Jennifer Junghans is an independent journalist and writer specializing in science and environmental content. Her expertise includes environmental and ecosystem health, agriculture and food systems, climate change, wildlife, nature and conservation.

Her love for the natural world began when she was young, watching birds, insects and snails. Her dad was an environmentalist and her first mentor who raised her outdoors, introducing her to the wonder and intrinsic value of the natural world. He taught her the importance — and the collective power — of individual contributions to protecting the planet.

Her writing has been featured in numerous publications including TIME magazine (as a contributing reporter), Capital Public Radio, Science News Explores, Highlights for Children, Comstock’s, Orion online, Fodor’s Travel, E-The Environmental Magazine, the anthology “The Contemporary Reader” and more. Her work has also aired on Radio Parallax, PRX’s “Living on Earth” and “The World.”

She is the recipient of multiple journalism awards including Highlights for Children’s Science Feature of the Year and first place in coverage of the environment and agricultural reporting from the California News Publishers Association, among others. During her time as a writer for a health care organization, she conceptualized and wrote a series of mental health workbooks for children that are used around the world.

Alongside her writing, she is an experienced editor with a background in various editorial roles for a business magazine and multiple organizations, including serving as an editorial director for a large scientific agency.

She holds degrees in biological sciences and horticulture, and a certificate in creative writing from a two-year UC program. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers, the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators and the Editorial Freelancers Association.