Developing a connection through science communication

Sophie Hartley, a student in MIT’s Graduate Program in Science Writing, had a revelation before completing her undergraduate studies, a realization that had been brewing for years.

“My career aspirations were shaped by the classes I took in my final undergraduate semester, but it all traces back to my grandfather,” she explains regarding her journey into science writing. While pursuing comparative human development at the University of Chicago, which she defines as a blend of psychology and anthropology, Hartley pivoted after enrolling in environmental writing and digital science communications courses.

Contemplating the possibility that her life could revolve around delving deeper into life’s intricacies, Hartley’s interest was piqued.

When she was younger, photography introduced by her grandfather fostered Hartley’s appreciation for the natural world. Every summer, they ventured into tide pools, lush forests, and his expansive backyard. He gifted her a camera and encouraged her to capture intriguing sights.

“Photography served as an avenue into the realm of science journalism,” she asserts. “It enables the preservation of the unadulterated beauty of a moment for later reflection.”

Impactful Narrative through Storytelling

Growing up in Wisconsin and Vermont, Hartley observed a disparity between rural areas and urban centers. Her ambition is to spotlight underrepresented communities and “bridge them with urban residents who may lack insight into prevailing circumstances and rationales.”

Hartley emphasizes the crucial roles individuals play in mitigating climate change repercussions, enhancing land management techniques and regulations, and fostering better custodianship of our natural reservoirs. Issues linked to conservation, land administration, and agriculture affect us universally, underscoring the significance of effective science communication.

“Our interconnections surpass our comprehension,” contends Hartley. “Climate change poses challenges across the entire agricultural supply chain.”

As part of her news writing curriculum, Hartley composed a piece on how flooding in Vermont led to hay scarcities and consequently impacted dairy products like goat cheese and beef. She expounds, “Damp hay is ruined; thus, cows and goats go unfed, impacting the production of beef, milk, and cheese.”

Ultimately, Hartley envisions fostering empathy and knowledge through her work, enlightening individuals on the cascading impacts of human activities on nature and one another.

“The interconnectedness among humans persists,” she remarks. “Urban dwellers are not immune to rural predicaments.”

Forging Bonds through Science Writing

Amid her year-long tenure in the MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing, Hartley is actively generating content for prominent news platforms.

Earlier this year, Hartley penned a feature for Ars Technica delineating continued endeavors to devise technologies preventing vehicular collisions with kangaroos. Highlighting kangaroos’ distinct behavior, prevalent animal detection systems have proven ineffective, necessitating Australian communities to devise alternative measures such as virtual barriers to deter kangaroos from roads.

In June, Hartley collaborated on a news piece for GBH News with her peer Hannah Richter, part of the science writing program. They shed light on the reasons behind officials at a novel Peabody power plant reneging on a prior commitment to operate on eco-friendly fuels.

The collaboration was a cooperative effort between GBH News and the investigative journalism class within the science writing program. Recalling the experience, Hartley commends Richter’s support, stating, “We capitalized on each other’s strengths and insights, sustaining motivation during the extensive research and writing phases.”

Sharing reporting responsibilities can alleviate burdens, particularly with exhaustive, in-depth pieces like the Peabody exposé. “Diversifying the workload with a partner is beneficial amidst copious research needs,” she adds. “Combining efforts enhanced the quality from drafting to fact-checking, bolstered by dual scrutiny throughout the investigative process.”

Her most prized composition in 2024 centered on beech leaf disease, a lethal pathogen decimating North American forests. The narrative, later chronicled in The Boston Globe Magazine, trailed a quartet of researchers racing to unravel the disease’s mechanics. Beech leaf disease swiftly decimates trees, fostering invasive species proliferation on forest floors, underscoring her predilection for land stewardship and environmental affairs in her repertoire.

Local news agencies face mounting challenges as newsrooms nationwide pare operative personnel, resorting to aggregated news compilations from larger entities. Nevertheless, the dearth of intimate narrative coverage underscores lost prospects for impactful grassroot reports. “The decline in local and rural accountability coverage is evident,” Hartley laments. “It’s vital for communities to remain informed about significant developments affecting them.”