. This reduces reliance on email, which remains a high-risk tool. However, it is important to note that one major vulnerability of these apps is the people using them. For example, the usernames are not restricted, which means that if a high-ranking government official suddenly writes to you, it could be a scam — or a mistake on the part of the official, as in the case of Atlantic Editor Jeffrey Goldberg and then-National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. In addition, if attackers have infiltrated the smartphone hosting the app, they can intercept all communications. This is why particularly secure, controlled devices are usually used for highly sensitive communications, ideally in a tap-proof environment.

5. Avoid Public Wi-Fi (or Use a VPN)

Public Wi-Fi is risky, no matter how legitimate it looks. Attackers can easily create fake networks that look like “Free Airport Wi-Fi” or “Starbucks Guest Wi-Fi.” Connecting to one could give them access to your surfing data.

I personally use mobile data whenever possible. A large data plan (e.g., 30 GB per month) allows me to avoid public Wi-Fi entirely, even for video calls. If you must use public Wi-Fi, don’t let your device automatically connect to networks, enable “hide my device” mode, and use a trusted VPN (in my case Mullvad) to encrypt your traffic.

6. Protect Your Devices Physically

Digital security measures are essential, but physical access to your devices can undermine even the best defenses. In trains and other public spaces, I use a privacy screen to prevent shoulder-surfing. When I stay in hotels, I almost never leave my laptop in the room, to minimize the chances of someone gaining unauthorized access. If I must leave my laptop, I place a cable or other object in a specific position on the device and take a photo before I leave. When I return, I compare the scene to my photo to check if anything has been moved. Simple precautions like this can help you notice if someone has tried to access your equipment.

7. Turn Off Your Phone Regularly

In a typical attack, the malware that gives the attacker access to the phone operates in a device’s temporary memory, and if the victim restarts the phone, the attacker will lose access. Of course, this won’t stop the most advanced attacks, like so-called zero-click exploits, which don’t require any action from the target, such as clicking a link or opening an attachment, because attacker can easily re-infect the phone after it’s rebooted. However, more sophisticated attacks are much more expensive to carry out, which makes them less likely.

If you will be crossing a border, that is another reason to shut off your phone. Just because your phone is locked, that doesn’t mean your data is encrypted. At border crossings, authorities often have tools to extract data. However, if your phone is switched off, the data is encrypted and harder to access with these forensic tools. It’s worth noting that authorities can still try to make you enter the passcode. Non-US citizens can be denied entry at US borders if they refuse to comply with requests to unlock phones or provide passwords, even without a warrant. Nevertheless, the Electronic Frontier Foundation recommends that travelers power off their devices and disable biometric unlocking methods before crossing the U.S. border to better protect their data from warrantless searches. The EFF offers various travel and pocket guides to help individuals safeguard their digital privacy when crossing international borders.

One Last Thought: Stay Vigilant, But Don’t Panic

When dealing with security, it’s easy to become paranoid, or worse, overwhelmed, which is especially dangerous because feeling powerless leads to inaction.

There is no absolute security. But if you follow these steps, you are already far ahead of most targets. And always trust your instincts — if something seems off, investigate. Organizations like Citizen Lab Amnesty International’s Security Lab, and Reporters Without Borders help journalists and media organizations targeted by digital threats. The goal of this article is to highlight the key steps that can significantly improve your digital security. While this guide is designed for everyday use, those in high-risk or conflict situations may want to seek out more specialized advice tailored to their needs. So most importantly: Don’t hesitate to ask for help.

More Cyber Security Guides for Journalists

Freedom Press Foundation: The 2025 Journalist’s Digital Security Checklist

Reporters Without Borders Helpdesk: Digital Security Guides

Global Investigative Journalism Network: Introduction to Digital Security

Center for News, Technology & Innovation: Journalists & Cyber Threats

ACOS (A Culture Of Safety Alliance): Digital Security Resource

Eva Wolfangel (KSJ ’20) is based in Germany.

by Knight Science Journalism / May 12th 2025 / Announcements

Usha Lee McFarling Named Director of the Knight Science Journalism Program

Photo courtesy of Usha Lee McFarling

The Knight Science Journalism Program (KSJ) at MIT has announced that Usha Lee McFarling, national science correspondent for STAT and former KSJ fellow, will be joining the team in August as their next director.

As director, McFarling will play a central role in helping to manage KSJ — an elite mid-career fellowship program that brings prominent science journalists from around the world for 10 months of study and intellectual exploration at MIT, Harvard University, and other institutions in the Boston area.

