2003–04 Knight Fellows

2003-04 Knight Fellows

Standing from left:
Martha Henry, Rehana Dada, John Nikolai, Li Hujun, Jackie Mow
Seated from left:
Pamela Ferdinand, Jessica Gorman, Kevin Begos, Claudio Angelo, Boyce Rensberger, Dee Ann Divis, Debbie Ponchner, Steve Mirsky
photo by Graham Ramsay

Claudio Angelo Claudio Angelo, 27, is a science writer and assistant science editor at Folha de S.Paulo, one of Brazil's leading daily newspapers. Having covered a range of science and technology stories, he now specializes in environmental sciences, including climate change. In 2002 he coordinated Folha's six-page special section on the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. Angelo's other journalistic passions are archaeology, anthropology and paleontology. He has an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Sao Paulo. At MIT Angelo plans to study the science underlying a range of environmental concerns. His outside interests include trekking, progressive rock music and bass playing, if he can join a local band.
Kevin Begos Kevin Begos, 45, is Washington correspondent for the Winston-Salem Journal. Increasingly, his work focuses less on politics and more on science and environmental issues. His 2002 series on North Carolina's now-defunct eugenics program won numerous awards. The governor issued an apology and the state is considering paying reparations to victims of sterilization. He has a bachelors in creative writing from Bard College, from where he went on to design and publish art books, some of which are now in museum collections. During the fellowship year, Begos intends to study public policy and science as well as ethics and new technology. His other interests include fly fishing and wood carving.
Rehana Dada Rehana Dada, 29, writes and produces documentaries for a South African Broadcasting Corporation program called 50/50, which deals with environmental science and issues. For 20 years the program has helped shape the environmental sensitivity and understanding of South Africans. Dada, who appears in many of her pieces, also serves as the anchor presenter for SABC's weekly program of environmental news, "Bush Buzz." She designed and writes for 50/50's web site. During her Knight year, Dada plans to study environmental science. Her other interests include gardening, reading and walking.
Dee Ann Divis Dee Ann Divis, 43, is the science and technology editor of United Press International, the wire service. Her path to journalism was circuitous, starting as manager of Washington operations for an aerospace startup. Then she moved to the U.S. Department of Justice as an analyst of criminal cases. Later she became Washington editor of GPS World magazine, covering the satellite navigation industry. Finally, UPI offered Divis an editorship in which she could bring the investigative skills honed at Justice to controversies involving science and technology. Divis has a bachelors degree from the University of Nebraska. During her year she plans to learn about the use of technology in homeland defense. Her recreational interests include krav maga, the Israeli martial art and yard sales.
Pamela Ferdinand Pamela Ferdinand, 37, is The Washington Post's New England correspondent, based in Boston. After 20 years as a newspaper reporter covering a gamut of stories (the devastation of Hurricane Andrew for The Miami Herald, for example, the controversial crash of TWA 800 for The Boston Globe and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 for The Post), Ferdinand wants to prepare herself to write about science and technology. In particular, she plans to focus on the legal ramifications of new technologies. She has a bachelors from Tufts, a masters in Slavonic and East European studies from the University of London and a masters in journalism from Columbia. Ferdinand's extracurricular activities include pottery, hiking and music.
Jessica Gorman Jessica Gorman, 28, has covered chemistry and materials science for the weekly magazine, Science News, for the past three years. Before that she was a reporter for Discover magazine. In college at Swarthmore, Gorman took the pre-med track, planning to become a physician but graduated with a degree in chemical physics and a passion for journalism. A year at U.C. Santa Cruz's Science Communication Program cemented her new career path. During the fellowship year Gorman plans to study chemistry, materials science and nanotechnology and their intersection with biology. She also wants to know more about the potential societal impact of nanotechnology. Her outside interests are reading, photography and museums.
Li Hujun Hujun Li, 28, is a science reporter at Southern Weekend, China's largest weekly newspaper with a circulation of 1.3 million copies. Though published in the south China city of Guangzhou, Li is based in Beijing. The newspaper has a reputation, unusual in the Chinese media, for being willing to criticize the government. Li has contributed to this with stories about the government covering up the country's AIDS problem. Li has a masters degree in polymer science from Sichuan University and worked briefly as an engineer. At MIT, he plans to take courses in various sciences, emphasizing biomedical research. Li's recreational interests include reading, travel and chess.
Steve Mirsky Steve Mirsky, 45, has been an articles editor and columnist at Scientific American magazine for six years. His column, "Antigravity," is one of science writing's rare venues for humor. One was included in Best American Science and Nature Writing 2002. Mirsky came to the field after testing other waters—a degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and acting in summer stock, followed by a bachelors from CUNY and a masters in chemistry from Cornell. As a budding chemist he won a AAAS Mass Media Fellowship, which he spent at a Miami TV station. As a Knight Fellow, Mirsky plans to focus on evolutionary theory. His hobbies include wildlife photography and playing the clarinet.
Jackie Mow Jackie Mow is an independent television producer whose work has appeared on NOVA and the Discovery Channel. She has worked on a wide variety of subjects—including early aviation, tunneling in the Alps, low nitrosamine cigarettes, reproductive technologies, and high altitude mountain rescues. In 2002 her program on large-scale engineering projects won a silver medal at the Beijing International Scientific Films Festival. Mow has a bachelors in psychology from U.C. Santa Barbara, a diploma in Chinese language and history from the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales in Paris and a masters in journalism from Columbia. At MIT she’ll be studying infectious diseases, alternative energy and the future of genomics. Her hobbies include gardening, flying, kung fu, travel to faraway places and film.
Debbie Ponchner Debbie Ponchner, 26, covers science and medicine at La Nacion, Costa Rica's largest daily newspaper. Two of her stories have won that country's National Journalism Prize. Ponchner has a bachelors degree in social science communication from the University of Costa Rica and a masters in science communication from the University of Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. As a Knight Fellow, Ponchner plans to focus on genetics, proteomics, cancer and nanotechnology. Her other interests include reading, movies, Israeli dancing and calligraphy.