Anneliese (Lisa) Palmer
Hello, there!
As a communicator and strategic leader focused on inspiring change through research and storytelling, my work spans roles in journalism, editorial leadership, education and subject matter expertise. I am a Research Professor of Science Communication at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and affiliate faculty at GW’s Climate & Health Institute and the Global Food Institute, founded by Jose Andres. As Senior Editor and Education Lead at Planet Forward, I lead a community of associated faculty, contributing writers, and multimedia storytellers who focus on stories about solutions to environmental issues rather than simply describing problems.
An award-winning journalist, I write for publications such as the Nature family of journals, Yale E360, Undark, The Guardian, Nautilus, The New York Times, The New Republic, Ensia, Slate, and many others. I am the author of HOT, HUNGRY PLANET: The Fight to Stop a Global Food Crisis in the Face of Climate Change (St. Martin’s Press; 2017).
Previously, I was the National Geographic Visiting Professor of Science Communication at George Washington University, public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., where I conducted research on global food security, resilience, and policies related to sustainable agriculture. I was also a senior fellow and journalist-in-residence at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center at the University of Maryland. In 2018, the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center awarded me a residency on the theme of science for development. I am a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, the National Association of Science Writers, and the D.C. Science Writers Association. I graduated from Boston University and Simmons College in Boston.
As a journalist, my goals are to uncover a great story, be fearless about fact-finding, and tackle a complex subject with a keen reporter’s sense and a wordsmith’s use of language. One of my editors summed up my work this way: “She lays out a story without pretension yet isn’t afraid to send readers running for a dictionary on occasion.”
I participate in the national and international discourse on science and socio-environmental issues. I write, publish, and speak on the environment, natural resource scarcity, environmental security, climate change, and agriculture sustainability. I develop and lead seminars, contribute to podcasts and digital media, offer analysis, and consult on science communication strategy.
When I’m not at my desk I’m outdoors, exploring Rock Creek Park in Northwest D.C. and beyond. I’m a runner and like to stay active with sports like rowing, tennis and cycling. I’m also an enthusiastic student of classical piano.