“I’m eager to take the helm during this critical time for science journalism, a time when journalism is under attack both politically and economically and misinformation — especially in areas of science and health — is rife,” says McFarling. “My goal is for the program to find even more ways to support our field and its practitioners as they carry on their important work.”

Usha McFarling stands in front of a sign reading "Geographic South Pole." She is wearing a thick red jacket and thick fluffy gloves and holding a "Boston Sunday Globe" newspaper. — McFarling at the geographic South Pole in 1995 during a visit to U.S. Antarctic research stations for a reporting trip on polar science for the Boston Globe. Credit: Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register

McFarling is a veteran science writer, most recently working for STAT News. She previously reported for the Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Knight Ridder Washington Bureau, and the San Antonio Light, and was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow in 1992-93. McFarling graduated from Brown University with a degree in biology in 1988 and later earned a master’s degree in biological psychology from UC Berkeley.

Her work on the diseased state of the world’s oceans earned the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism and a Polk Award, among others. Her coverage of health disparities at STAT has earned an Edward R. Murrow award, and awards from the Association of Health Care Journalists, and the Asian American Journalists Association. In 2024, she was awarded the Victor Cohn prize for excellence in medical science reporting and the Bernard Lo, MD award in bioethics.

Ush McFarling sits on a pile of stone looking at a field guide, she is wearing tall rubber boots and a field jacket. Behind her in some tall grass, people are standing over an animal that has recently died. — McFarling, with walrus hunters, on a reporting assignment for the Los Angeles Times in 2002 to gauge how climate change was affecting Inuit communities in the Russian Arctic. Credit: Kevin P. Casey

McFarling will succeed director Deborah Blum, who served as director for 10 years. Blum, also a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and the best-selling author of six books, is retiring to return to a full-time writing career. She will join the board of Undark, the magazine she helped found while at KSJ, and continue as a board member of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, among others.

“It’s been an honor to serve as director of the Knight Science Journalism program for the past ten years and a pleasure to be able to support the important work that science journalists do,” Blum says. “And I know that under the direction of Usha McFarling — who brings such talent and intelligence to the job — that KSJ will continue to grow and thrive in all the best ways.”

Announcement originally published by the MIT Program in Science, Technology, and Society.

by Anna Cass / March 28th 2025 / Alumni News

Alumni Notes: Stepping Up for Science

Visual from the Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force. *Photo* Credit: Elena Gladilina

Protecting Wildlife

Erich Hoyt (‘86) received the honor of Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2025 British New Year’s Day Honors “for services to marine conservation,” noting his writing and research into whales. As co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, Hoyt is engaged in a long-term project with more than 350 scientists to map whale and other marine mammal habitats and offer the peer-reviewed results in a hands-on spatial tool called “Important Marine Mammal Areas.” Since 2013, the team has examined 80 percent of the global ocean. The data is cited by environmental investigation agencies and maritime organizations and is used in everything from ship rerouting to marine protected area proposals.

Hoyt also writes popular science books, encouraging public interest in the species he works to protect. Among his latest titles are “Planktonia,” “Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises,” “Strange Sea Creatures,” and “Creatures of the Deep,” all of which will be available in Japanese and Chinese by the end of 2025. He credits his time at KSJ for kickstarting much of his work today. “During my fellowship, the classes at Harvard with William Bossert (Ecology) and E.O. Wilson (Evolutionary Biology) were fundamental to much of what has followed. The class with Wilson led to travels with him in Costa Rica, two books (“The Earth Dwellers” and “Insect Lives”), and a mentorship. He advised me as my work developed from science journalism to marine conservation and academic papers and books.”

Rene Ebersole (‘22) co-founded a new nonprofit journalism organization called Wildlife Investigative Reporters & Editors (WIRE), digging deep into stories about wildlife crime and animal exploitation. WIRE is welcoming a growing roster of star advisors, Jane Goodall and Sylvia Earle among them. Ebersole’s first investigation for WIRE—a story rooted in the imperiled forests of Africa’s Congo Basin—is set to be published in Rolling Stone later this year.

Stewarding the Profession of Science Journalism

Mico Tatalovic (‘18) is working on multiple projects to protect the future of science journalism in South-East Europe and globally.

He established a new initiative with the European Federation for Science Journalism (EFSJ) to safeguard science journalists’ freedoms and rights. They publish relevant statements to support journalists and protect their livelihoods. In 2025 the group published a manifesto for better supporting freelance science journalists and a statement on freedoms, rights, and independence of science journalists. Tatalovic hopes “science journalists can use these to better inform others about their work and to help them push against unreasonable requests and negotiated better freelance fees and work conditions.”

