The behaviors and intricacies of the natural world have always been a fascination of mine. From a young age, I was drawn to nature. Exploring the creeks and forests on our property in rural Indiana, I would dig clay from the edges of the clear creek waters to make little sculptures that would then dry and harden on the sun-drenched granite rocks. Art mixed with science has followed me since those early years.
Early in my career, I fulfilled my passion for science – and exploration of the natural world – by growing my knowledge from laboratory science to include a broader understanding of the ocean ecosystem. During this time I received an undergraduate degree in chemistry and completed graduate research in marine science with a focus on biogeochemistry. It was at this trans-disciplinary boundary in graduate school that I began to truly appreciate the complexities of science. I studied how nutrient runoff from agriculture and development made its way down a river, into an estuary, and finally the ocean. The impacts of heavy nutrient pollution on the ecosystem were not surprising. Fueling red tide outbreaks, nutrient runoff is perilous for healthy waters, which are germane for many coastal communities that rely on tourism such as Florida.
As my love for science and adventure deepened over the years so did my growing interest in storytelling through writing, photography, and audio. I have published in various outlets from literary journals to mainstream news, and I’ve even published an academic book chapter on the role of science communication. I write about science, nature, and adventure.
I reside in Denver, CO, after having spent the last ten years working at that intersection of science, policy, and communication in our nation’s capital. I have an MA in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins University and an MS in Marine Science from the University of South Florida.
I enjoy spending my time writing, climbing, skiing, diving, and exploring nature.
It is not knowledge, but the act of learning, not possession but the act of getting there, which grants the greatest enjoyment.
Kristan Uhlenbrock 