I am an earth science writer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. In other words, I: read scientific journals constantly, interview large numbers of earth and climate scientists, work with data visualizers to illustrate scientific concepts, and then write about what I learn for NASA websites, iPad apps, blogs, and twitter feeds. I cover a variety of topics at work, but I write most frequently about remote sensing, climate change, and small airborne particles called aerosols.

I freelance when I have spare time. My work has most recently been published by Runner's World, Earth, and Streetsblog. Previously, I was a medical reporter for U.S. News & World Report where I covered environmental and men's health. In 2005, I graduated from Brown University with a degree in geology-biology. I couldn't get enough of school, so I'm now working on a masters degree in science and medical writing at Johns Hopkins University.

Like most people, I have parents. Mine have managed a heating and cooling company for many years and gave me one farmer brother, one architect brother, and one younger sister. We all grew up in Montague, a town of about 9,000 in western Massachusetts. These days, I live with my wife in Washington, a few blocks from the Capitol.

Aside from work, other recent obessions include: traveling, gardening, mushroom hunting, running, and bicycling. Much to my chagrin, Japanese firefighters in Hokkaido extinguished this campfire (which I had spent a considerable amount of time building) shortly after I snapped the two photos on the left. Fortunately, the fire chief was quite friendly, offered me dinner, located a bunk for me in the firehouse, and even posed for photos.