• Olive

Olive

Science Journalist > Olive Heffernan - Olive

I am a science journalist who covers oceans and climate change for a variety of publications. I have recently written for National Geographic, Nature, WIRED and New Scientist, and I have also had my work published in BBC magazines, Salon, the Guardian and Scientific American.


Who am I?

I was an editor with Nature in London for five years, before making the decision to go freelance, seven years ago. During my time at Nature, I launched the website Nature Reports Climate Change and the blog Climate Feedback, which was part of the Guardian Environment Network. I was also the founding chief editor of the research journal Nature Climate Change, now the world’s most highly cited environmental research journal. 

As well as being a science writer, I lecture in science communication. I am an adjunct lecturer on the Master’s Program in Science Writing at Johns Hopkins University where I am developing a course on Communicating Climate Change, available from Spring 2020. I am currently writing my first popular science book about the High Seas, which will be published in 2021. 

I was an editor with Nature in London for five years, before making the decision to go freelance, seven years ago. During my time at Nature, I launched the website Nature Reports Climate Change and the blog Climate Feedback, which was part of the Guardian Environment Network. I was also the founding chief editor of the research journal Nature Climate Change, now the world’s most highly cited environmental research journal. 

Prior to my career in journalism, I was a fisheries scientist in the UK where I worked on overexploited cod stocks in the Northeast Atlantic. A Chartered Marine Scientist, I am the recipient of the Bob Barton Memorial Prize for marine journalism, and I am a former journalism fellow of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.


    Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals do I support?

    I support UN Sustainable Development Goal numbers 10, 12, 13 and 14.

    Goal 1 - No Poverty Goal 2 - Zero Hunger Goal 3 - Good Health and Well-Being Goal 4 - Quality Education Goal 5 - Gender Equality Goal 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation Goal 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy Goal 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure Goal 10 - Reduced Inequalities Goal 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities Goal 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production Goal 13 - Climate Action Goal 14 - Life Below Water Goal 15 - Life on Land Goal 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Goal 17 - Partnerships

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