Hi, there!
I’m an environmental reporter with a decade of experience working in newsrooms around the world. Most recently, I was the Senior Environmental Reporter for Houston’s NPR station. My work has appeared on NPR, Marketplace, Here & Now, Science Friday, The Guardian, US News & World Report, and National Geographic. I also co-reported and hosted Fire Triangle, an award-winning podcast looking at chemical disasters in Texas.
I strive to break down complicated environmental topics into compelling narratives. I like telling nuanced stories through the voices of those most impacted, and focusing on the solutions to move us forward. I also love quirky science stories about what makes our natural environment unique, wonderful, and weird.
I’ve reported on environmental injustices, toxic waste sites, conservation, the energy transition, and the impacts of climate change. I’ve also provided both live and in-depth coverage of numerous environmental disasters: chemical plant fires, extreme flooding, and the 2021 Texas winter freeze. My reporting has taken me inside people’s homes, on an oyster fishing boat, to research labs, toxic waste sites, and the frontlines of protests.
I’ve lived in — and reported from — Santiago, Chile (hablo expañol!) Chicago, London, and Houston. After years away, I’m happy to finally be back in my hometown of San Diego. I have a master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University, where I focused on magazine and audio storytelling.
You can view my resume, here.
Contact Me: watkinsk1226@gmail.com