Joan Meiners, PhD
@joanmeiners.bsky.social
🌵 Climate reporter (@azcentral.com = The Arizona Republic)
🐝 Bee doctor (Ecology Ph.D. @UF)
🚴♀️ Outdoor athlete (runner, thruhiker, skier, former bike racer)
Listen. Be human. Fight bullshit.
https://www.azcentral.com/staff/5308605002/joan-meiners/
🐝 Bee doctor (Ecology Ph.D. @UF)
🚴♀️ Outdoor athlete (runner, thruhiker, skier, former bike racer)
Listen. Be human. Fight bullshit.
https://www.azcentral.com/staff/5308605002/joan-meiners/
Pinned
Thank you @coveringclimatenow.org for the "#Climate in every beat" award! I'm happy to see this collab btw @azcentral.com & @19thnews.org on the intersection of climate concerns + abortion access get recognized.
Award: coveringclimatenow.org/projects/the...
Story: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Award: coveringclimatenow.org/projects/the...
Story: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Today, keeping up with my monthly series profiling Arizona #climate leaders (as I bike across the state), I have a story out about a man who found such fascination and species #biodiversity on an overlooked, remote rim that he gave it a name: the Mogollon Highlands.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
November 2, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Today, keeping up with my monthly series profiling Arizona #climate leaders (as I bike across the state), I have a story out about a man who found such fascination and species #biodiversity on an overlooked, remote rim that he gave it a name: the Mogollon Highlands.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
This is indeed happening and it’s beyond spooky.
The United States was the leading destination for top scientists from all over the world.
That is ending. Politicians ended it. It will cripple our future competitiveness.
And it’s such a bitter tragedy. Almost no Americans, Conservative or Liberal, grasp what is now being stolen from them.
That is ending. Politicians ended it. It will cripple our future competitiveness.
And it’s such a bitter tragedy. Almost no Americans, Conservative or Liberal, grasp what is now being stolen from them.
Top researchers consider leaving U.S. amid funding cuts: 'The science world is ending'
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
youtu.be
November 1, 2025 at 6:05 AM
This is indeed happening and it’s beyond spooky.
2nd weekly dispatch from my Arizona Trail ride to document #climate issues is live on @azcentral.com: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
It takes us from a shutdown Grand Canyon, through cougar habitat, across a dusty ranch with a questionable wind farm & up past Arizona’s high point into Flagstaff.
It takes us from a shutdown Grand Canyon, through cougar habitat, across a dusty ranch with a questionable wind farm & up past Arizona’s high point into Flagstaff.
October 27, 2025 at 1:48 PM
2nd weekly dispatch from my Arizona Trail ride to document #climate issues is live on @azcentral.com: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
It takes us from a shutdown Grand Canyon, through cougar habitat, across a dusty ranch with a questionable wind farm & up past Arizona’s high point into Flagstaff.
It takes us from a shutdown Grand Canyon, through cougar habitat, across a dusty ranch with a questionable wind farm & up past Arizona’s high point into Flagstaff.
This video from the Arizona Trail is slightly too long to post here, but you can use the QR code below to see an on-trail post-fire botany discussion and footage of some miles through the #WhiteSageFire burn scar.
October 26, 2025 at 12:58 AM
This video from the Arizona Trail is slightly too long to post here, but you can use the QR code below to see an on-trail post-fire botany discussion and footage of some miles through the #WhiteSageFire burn scar.
Anybody know what would turn water this color? (In an Arizona forest.)
October 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Anybody know what would turn water this color? (In an Arizona forest.)
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Super cool reporting project. @azcentral.com's @joanmeiners.bsky.social is biking the 850-mile Arizona Trail to see firsthand how climate change is affecting the state. Follow her journey: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
The Republic's climate reporter is biking the Arizona Trail. You can follow her journey
The Arizona Republic's climate reporter, Joan Meiners, is biking the length of the Arizona Trail to document changes to landscapes and communities.
www.azcentral.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Super cool reporting project. @azcentral.com's @joanmeiners.bsky.social is biking the 850-mile Arizona Trail to see firsthand how climate change is affecting the state. Follow her journey: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Cool piece, highlighting some of the impacts of the recent wildfires on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as impacts of shutdown in slowing recovery.
I'm riding my mountain bike on the 850-mile Arizona Trail this fall to see and write about #climate impacts along the way. We're publishing weekly dispatches from the trail in The Arizona Republic | @azcentral.com as I go.
