10/15/2026
Thank you to reporter Tony Bartelme of The Post and Courier for an engaging lecture on using journalism to reveal the “invisible snakes” of climate change — real dangers often hidden in plain sight. We appreciate the American Association for the Advancement of Science and The Kavli Foundation for sponsoring this important conversation through the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards program.
Bartelme gave this description of his approach to science reporting:
“We're trying to answer a question, an important question, about an important issue, and, inevitably, their research is shaped around a decision.
So when I talk to a scientist, I almost always say, ‘Hey, how did you become a scientist?’
‘OK, tell me a little bit about how you decided to investigate this question, to solve this mystery.’
And then, ‘All right, what was your aha moment?’”
The aha moment was on of the pillars of strong storytelling that Bartelme described to students. He also recommended finding relatable guides to lead readers through complex issues and embracing wonder and awe as antidotes to the fatalism that can accompany science reporting.
