Growing up in downtown Chicago taught me environmental issues are everywhere. Far from the woods, urban nature and sustainable cities can thrive. Today, I write about clean energy, urban environmental issues, green jobs, science education and community health. I also manage websites and create social media content.
My name is Kat Friedrich; I’m based in the Boston area. If you’re interested in learning more about my work or collaborating with me, please contact me.
I’ve written a thesis and reports exploring environmental communication practices. You can find free tips in my Green Communication Guide.
Recommendations
“[Kat] is an impressive science writer who is never afraid to dig deep or ask difficult questions. She is well-versed in the issues and is dedicated to pushing the field forward. I have great respect for her both as a person and as a writer.”
- Kate Tillery-Danzer, Science Writer
“Kat has played an indispensable role in designing, launching, producing and consistently improving the Clean Energy Finance Source, the biweekly newsletter of the Clean Energy Finance Center. I thoroughly enjoy working with Kat, who is conscientious, creative, and very easy to work with.”
- Craig Diamond, Executive Director, Clean Energy Finance Center
“Katherine was creative, productive and a great team member. She consistently met deadlines and showed tremendous personal initiative in supporting project goals. I highly recommend her.”
- Professor Bruce Herbert, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University
“Katherine is a tenacious researcher; her writing is a model of clarity and insight. After five years, I still use her thesis to guide graduate students who are just beginning their research projects.”
- Associate Professor Samuel Dennis, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Landscape Architecture
Experience
To see more details, please visit LinkedIn.
Education
- M.S., Science and Environmental Journalism – Land Resources Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Web design certification
- Social media courses
Employment
- Created many science-related newsletters, one of which has a 60 percent click-through rate (which is unusually high for its industry)
- Wrote feature articles on brownfields, clean energy, diversity in science education, agricultural innovations, smart growth, and many other topics
- Took a leadership role in three website redesign projects (including http://www.aceee.org/, a major energy efficiency website)
- Wrote and/or ghostwrote five books for science faculty; one of the book proposals was accepted by MIT Press
- Produced research reports on energy efficiency, environmental behavior, and diversity-friendly science education
- Managed engineering, research and communications projects in university, nonprofit, government and business settings
Selected Publications
News and Opinion Pieces
Scientific American
Save Burger King! Data Bring Global Warming Forecasts to Life in East Boston
How Environmentalists Can Respond to Americans’ Need for Personal Space
Earth Island Journal
Real Energy Writers (also published by The Energy Collective, Clean Energy Finance Source, Renewable Energy World and/or CleanTechnica) (funder: Clean Energy Finance Center)
Critical Need for Energy Savings and Loan Performance Data Remains Unmet
Bank of America’s Energy Efficiency Finance Program Rewards Innovators
On-Bill Repayment: Great Promise, But Challenges Remain
Strong Marketing Is Essential for Energy Efficiency Finance
On Campus with Women (funder: National Science Foundation; promotional)
Women in Science Reach for the Stars at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
NetSquared
A Labor-Saving Approach to Urban Meetup Organizing
Climate Access
Bipartisan Communication Insights: American Eagle Compact
Environmental Data Resources (funders: EDR and R.R. Donnelly)
Petrochemicals Shut Down Ujima Village
Army Cleans Up Chemical Weapons Site in District of Columbia
Superfund Site Remains in Questionable Condition after Hurricane Sandy
Natural Foods Co-op Will Revive Brownfield in the Berkshires
EPA Plans to Restore a Contaminated Site Near Philadelphia
On Wisconsin (funder: OW)
Seeds of a Growing Partnership
Selling Smut: UW Researchers Help Local Farmers Market a Mexican Delicacy
WBUR & Our Bodies Our Blog
The Health Cost of Black Women’s Hair Products
The Energy Collective
Why We Shouldn’t Call the Climate Debate a “Culture War”
The Powerpuff Approach to Energy Efficiency
Saving Chocolate from Global Warming
Peanut Butter, Climate Change and Social Justice
Sustainable Cities Collective
How Majora Carter Changes the Image of Cities
The Smart Grid’s Grassroots Appeal
Why We Don’t See Our Ecosystems
Communicating about Local Chemical Hazards
Patch.com (funder: “e” inc.; promotional)
Boston Kids Take Action to Reduce Water Scarcity Locally and Internationally
Local Nonprofit Teaches Warren-Prescott Kids Energy Conservation
The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (volunteer project; advocacy)
Lessons Remain to Be Learned 100 Years after the Triangle Fire
Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (funder: National Science Foundation; promotional)
Panel Discusses Faculty Life at Minority-Serving Institutions
“Ph.D. Comics” Author Shares Anecdotes at CIRTL Forum
Doctoral Students Report Satisfaction, But Inadequate Preparation
Wisconsin State Journal (funder: WSJ)
Transplants Take Root in Madison Gardens
Books and Book Chapters
Reaching All Students: A Resource for Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (funder: National Science Foundation)
Case Studies in Inclusive Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (funder: National Science Foundation)
To Improve the Academy (funder: National Science Foundation)
Getting Culture (funder: National Science Foundation)
For more information about my work, please contact me.
Any statements I post on this site reflect my own opinions and do not represent the views of any organization or publication listed above. The articles above are not promotional or advocacy pieces unless listed as such.
