Carolyn Wilke writes, edits and teaches science journalism.
Available for:
Science news and feature reporting for adults and kids
Freelance editing
Journalism instruction on pitching, reporting and writing science news
I report on science for outlets including The New York Times, National Geographic, Scientific American, New Scientist, Knowable Magazine, and Eos. I’m also a contributing editor at Science News Explores, where I edit news and features and write a monthly column called Analyze This that teaches young readers how to interpret data. As an adjunct lecturer in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, I instruct students on writing accurate and engaging science news. In summer of 2024, I taught a seminar-style class on reporting on research and writing accessibly for science and engineering graduate students.
My reporting mostly centers on chemistry, earth science and archaeology. But I’m always excited to share a weird and wild animal story (dreaming spiders or vaginal teeth, anyone?). As writer for broad audiences—including kids—I delight in breaking down complicated research and making it fun.
Before I became a journalist, I spent many years in the lab wielding a pipette, working with acids and growing microbes. I earned a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Northwestern University, where I studied how light influences the harmful effects of nanoparticles, tiny pieces of matter, on bacteria. Midway through grad school, I started reporting on research as a AAAS Mass Media Fellow at The Sacramento Bee and didn’t look back. Once I finished my degree, I jumped into science journalism through internships at Science News and The Scientist. I also did a stint on staff at Science News Explores (formerly Science News for Students). And as an early-career fellow at The Open Notebook, I reported on the craft of science journalism.
I’ve been a freelance reporter and editor for several years. When I’m not sifting through studies, interviewing scientists or refining a story, you might find me behind my sewing machine or at the climbing gym.
I’m a member of the National Association of Science Writers and a former board member of the DC Science Writers Association. I was one of the hosts of the long-form interview podcast Science for the People, which ran from 2009 to 2023.
Find me on X: @CarolynMWilke and LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/carolynwilke/