Find me at:
sofia.lmdo@gmail.com
Sofia Moutinho
I am an award-winning Brazilian journalist who covers all subjects related to science, health, and the environment. As a freelancer, I have had the chance to report from both poles of the planet and in between: from the Arctic to the Antarctic, passing through the Amazon and other tropical rainforests. My work has been featured in international media outlets such as Science, Nature, Scientific American, The Guardian, NPR, Mongabay and Mother Jones.
Over my career, I have received several awards, grants and fellowships. I am a Pulitzer Center Fellow, an Oxford Network Climate Journalism Network member, and a former Columbia Journalism Investigations (CJI) reporting fellow. My coverage of the health impacts of climate change with CJI, under the series Hidden Epidemics, won first place in the 2020 American Association of Health Care Journalists Award in the large-publication category and first place in the investigative journalism category in the Dateline Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists DC. I have also been a finalist of the 2022 NASW Science in Society Award and twice at the One World Media Awards.
Growing up in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, I was fascinated by science and nature from an early age. As my father used to say, I always “smiled” questions as a kid. As a journalist, I have been lucky to have the chance to put my curiosity to good use by going on field trips with researchers worldwide and reporting about fascinating and controversial topics in science.
In addition to writing, I have experience in data journalism, photography, video editing, podcast production, and social media content.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and an M.A. in Science Journalism from Columbia University in New York, where I graduated as a Lemann Fellow.
ExpertiSes
Science, Health, and Environment Reporting
Photography
Podcast
Investigative and Data Journalism
Video and Graphic Motion
Experiences
Science Magazine, Reporter (freelance correspondent, intern)
2021 – Present
Covers all subjects related to science, writing news articles and features for print and online
PEBMED – Whitebook, Content manager
2019
Managed a team of 30 physicians and journalists producing content for the app Whitebook and the medical news portal PEBMED in Brazil.
Ciencia Hoje magazine, Reporter
2011 – 2015
Covered hard-core sciences, health, and the environment for both print and online. Also wrote for a children’s magazine and produced video content.
Rede Nacional de Ciencia para Educação, communication
2015 – 2021
Writes articles and social media posts about the science of learning for a Brazilian non-profit network of scientists. Produces a monthly podcast called Educação tem Ciencia, connecting teachers and scientists to discuss education.
Columbia Journalism Investigations, Reporter (fellow)
2020
Investigative and data journalist working on stories about health and climate change focusing on minorities.
Onco& magazine, Editor and reporter
2016 – 2019
Wrote and edited news, features, newsletters, and videos about cancer research and new treatments for a magazine aimed at physicians and health care professionals in Brazil.
Museu do Amanhã, Research and content producer (freelancer)
2016
Produced the texts for a permanent exhibition about Science and Culture displayed in this Science Museum in Rio de Janeiro, which has received 5 million visitors so far.
Como será?, content consultant
2014
Proposed pitches and interviewees for this Brazilian TV show focused on the science behind daily life, produced by Ocean Films for the major channel TV Globo
honors and awards
2023 One World Media Awards – Finalist (Longlist)
2021 American Association of Health Care Journalists Award – 2nd place
2021 Science in Society Journalism Award – Finalist
2020 American Association of Health Care Journalists Award – 1st place
2020 Pulitzer Center Post-graduate Reporting Fellowship
2019 World Conference of Science Journalists Travel Fellowship
2012 HSBC Award for Press and Sustainability – Rio+20, runner up
2021 National Press Foundation’s Stokes Award – honorable mention
2019 Morton Mintz Fund Award
2013 AAAS! Eurekalert Fellowship for International Science Reporters
2012 Health Journalism Award – SindhRio – 2nd place
2012 MIT Fellow – Medical Evidence Boot Camp
fellowships and grants
2022 Pulitzer Center Grant, Rainforest Journalism Fund
2022 Logan Science Journalism Program in Environmental Research, Woods Hole Marine Biology Laboratory
2022 EJN Travel Grant to Report from Biodiversity Summits
2021 Louise Behan Reporting Grant, World Federation of Science Journalists
2021-2022 KSJ@MIT Fact-Checking Workshop
2020 Pulitzer Center Post-graduate Reporting Fellowship
2019 Morton Mintz Fund Award, Columbia University
2019 World Conference of Science Journalists Travel Fellowship
2019 Fuse Workshop – AI in Journalism
2013 AAAS! Eurekalert Fellowship for International Science Reporters
2012 MIT Fellow – Medical Evidence Boot Camp
some Events covered
World Biodiversity Forum at Davos
2022
American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting (ASH )
2017, 2018
UN Climate Summit
2014
2nd Global Symposium on Health Systems Research
2012
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio+20
2012
Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting
2011, 2012
American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO)
2016, 2017, 2018
9th International Brain ResearchWorld Congress
2015
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting
2013
6th World Science Forum
2013
33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference
2013
Sofia Moutinho 