The first one just dropped:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
The first one just dropped:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
October 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Cool piece, highlighting some of the impacts of the recent wildfires on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as impacts of shutdown in slowing recovery.
I'm riding my mountain bike on the 850-mile Arizona Trail this fall to see and write about #climate impacts along the way. We're publishing weekly dispatches from the trail in The Arizona Republic | @azcentral.com as I go.
The first one just dropped:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
The first one just dropped:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
October 20, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I'm riding my mountain bike on the 850-mile Arizona Trail this fall to see and write about #climate impacts along the way. We're publishing weekly dispatches from the trail in The Arizona Republic | @azcentral.com as I go.
The first one just dropped:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
The first one just dropped:
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
This is a nightmare
Trump ignores a question from a woman reporter but says, "I just like to watch her talk. Good job. Thank you darling."
October 14, 2025 at 7:25 PM
This is a nightmare
On June 9, I filed a public records request with the Arizona Dept of Health Services. I was promised a reply in 10 business days...but got nothing.
Last week I published a story about how ADHS has fumbled their own data on heat-related hospital visits and won't share it.
Today I got this email.
Last week I published a story about how ADHS has fumbled their own data on heat-related hospital visits and won't share it.
Today I got this email.
October 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
On June 9, I filed a public records request with the Arizona Dept of Health Services. I was promised a reply in 10 business days...but got nothing.
Last week I published a story about how ADHS has fumbled their own data on heat-related hospital visits and won't share it.
Today I got this email.
Last week I published a story about how ADHS has fumbled their own data on heat-related hospital visits and won't share it.
Today I got this email.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
It seems there are two main reasons things haven’t gone completely to shit in the US: 1. Lawyers and the courts; 2. Journalists and the media. Most of us can’t do anything about the first, but we can support journalism. Stop complaining about paywalls and subscribe to news & donate to public media.
October 9, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It seems there are two main reasons things haven’t gone completely to shit in the US: 1. Lawyers and the courts; 2. Journalists and the media. Most of us can’t do anything about the first, but we can support journalism. Stop complaining about paywalls and subscribe to news & donate to public media.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
NEW An EPA report found that PFNA, a chemical in the drinking water of some 26M people, interferes with development and likely causes liver problems & male reproductive harms. The report was done in April, scientists told me. But the agency hasn't released it
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
Scientists Completed a Toxicity Report on This Forever Chemical. The EPA Hasn’t Released It.
Agency scientists found that PFNA could cause developmental, liver and reproductive harms. Their final report was ready in mid-April, according to an internal document reviewed by ProPublica, but the ...
www.propublica.org
October 9, 2025 at 1:41 PM
NEW An EPA report found that PFNA, a chemical in the drinking water of some 26M people, interferes with development and likely causes liver problems & male reproductive harms. The report was done in April, scientists told me. But the agency hasn't released it
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
Today we published the 2nd in my extreme heat series, looking at Arizona's progress since its statewide plan.
This time, it's all about whether Arizona's Chief Heat Officer has made a difference, or just made busy work for experts already leading heat responses: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
This time, it's all about whether Arizona's Chief Heat Officer has made a difference, or just made busy work for experts already leading heat responses: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
September 30, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Today we published the 2nd in my extreme heat series, looking at Arizona's progress since its statewide plan.
This time, it's all about whether Arizona's Chief Heat Officer has made a difference, or just made busy work for experts already leading heat responses: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
This time, it's all about whether Arizona's Chief Heat Officer has made a difference, or just made busy work for experts already leading heat responses: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Big story out today launching a 3-part series I’ve been working on most of the year — looking at where Arizona’s extreme heat responses have improved since Gov. Hobbs’ plan…and where they have not.
First up: Is Arizona doing enough with heat-related hospital data?👇🏼
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
First up: Is Arizona doing enough with heat-related hospital data?👇🏼
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
As heat-related hospital visits rise, Arizona's focus is on deaths and quick fixes
While awareness about heat death rates grows, attention to underlying causes of heat-related hospital visits lags, experts say, as temperatures rise.
www.azcentral.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Big story out today launching a 3-part series I’ve been working on most of the year — looking at where Arizona’s extreme heat responses have improved since Gov. Hobbs’ plan…and where they have not.
