Welcome! I am a scientist and science communication practitioner. I write and talk about water, wildfire, and climate change. My work has been published at New Republic, On Being, Bay Nature, and more. My award-winning book Getting to the Heart of Science Communication is available wherever books are sold. I co-host the award-winning Water Talk podcast with Mallika Nocco and Samuel Sandoval. Watch/listen to recent book talks here, and read related interviews on my media page.
Twitter: @frkearns | Instagram and Bluesky: @fkearns | Newsletter: The Hard Stuff | Podcast: Water Talk
GETTING TO THE HEART OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication is available wherever books are sold. If you read and enjoy the book, please consider leaving a review!
"Dr. Kearns has given us much-needed tools for sharing science with empathy, engagement, and the full humanity that our audiences deserve. A brave and brilliant guide to the shifting terrain of science communication." Cynthia Barnett, University of Florida Environmental Journalist in Residence and author of the books Mirage, Blue Revolution, and Rain
“Getting to the Heart of Science Communication is a must-read for amateurs and professionals alike. The book presents tangible ways to engage in science communication that is justice-centered and meets environmental and societal challenges of today. Kearns delivers thoughtful and transformational advice on addressing power and accountability in the sciences.” Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry, University of California, Merced
“In Getting to the Heart of Science Communication, Faith Kearns captures the voices of real science communication practice—and maps where we need to go to build public trust in science, relationship by relationship. This is the book the field needs now.” Bob Lalasz, CEO, Science+Story
Book media:
The conventional wisdom on how to talk about climate change? It’s wrong. by Kate Yoder at Grist
More than the Message by Jonathan Wai, Science
Compassionate communication key to spurring action on research results by Mathew Reisz at Times Higher Ed
Finding the Heart to Talk About Climate, with Katerina Gonzales, Climate One podcast hosted by Greg Dalton
Faith Kearns: Getting to the Heart of Science Communication, Bob Lalasz, Science + Story podcast
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication, Brad Phillips, Speak Good podcast
Emotion and Communication about Science, Brian Southwell, The Measure of Everyday Life
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication with Dr. Faith Kearns, Madison Sankovitz and Monique Rivera, Beyond the Bench podcast
Faith Kearns: Getting to the Heart of Science Communication, Chris Gambino for New Books Network podcast
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication with Faith Kearns, a book excerpt at Bioneers
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication: A Guide to Effective Engagement Book Review by Candace J Akins, Native Plants Journal
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication: A Guide to Effective Engagement Book Review by Ted Gostomski, Natural Areas Journal
Book review: Getting to the Heart of Science Communication by Richard Smardon, Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences
Getting to the Heart of Water Communication, Water Talk podcast
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication by Charley Wilson and Lynn Lipinski at What Matters Water TV and Podcast
Communicating about climate crisis and other scientific issues requires more than facts by Pam Kan-Rice at UC Ag and Natural Resources
Talking Science: It's Not Just About the Facts by Donnell Brown at the National Grape Research Alliance
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication: A Guide to Effective Engagement at Breakthroughs
UC ANR Scientist Publishes Guide to Science Communication with Tim Hammerich at Ag Info Network
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication: A Guide to Effective Engagement by John Keogh at Booklist
How Cities Can Get to the Heart of Science Communication by Michael Shank at Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance
11 Books to Upskill and Make More Money as a Freelance Science Writer by Sheeva Azma
SELECTED POPULAR WRITING
Trauma, care, and solidarity: Addressing the emotional toll of chronic drought | Water Resources IMPACT
Loss for words: Art, language, and life on a changing planet | The Conversation
Fighting climate change will take more than science | New Republic
California's water paradox: Why enough will never be enough | The Conversation
The art and science of waiting (for rain in drought) | Hippo Reads
Check out the award-winning Water Talk podcast!
Mallika Nocco, Sam Sandoval, and I wrapped Season 5 of Water Talk! Listen wherever you get podcasts, and if you like what you hear please subscribe, star, and leave a review.
