Seth Borenstein is a national science writer for The Associated Press, the world's largest news organization, covering issues ranging from climate change to astronomy. He is the winner of numerous journalism awards, including the National Journalism Award for environment reporting in 2007 from the Scripps Foundation and the Outstanding Beat Reporting award from the Society of Environmental Journalists in 2004. He was part of a team of finalists for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Columbia space shuttle disaster. Ascience and environmental journalist for nearly 20 years, covering everything from hurricanes to space shuttle launches, Borenstein has also worked for Knight Ridder Newspapers' Washington Bureau, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. He is the co-author of three long out-of-print books, two on hurricanes and one on popular science, and once tried out for Florida Marlins (unsuccessfully).

Summary

Seth Borenstein spoke to students and faculty Thursday about his celebrated work as a science journalist for the Associated Press. A member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, he is a multiple recipient of their most prestigious award in print journalism. He discussed the evolution of media coverage of climate change, which used to ask, "Is global warming real?" but now focuses on, "What happens next?" He challenged the audience to think about how to cover global warming after many years of being covered in the news. The answer, he says, is to delve deeper into questions of impacts, extent, timing, research and solutions. As for his background, he got into environmental writing when he was asked to cover a drought in Florida during his stint as a court reporter. He took only one science course in college, a route he does not recommend. "Don't do that," he said. That's a good sign for students at the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies who are interested in environmental writing.