Seminar organized by EFSJ and the Balkan Network of Science Journalists in Slovenia, 2024. Visual from EFSJ.

For the past few years, Tatalovic has also worked with EFSJ and the Balkan Network of Science Journalists to organize a series of seminars to reconnect and reenergize reporters in South-East Europe after the disruptions of the pandemic years. They bring together journalists in a host nation for a productive day of discussions, akin to a small national science journalists conference, where early-career colleagues can mingle with and learn from experienced professionals.

The initiative is backed by EurekAlert! and various local partners, such as the Croatian Journalists’ Association, and Serbia’s Institute for Physics Belgrade. The partnership has produced events in Zagreb, Croatia (2023), and Ljubljana, Slovenia (2024), and the group is planning an event in Belgrade, Serbia (2025).

Telling the Story of Addiction

Karen Brown (‘13) spent two weeks in Norway and England, learning how those countries address gambling addiction through gambling regulation and considering these methods as potential models for the US. The trip was part of an international reporting fellowship from The Association of Health Care Journalists, an experience Brown said provided her with “a fascinating comparison of countries with very different attitudes towards government’s role in protecting its population.”

Elana Gordon (‘19) published a story in the Washington Post titled, “These people used Narcan to save lives. Here’s how they did it.” The unique format of the story was an opportunity for Gordon to “work across mediums with graphics in a way I hadn’t fathomed has been really really rewarding.” This story builds on Gordon’s research during her fellowship year, which included studying media portrayals of addiction.

For Your Bookshelf: from AI to Aliens

Karen Hao (‘22): “Empire of AI,” coming out in May, tells the inside story of OpenAI and uses it as a lens to ask the question: how should we govern AI, and importantly, who gets to govern it? It argues that AI companies have become empires in the full sense of the word, seizing resources, recklessly racing each other, projecting tantalizing ideas of modernity, controlling knowledge production, and dispossessing the majority, all ultimately to consolidate extraordinary power and wealth in the hands of the few. Interwoven within OpenAI’s story are the stories of blossoming movements of resistance around the world that show us it’s possible to redirect the course of AI development toward something more inclusive. During her KSJ fellowship, Hao worked on a four-part series called “AI Colonialism,” arguing that AI is recreating a colonial world order, a project the book draws heavily on.

David Baron (‘90): “The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-of-the-Century America,” will hit the shelves in August after seven years of writing and research. Baron describes this title as “a work of narrative nonfiction; it traces the people, events, and societal forces that spawned one of the strangest episodes in modern history—the “Mars craze” of the early twentieth century when the public came to believe that a dying civilization lived on the planet next door.” A tale of science and imagination, the book reveals how Mars came to occupy its unique place in our minds, our fiction, and our future. Baron shared, “When I began this project, I had no idea it would take so long, but it required a tremendous amount of archival research in collections scattered across the United States and Europe. One unexpected benefit: I came to learn about the history of American science journalism, as newspapers played a key role in driving the Mars craze to its fevered climax.”

Venkatesh Hariharan (‘99): “Digital Sovereignty in the BRICS Countries: How the Global South and Emerging Power Alliances Are Reshaping Digital Governance,” published by Cambridge University Press includes a paper co-authored by Hariharan titled, “Digital Sovereignty and Payments: A Case Study of the National Payments Corporation of India.”

Reasons to Celebrate

Lindsay Gellman (‘21) was awarded a fellowship through Johns Hopkins University’s MA in Science Writing program and the Good Science Project to support investigative feature stories that examine where science goes wrong and how it can be improved. Lindsay’s project investigates unorthodox Alzheimer’s treatments.

Dyna Rochmyaningsih (‘24) will join the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science as their Journalist in Residence this September. Rochmyaningsih will spend two months in the Department for Knowledge Systems and Collective Life researching “Alternative Sources of Knowledge in the Age of Science Suppression.” She sees her work during the PWIG fellowship as an extension of her work at KSJ, “During my fellowship year at MIT, I learned that history and philosophy are deeply embedded in science … instead of focusing on the big questions like the Origins of Life, I am now putting my attention back to the urgently needed kind of journalism service: reporting on environmental crisis.”

Meera Subramanian (‘17) received a Mass Cultural Council Grant for Creative Individuals, which she plans to use to promote the forthcoming book, “A Better World is Possible.” This nonfiction YA graphic novel about youth confronting the climate crisis was created in collaboration with illustrator Danica Novgorodoff.