RECENT MEDIA
California's Problem Now Isn't Fire—It's Rain | Wired
Wildfire and Water Infrastructure | Water Talk podcast
Why fire hydrants ran dry as wildfires tore through Los Angeles | Washington Post
Here's what really caused L.A. fire hydrants to run out of water | National Geographic
LA Fire Hydrants Running Dry Poses New Danger in Combating Blazes | Bloomberg
The Los Angeles Wildfires Have Created Another Problem—Unsafe Drinking Water | Wired
Why fire hydrants and water supply failed during Los Angeles wildfires | Al Jazeera
'A new wildfire paradigm': Why California fires are growing larger and more destructive | USA Today
An even bigger threat is looming behind California’s fires | Vox
Why fire hydrants ran dry as wildfires ravaged Los Angeles | Axios
California environmental policies misleadingly blamed for LA fires | AFP
Why Misinformation About the L.A. Fires Keeps Spreading | Heatmap
Why the L.A. Fires Are Exceptionally Hard to Fight | Heatmap
Trump’s Cabinet Picks Face Confirmation Hearings This Week | Heatmap
Conservatives blame California wildfires on Delta smelt fish, DEI and more | NBC News
Los Angeles wildfires most destructive in city’s history | BBC: The World Tonight (around 16:20)
California wildfires: How and why did fire hydrants run dry across Los Angeles? | The Independent
Here’s exactly how and why fire hydrants ran out of water during the LA wildfires | The Tab
Lessons from the Climate Anxiety Counseling Booth | book by Kate Schapira
Water Wisdom: A deep dive into wildfires and water conservation with Dr. Faith Kearns | We the Children podcast
So Sorry For Your Loss | book by Dina Gachman
Why California Can’t Catch a Break | The Atlantic
Why we need new words for life in the Anthropocene | BBC
California drought raises red flags for agriculture | The Hill
Most Californians view state’s water shortage as extremely serious, poll finds | LA Times
‘A subtraction problem:’ A shrinking Colorado River faces sharp, sudden cuts | Nevada Independent
Climate Adaptation: The Basics | Kneedeep Times
Southwest drought is the most extreme in 1,200 years, study finds | Washington Post
Getting to the Heart of Water Communication | Water Talk podcast
Compassionate communication key to spurring action on research results | Times Higher Ed
American west stuck in cycle of ‘heat, drought and fire’, experts warn | Guardian
Is California ready for brown lawns and shorter showers? Drought requires less water use | LA Times
Reservoirs are drying up as consequences of the Western drought worsen | Washington Post
Finding the Heart to Talk About Climate | Climate One podcast
More than the Message | Science
The conventional wisdom on how to talk about climate change? It’s wrong. | Grist
When blazes spark, ‘Fire Twitter’ heats up | San Francisco Chronicle
The weight of the world | Mother Jones
Deadly, destructive fires happening to more Californians, over and over again | Ventura County Star
Last day in Paradise: the untold story of how a fire swallowed a town | Guardian
Wildfire scientists brace for hotter, more flammable future as Paradise lies in ashes | CNN
Lack of snowpack leaves the West hung out to dry | Grist
California agriculture faces serious threats from climate change, study finds | Desert Sun
California's climate emergency | Rolling Stone
RECENT ACADEMIC WRITING
Building Resilience to Public Safety Power Shutoffs Through Public Education (In press) | Journal of Extension with V. Koundinya, C. Chiarella, S. Kocher, and S. Drill
Disasters Happen: Supporting Cooperative Extension Personnel for Disaster Management in California Communities | Journal of Extension with V. Koundinya, C. Chiarella, and S. Kocher
Supporting sustainable groundwater management | California Agriculture with D. Parker
Climate change trends and impacts on California agriculture: A detailed review | Agronomy with T. Pathak, M.L. Maskey, J.A. Dahlberg, K.M. Bali, and D. Zaccaria
Building climate change resilience in California through UC Cooperative Extension | California Agriculture with T. Grantham, S. Kocher, T. Pathak, and L. Roche