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Laurie J. Schmidt

Science and Travel Writer | Author

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Science Writing

I started my career writing feature articles and profiles for a business magazine in southwest Florida. One day my editor assigned me something a bit different: a story about sharks and their resistance to cancer. I interviewed the scientist at the marine laboratory, where he gave me a hands-on (literally!) experience with baby sharks in the lab’s tank. That was the start of my science writing career.

Since then I’ve written feature stories, blog posts, and web content related to a variety of earth and planetary science topics, including global climate, geology, natural hazards, oceanography, water resources, remote sensing, and planetary science. In 2005, my fascination with space exploration turned into a career dream project: working on the Phoenix Mars Mission and writing the educational content for the mission’s web site.  

My passion is making science accessible to general audiences. Using storytelling and engaging language, I create content that captures the reader’s attention, addresses common misconceptions, and makes the subject relevant by relating the unfamiliar to the familiar.

Very Large array radio telescope in New Mexico

Clients and Publications

  • AAAS Science
  • Cengage Learning
  • Colorado Mesa University
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Colorado State University 
  • EARTH Magazine
  • NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • NASA Global Climate Change
  • National Parks
  • Natural Hazards Center
  • Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global)
  • Pearson Higher Education
  • Popular Mechanics
  • Popular Science 
  • Sierra
  • University of Arizona Lunar & Planetary Lab
  • Water Education Colorado
  • Wiley

Laurie did an outstanding job writing the “Mars 101” section of our web site. Her ability to make complex science topics accessible to a public audience was essential for the site’s success.

Doug Lombardi

Phoenix Mars Mission

Interested in hiring me to help you tell your science stories in a way that draws your readers in? Contact me to schedule a free initial consultation.

Contact Laurie

© 2022 Laurie J. Schmidt