Lisa Palmer

Biography

Lisa Palmer is Journalist-in-Residence and Senior Research Scholar in science communication at IIASA. She is an independent professional journalist, whose work focuses on analyzing the intersection of international science, society, and global environmental challenges, including climate change, food security, biodiversity, sustainability, health, and science diplomacy, as well as reporting on emerging trends and recent developments.

Palmer has spent more than two decades producing science news features, long-form journalism, and narrative essays for internationally recognized publications. She is the author of Hot, Hungry Planet (St. Martin's Press; 2017), which examines the global political, scientific, and social dimensions of food security under climate change. Her reporting and analysis have been supported by organizations including the Pulitzer Center, National Geographic, and the Rockefeller Foundation.

In her role at IIASA, Palmer conducts independent reporting and analysis, produces feature stories, essays, and commentary, and engages with the broader scientific community. She has participated in international events, including the Overshoot Conference, the Royal Society event in the UK convened by IIASA and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the 2025 World Conference of Science Journalists in South Africa, where she led discussions on science and journalists in dialogue. In 2026, she will host a small number of editors at IIASA as part of ongoing conversations about science, evidence, and public understanding.

Palmer also offers informal, practice-oriented sessions to support scientists in thinking through how their research can be communicated effectively to diverse audiences. Her work bridges research, storytelling, and public engagement, helping to illuminate complex systems and global challenges for both specialist and broader audiences.

Prior to joining IIASA, Palmer served as National Geographic Professor of Science Communication at George Washington University, was an affiliate scholar at GW’s Climate and Health Institute, and a lecturer at Georgetown University. She was a Senior Fellow at the US National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) from 2015-2020, and a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC from 2024-2025. She has collaborated on research with science teams to explore how narrative and communication can enhance research impact.

Palmer holds a Master of Science degree in communication and a Bachelor of Science degree. She graduated from Boston University and Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a professional member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, the National Association of Science Writers, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the International Press Institute, and the Authors Guild.

Last update: 17 DEC 2025