First up: Is Arizona doing enough with heat-related hospital data?👇🏼
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
First up: Is Arizona doing enough with heat-related hospital data?👇🏼
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
An article from a site called "Clean Tech Times" about Charlie Kirk and Big Oil money is trending in r/energy on Reddit
It's a completely plagiarized, unauthorized, unlinked version of an article I published the day before
I have no idea what to do about it except complain. It's so fucked up.
It's a completely plagiarized, unauthorized, unlinked version of an article I published the day before
I have no idea what to do about it except complain. It's so fucked up.
From the energy community on Reddit: Big oil’s shadow network pumped millions into Charlie Kirk’s culture war machine
Explore this post and more from the energy community
www.reddit.com
September 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM
An article from a site called "Clean Tech Times" about Charlie Kirk and Big Oil money is trending in r/energy on Reddit
It's a completely plagiarized, unauthorized, unlinked version of an article I published the day before
I have no idea what to do about it except complain. It's so fucked up.
It's a completely plagiarized, unauthorized, unlinked version of an article I published the day before
I have no idea what to do about it except complain. It's so fucked up.
🚨BREAKING: Arizona State Univ. just announced a $115 million donation, its largest ever, from former Walmart chairman Rob Walton. They're launching a new School of Conservation Futures.
My story, publ. as ASU Pres. Crow shares news at #ClimateWeekNYC, has details: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
My story, publ. as ASU Pres. Crow shares news at #ClimateWeekNYC, has details: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
ASU launches new School of Conservation Futures with record-setting $115 million donation
Arizona State University will also rename its College of Global Futures to honor donor Rob Walton, the former Walmart chairman.
www.azcentral.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:31 PM
🚨BREAKING: Arizona State Univ. just announced a $115 million donation, its largest ever, from former Walmart chairman Rob Walton. They're launching a new School of Conservation Futures.
My story, publ. as ASU Pres. Crow shares news at #ClimateWeekNYC, has details: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
My story, publ. as ASU Pres. Crow shares news at #ClimateWeekNYC, has details: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
📽️ WATCH: Epidemiologist Erin McCanlies spent much of the past 20 years studying how parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals affects the chances that they will have an autistic child.
RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua
RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua
September 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
📽️ WATCH: Epidemiologist Erin McCanlies spent much of the past 20 years studying how parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals affects the chances that they will have an autistic child.
RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua
RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua
Thank you @coveringclimatenow.org for the "#Climate in every beat" award! I'm happy to see this collab btw @azcentral.com & @19thnews.org on the intersection of climate concerns + abortion access get recognized.
Award: coveringclimatenow.org/projects/the...
Story: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Award: coveringclimatenow.org/projects/the...
Story: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
September 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Thank you @coveringclimatenow.org for the "#Climate in every beat" award! I'm happy to see this collab btw @azcentral.com & @19thnews.org on the intersection of climate concerns + abortion access get recognized.
Award: coveringclimatenow.org/projects/the...
Story: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Award: coveringclimatenow.org/projects/the...
Story: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
If you're an early-career journalist, consider applying for @theopennotebook.bsky.social's paid, mentored fellowship and follow in the footsteps of @katherinejwu.com, @janehu.bsky.social, @sciwriabdul.bsky.social, @1juliarosen.bsky.social, @celiaford.bsky.social and many more! Deadline: 10/31.
Applications are OPEN for our early-career fellowship program supported by the @bwfund.bsky.social!
Work with a mentor to plan, report, and write articles for The Open Notebook and become part of the TON team. 🧵
Work with a mentor to plan, report, and write articles for The Open Notebook and become part of the TON team. 🧵
Early-Career Fellowship Program - The Open Notebook
Every year, The Open Notebook offers a paid, part-time fellowship program for early-career science journalists. This ten-month program offers fellows the opportunity to explore their career interests ...
www.theopennotebook.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
If you're an early-career journalist, consider applying for @theopennotebook.bsky.social's paid, mentored fellowship and follow in the footsteps of @katherinejwu.com, @janehu.bsky.social, @sciwriabdul.bsky.social, @1juliarosen.bsky.social, @celiaford.bsky.social and many more! Deadline: 10/31.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
"I started working on [climate] 60 years ago. And I will be working on it until my last breath, whenever that is," former Moms Arizona organizer Hazel Chandler tells @azcentral.com from hospice.
