Vanessa Moss

Planet Forward Correspondent | Sewanee: The University of the South

Hi! I'm a senior at Sewanee: The University of the South, pursuing a BS in Ecology and Biodiversity, with a Creative Writing Certificate in Nonfiction.

I grew up overseas, first in Nigeria, then Argentina and Malawi, before I moved with my mother and brother to the rural Appalachian town of Sylva, North Carolina. Because of this eclectic upbringing, I'm enamored by other cultures and value global exposure, while understanding the perspectives of rural, isolated communities. My time abroad let me witness fantastic biodiversity as a young child, then led me to the Smoky Mountains where I spent most of my free time in the woods catching salamanders and building forts. By the time I reached high school, I thought that the natural sciences were the coolest thing since sliced bread. (I still do!)

In this age of carbon emissions and climate change, my love for the natural world quickly got me entrenched in environmental activism and sustainability, and I now believe we must care about the environment if we value the survival of other species, as well as our own. Which is why, after I leave Sewanee in 2020, I hope to attend graduate school for environmental reporting to continue my growth as a scientific storyteller. Because there is no way for the public to care about what is being uncovered, invented, or permanently lost in the world if they don't understand it.

And--just for fun!--here's an artist whose music I find simply stunning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQPe5Oi-jzQ