Articles

I am a writer currently based in the Pacific Northwest. I have covered a wide range of topics, including parenting, education, science, and technology. Below are a few samples of my published articles:

PARENTING/EDUCATION

I Hate Football. I Let My Daughter Play It Anyway
New York Times
My husband and I believe that children should be allowed to take some reasonable risks, but football tested our resolve.

Parenting the German Way: Let the children fight
The Wall Street Journal
An American mother living in Germany learns the benefits of letting children solve their own arguments

Germany’s Toy-Free Kindergarten project 
The Atlantic
Some German kindergartens are taking away kids’ toys to curb future addiction. The program is based on the idea that habit-forming behaviors start in childhood. Read more 

Teaching Children to Play with Fire
New York Times
Workshops in Germany aim to show children how to light fires safely, in stark contrast to the “don’t touch” approach in the United States. Read more

How to Parent Like a German
Time.com
The first time I went to a playground in Berlin, I freaked. All the German parents were huddled together, drinking coffee, not paying attention to their children who were hanging off a wooden dragon 20 feet above a sand pit. Where were the piles of soft padded foam? The liability notices? The personal injury lawyers? Read more

 

TECHNOLOGY

As more refuges reach Germany, here’s how its tech community has responded
ZDNet.com
With asylum seekers struggling to settle into life in Germany, the country’s IT community has tried to create technological solutions to help them.

While US and UK governments oppose encryption, Germany promotes it
ZDNet.com
Germany wants to become a global encryption leader–but the reasons for its stance are complex

 

Germany’s vision for Industrie 4.0: The revolution will be digitised
ZDNet.com
Industrie 4.0 has become a favourite theme for the country, with Siemens among automation’s chief cheerleaders. Read more

A few ways Europe is getting smarter
RCR Wireless News
Smart solutions are being used for a range of projects in Europe, from the fantastical—like Van Gogh-inspired bike path in the Netherlands. Read more 

THE ENVIRONMENT

Save the Soil to Save the Earth: Q&A with Ron Amundson
Aeon
Ronald Amundson is professor of environmental science at the University of California, Berkeley, and dirt is his life’s work. He grew up on a farm in South Dakota and credits a great high‑school teacher for inspiring him to look at the more ‘intellectual aspects of soil’. Read more

The Hidden Life of Art Supplies
Sierra magazine
Vincent van Gogh was a brilliant painter. He also went mad, cut off half his ear, and committed suicide at age 37. Historians may never know what caused his long illness, but some attribute it to the toxic materials he used. And art can still be a dangerous business. While professional artists and children face the most serious health risks, even adult dabblers should choose and use their tools wisely. Read more