Read about Hazel's life in a feature by @joanmeiners.bsky.social: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Read about Hazel's life in a feature by @joanmeiners.bsky.social: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
September 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
"I started working on [climate] 60 years ago. And I will be working on it until my last breath, whenever that is," former Moms Arizona organizer Hazel Chandler tells @azcentral.com from hospice.
Read about Hazel's life in a feature by @joanmeiners.bsky.social: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Read about Hazel's life in a feature by @joanmeiners.bsky.social: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
This isn’t at all surprising, given that it’s essentially been publicly reported that Stephen Miller ordered ICE to arrest first and ask questions later, but it’s still worth noting. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
They are not even pretending that they know anything about someone before arrest.
They are not even pretending that they know anything about someone before arrest.
Under Trump administration, ICE scraps paperwork officers once had to do before immigration arrests
For years, officers were required to fill out "homework” before operations. But, one source noted, “it’s hard to fill out a worksheet that just says, ‘Meet in the Home Depot parking lot.’”
www.nbcnews.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:08 PM
This isn’t at all surprising, given that it’s essentially been publicly reported that Stephen Miller ordered ICE to arrest first and ask questions later, but it’s still worth noting. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
They are not even pretending that they know anything about someone before arrest.
They are not even pretending that they know anything about someone before arrest.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
A student told her professor “President Trump’s laws state that there are two genders,” and that the lesson was “illegal” for contradicting that. It’s not. Executive orders are not laws.
Compliance with authoritarianism will not protect universities. Either we stand up for our missions or we fall.
Compliance with authoritarianism will not protect universities. Either we stand up for our missions or we fall.
Texas A&M’s President just removed a dean and department head from their positions after they supported a professor whose lesson on gender was challenged by a student. www.kbtx.com/2025/09/09/a...
A&M Dean removed following student complaints over curriculum
The Department of Justice has also acknowledged the situation and said it would be investigating.
www.kbtx.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:14 PM
A student told her professor “President Trump’s laws state that there are two genders,” and that the lesson was “illegal” for contradicting that. It’s not. Executive orders are not laws.
Compliance with authoritarianism will not protect universities. Either we stand up for our missions or we fall.
Compliance with authoritarianism will not protect universities. Either we stand up for our missions or we fall.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
Jane Clougherty spent years studying how extreme weather affects kids’ health. Trump’s EPA cancelled her work as climate threats continue to rise.
In a single email, the EPA ended her research into how climate change endangers children
Jane Clougherty spent years studying how extreme weather affects kids’ health, but as climate threats continue to rise, the Trump administration cancelled her work.
19thnews.org
September 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Jane Clougherty spent years studying how extreme weather affects kids’ health. Trump’s EPA cancelled her work as climate threats continue to rise.
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
PG&E's 'remote grid' program is using solar, batteries, and generators to replace long power lines crossing fire-prone territory for handfuls of far-flung customers— a niche case for utility-owned microgrids that could expand as grid costs rise:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
#energysky
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
#energysky
Can utilities replace power lines with solar and batteries in remote…
Expanding the grid to reach far-flung customers can be a costly fire hazard. So utilities like PG&E are testing out microgrids using solar, batteries, and…
www.canarymedia.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:46 PM
PG&E's 'remote grid' program is using solar, batteries, and generators to replace long power lines crossing fire-prone territory for handfuls of far-flung customers— a niche case for utility-owned microgrids that could expand as grid costs rise:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
#energysky
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
#energysky
Reposted by Joan Meiners, PhD
What a beautiful tribute to Hazel Chandler and her lifetime of climate advocacy, even now as our progress is set backwards. So sad to hear she is in hospice now.
Thank you, Hazel, for everything you've done to help Arizonans breathe easier.
Thank you, Hazel, for everything you've done to help Arizonans breathe easier.
Today, as part of my series on local climate leaders, I have a profile of Phoenix’s Hazel Chandler, who — even at the age of 79 & while fighting terminal cancer — is making time to stand up against the Trump administration’s rollbacks of climate work and policy.
—> www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
—> www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
September 7, 2025 at 7:11 PM
What a beautiful tribute to Hazel Chandler and her lifetime of climate advocacy, even now as our progress is set backwards. So sad to hear she is in hospice now.
Thank you, Hazel, for everything you've done to help Arizonans breathe easier.
Thank you, Hazel, for everything you've done to help Arizonans breathe easier.