Valeria Román (‘05) defended her thesis about communication and the use of untested interventions during global health emergencies and received a Master’s Degree in Bioethics at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Buenos Aires. Román says she uses the knowledge she gained while earning her degree in her daily work as a journalist, “I can find news, sources, and approaches that I did not consider before when communicating with my audiences.”

Jane Qiu (‘18) is set to speak at this year’s International Summit on Genome Editing in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Decades of Dedication: Projects Celebrate 10 Years

Luke Timmerman (‘06) celebrated the ten-year anniversary of his independent biotech publication, Timmerman Report.

Dan Falk (‘12) and Amanda Gefter (‘13) marked the ten-year anniversary of their podcast “BookLab,” in which they review popular science books.

In the News

In addition to articles that alumni have sent to KSJ directly, this section includes a compendium by Federico Kukso (‘16) highlighting a global sample of reporting by KSJ alumni.

Christoph Drösser (‘94): “Brilliant Ears? The Demystification of Perfect Pitch,” in German, Deutschlandfunk.

Steve Nadis (’ 98): “Cosmologists Try a New Way to Measure the Shape of the Universe,” Quanta.

Ángela Posada-Swafford (‘01): “‘Sir’ Ernest Shackleton, the last ‘dragon slayer’,” in Spanish, El Tiempo.

Valeria Román (‘05): “Climate change: How Latin American cities need to prepare for more frequent heavy rains,” in Spanish, Infobae.

Dan Falk (‘12): “Why Quantum Matters: Discovering the science that makes modern tech possible,” Discover (cover story, print issue).

Yves Sciama (‘14): “Taking into account the longevity of animals to better protect biodiversity,” in French, Mediapart.

Giovana Girardi (‘15): “Brazil’s environment minister Marina Silva: ‘Lula never pressured me to endorse oil exploration,’” Agência Pública.

Zack Colman (‘16), Ben Lefebvre, Kelsey Tamborrino, and James Bikales: “Trump admin considers killing big energy projects in Dem states,” Politico.

Federico Kukso (‘16): “Panzootic times: the ‘animal pandemic’ of avian flu that is spreading unchecked around the world,” in Spanish, Agencia SINC.

Iván Carrillo (‘17): “Return of the California condor,” Knowable.

Jane Qiu (‘18): “How to Stop the Next Viral Pandemic,” Scientific American.

Mico Tatalovic (‘18): “Galaksija: How a Yugoslav Socialist-Era Magazine Covered Science,” Alternator.

Tim De Chant (‘19): “Earth AI’s algorithms found critical minerals in places everyone else ignored,” TechCrunch.

Richard Fisher (‘20): “You Can Make Amber Fossils in 24 Hours, Instead of Millions of Years,” The New York Times.

Kai Kupferschmidt (‘24): “A year later, cow flu origins are an unsettling puzzle,” Science.

Justin O’Neill (‘24): “Giant pandas are returning to the National Zoo after a 15-month absence,” NPR Morning Edition.

Dyna Rochmyaningsih (‘24): “Indonesia’s new capital could become a hot spot for infectious diseases,” Science.

Peter Whoriskey (‘24): “Private equity firms consolidating homes for disabled,” The Washington Post.

More News: Shining a Light on the State of Science

Vivien Marx (‘98): “The Value of Lab Values,” Nature Methods.

Luke Timmerman (‘06): “Defend the NIH,” Timmerman Report.

Teresa Carr (‘18) and Margaret Manto: “In War Against DEI in Science, Researchers See Collateral Damage,” Undark.

Mico Tatalovic (‘18): “Importance of diversity for more inclusive science reporting: a case study,” European Federation for Science Journalism.

Wojciech Brzeziński (‘23) and Agata Kazmierska: “Donald Trump Gets Rid of Scientists. Because They’re Too Expensive and Leftist,” in Polish, Tygodnik Powszechny.

by Knight Science Journalism / December 23rd 2024 / Alumni News

Alumni Notes: New Projects, a New Handbook, and More

Alumni Work Inspired by KSJ

A New Science Journalism Handbook

Andrada Fiscutean (‘20) coordinated the first Romanian science journalism handbook with colleague Cristina Radu. They brought the project to life with a microgrant from EurekAlert! and the Balkan Network of Science Journalists. Fiscutean said of the project, “For us, it wasn’t just about creating a resource for our students—we both teach at the University of Bucharest—but also about building a community of passionate science journalists dedicated to raising the bar in the field.”

