My life took a major detour more than four years ago when I was pulled off my data management role in environmental health to build Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard.
It’s past time for a course correction.
I dedicated my academics to studying two main topics: Geography and Journalism.
When I was 18 years old and stepped onto Syracuse University’s campus for the first time, I knew exactly what I wanted to be: a reporter who covered disasters, disease and war.
Having my son midway through my junior year, I finished my journalism degree but leaned more heavily into my earth science studies, seeing how impractical my intended path in life would be with a small child.
Within geography, my focus was climate change, storms and natural disasters. Having lived through Hurricane Katrina at 16 (I lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast), the intersection of weather, climate and human systems fascinated me.
I carried my passion for both fields with me into my Master of Science studies at Louisiana State University, and when I finished my coursework for my PhD with a dissertation concerning paleotempestology.
That’s why I’m jumping off the epidemiology track to get back into reporting, covering stories about the environment and disaster.
Climate reporting – a perfect marriage of my two greatest passions.
I’ll be focusing on three key issues:
Legislation and court cases involving environmental justice and climate at the US Capitol
Stories about toxicity, exposure, disasters and environmental health here in the DMV and beyond
Climate science, developments in research, and changes in global policy
Today I’m in DC, connecting the resources I need so I can report the stories that need to be told.
You can support my work by subscribing to my substack or by donating at one of the options below:
Paypal: https://paypal.me/covidaction
CashApp: https://cash.app/$GeoRebekahJones
Make checks payable and send to:
Rebekah Jones
PO BOX 3371
Silver Spring, MD 20918
If you have tips, please message me here on Substack or email me at Info@GeoNewsNow.com
You might see me around the greater DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area looking slightly different as I embark on this journey. With renewed purpose, I’ve created a new look. Change is the only constant in the world, after all.
Helpful links:
Click here to read some of my coverage of environmental issues in the past.
Good for you Rebekah Jones! Go with where your heart and mind take you!