Mastering the Art of Science Journalism

Scientists work hard to study the impacts of climate change and water quality concerns, but research papers don’t get the kind of readership that news publications can draw.

That nexus between data-heavy science and crisp storytelling is where Anika Jane Beamer ’22 thrives. As the Iowa reporter for Inside Climate News, Beamer brings together a rigorous Grinnell College biology education and passion for writing to keep Iowans in-the-know about issues that affect them.

“It’s a very interesting time to be covering the environment in Iowa,” Beamer said, adding that much of her work focuses on the relationship between the environment and Iowa’s agriculture sector.

From the Lab to the News Desk

Before she was tackling some of the biggest news-making topics in the state as a biology-Spanish double major, Beamer had initially set her sights on a career in microbiology research.

“By the end of my first year, I was seriously considering a career in bench science — I really loved the research opportunities that Grinnell gave us right away,” she said.

It was one of those opportunities, a fourth-year summer internship at a University of Nebraska lab researching the Zika virus, that changed Beamer’s vision of her ideal career path.

“I realized that the research itself wasn't what I enjoyed most,” she said. “I’d always liked doing the research, but what I really enjoyed was talking about it and writing about it. I was always the one who wanted to write the introduction for research papers.”

Despite some apprehension about shifting to a science writing career focus heading into her last year as an undergraduate, Beamer trusted the educational foundation she built at Grinnell. That summer, Beamer got a chance to gain some valuable experience as a science writing fellow at the Grinnell Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM).

“It was a really affirming experience; I realized how much I do, indeed, love science writing,” she said.

Staying the Course

Having taken the first big steps in her new career journey, Beamer sought out a specialized master’s degree program to bolster her science journalism chops. She found exactly what she was looking for at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

During her second semester at MIT, Beamer made her connection with Inside Climate News. The Detroit native quickly found her niche by focusing on Midwest-related environmental stories.

Upon completing her master’s, Beamer was excited to accept an offer to become the publication’s full-time Iowa reporter. She said she enjoys using her science acumen to share important environmental news in an accessible way.

Beamer said Grinnell’s wide range of classes allows students not to silo themselves into just one area of academic focus. Those opportunities helped her find a career she loves, and she advised students to follow their interests, no matter what their post-graduation plans are.

“Nothing prepares you to carve your own path like a liberal arts education, like you get at Grinnell,” she said. “There’s truly no better education to keep doors open, and also to find the small niche that makes you tick.”