The handbook includes input from over 20 journalists and content creators. It is currently a digital document, what Fiscutean described as, “a version 0 of the project.” The team will continue to refine the project, implementing input from the community. Fiscutean cites her time at KSJ as a key inspiration behind this effort, “ I feel incredibly lucky to have had that opportunity to study at MIT and Harvard, and when I returned to Romania, I really wanted to find ways to give back and contribute to growing the local science journalism community.”

Started at KSJ

Virginia Gewin (‘21) used her time as a KSJ project fellow to conduct more in-depth reporting on air quality monitoring in environmental justice communities in the US. In a piece for Grist, she investigates how EPA funding to deliver air quality monitors to environmental justice communities is more complicated than it initially seemed. The piece unpacks how “state regulatory agencies don’t have to heed these monitors and some states even passed (or attempted to) legislation to block the use of community-based air quality monitoring in regulatory or legal affairs.”

Trying Something New

Meera Subramanian (‘17) published a personal essay in the fall issue of the Virginia Quarterly Review. Subramanian described writing the piece, “While bits of memoir slip into my science writing, ‘A Measure of Gratitude‘ is a deeply personal piece that I was reluctant to write for years, but it finally felt like it was time. It’s about the power of female friendships and the burden of gratitude. It’s about sickness and health. The prospect of dying and the act of living. It’s about seeking and hoping and letting go and finding. There is cancer, the extraction of healthy body parts, applied philosophy, and love. Lots of love.”

Susan Phillips (‘14) did a vertical video series about climate solutions videos for WHYY. The videos showcase residents implementing small-scale climate solutions in their local area. Until this project, Phillips has covered the climate through web and radio. This was her first time using video and reporting in front of the camera.

Yves Sciama (‘14) published “At the end of the earth with Paul-Antoine Libourel” for The Transmitter. This was his first 4000-word story written and published in English. He shared that this project— about a French researcher working with chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic —was “a lot of work, but I feel it was worth it.”

Changes Behind the Desk

Meera Subramanian (‘17) is one of ten science journalists (and the only American) who make up the second cohort in the FRONTIERS Science Journalism Residency Programme.

Kai Kupferschmidt (‘24) is the ninth Nature Marsilius Visiting Professor at Heidelberg University.

Reto U. Schneider (‘98) will be a journalist in residence at the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna from February to April 2025.

Awards

Rebecca Boyle (‘22) published her debut book, Our Moon, in January. It has since been long-listed for the National Book Award in nonfiction and joined other honorees at the Miami Book Fair in November.

In the News

In addition to articles that alumni have sent to KSJ directly, this section includes a compendium by Federico Kukso (‘16) highlighting a global sample of reporting by KSJ alumni.

Kai Kupferschmidt (‘24): “Like ‘old Twitter’: The scientific community finds a new home on Bluesky,” Science.

Dyna Rochmyaningsih (‘24): “For Indonesian oil palm farmers, EU’s deforestation law is another top-down imposition,” Mongabay.

Eva Wolfangel (‘20): “Learning to program – can that be eliminated? Software developers explain which skills will be relevant in the future,” in German, Die Zeit.

Jason Dearen (‘19) and Michael Biesecker: “Polluted waste from Florida’s fertilizer industry is in the path of Milton’s fury,” AP.

Tim De Chant (‘19) and Rebecca Szkutak: “Climate VCs are cautiously optimistic about a second Trump term — here’s why,” TechCrunch.

Teresa Carr (‘18): “Could an Old Drug Protect Against a New Pandemic?,” Undark.

Iván Carrillo (‘17): “Hunting: killing for conservation?,” Dialogue Earth.

Zack Colman (‘16): “What the ‘show me the money’ climate summit tells us about the new Trump era,” Politico.

Federico Kukso (‘16): “Planetary highways: this is how space missions trace their routes,” in Spanish, Agencia SINC.

Betsy Mason (‘16): “What do jumping spiders find sexy? How DIY tech is offering insights into the animal mind,” MIT Technology Review.

Rod McCollom (‘16): “Cultural Competency in Health Care Can Save Lives,” Scientific American.

Giovana Girardi (‘15): “How geopolitics impacted the poor outcome of COP29,” in Portuguese, Agência Pública.

Yves Sciama (‘14): “Biodiversity: Species are moving, scientists are perplexed,” in French, Mediapart.

Dan Falk (‘12): “The Mysterious Impact of Music on the Brain and Body,” Undark.

Valeria Román (‘05): “Six myths about the dengue mosquito debunked by science,” in Spanish, Infobae.

Angela Posada-Swafford (‘01): “The surprising tricks cacti use to survive the harshest climates on Earth,” National Geographic.

Steve Nadis (‘98): “Stars behaving absurdly,” AEON.