Fathom-Science LLC.
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  • Science Writing
  • Contact
  • Awards

About the Writer

Learn about Kitta's career and her journey as a science writer.

“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.”
-- Albert Einstein

Science is My Calling

I’m Kitta MacPherson, an award-winning science journalist and communicator. I serve as a science writer and science communicator at Rutgers University and offer science writing services through my firm, Fathom-Science LLC. I’m also a published nonfiction and fiction writer and an essayist, and I'm currently working on a memoir. I love sharing the wonder of science with audiences and often do so as a public speaker.

Fathom-Science LLC

Reporting on the Frontlines of Discovery

I have enjoyed a decades-long career in daily newspaper journalism—most of it at The Star-Ledger of Newark. There, I reported on major scientific breakthroughs, including a fusion test reactor experiment that hit record power levels. I explored the scientific debates around genetically engineered food and global warming. I was among the first to report on groundbreaking advances in treatments for AIDS, cancer, and addiction. My investigations included in-depth reporting on diet drugs and flawed obesity statistics. For many years, I wrote a popular weekly “Science” column that appeared on the Star-Ledger’s widely read editorial pages.

Leading Science Communications at Top Institutions

I also served as the Director of Communications for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)—one of the world’s premier fusion energy research centers. Prior to that, I was Princeton University’s lead science writer in its Office of Communications.


At PPPL, I led a national media effort to raise awareness around fusion energy. I directed both internal and external communications and worked closely with university leaders and energy policy groups. As the lab’s spokesperson, I spearheaded the development of multimedia content, including videos and social media campaigns. I built and led a team that essentially functioned as a dedicated news bureau for fusion and plasma physics.

Personal Philosophy: Science is for Everyone

I believe that science belongs to everyone. It is not the exclusive domain of laboratories, textbooks, or experts in white coats. While some scientific concepts may be complex, that complexity should never be a barrier to understanding. With clear communication, curiosity, and respect for different perspectives, science can be made accessible to all, regardless of age, background, or profession.


Marie Curie once said, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” This quote captures the heart of my philosophy. Fear often arises from the unknown, and science, at its best, is a tool for illuminating the unknown. When we make science understandable, we empower people to replace fear with knowledge and uncertainty with insight.


True understanding is not demonstrated by jargon or complexity, but by the ability to communicate ideas in ways that resonate with others. As physicist Richard Feynman famously noted, “If you can't explain something in simple terms, you don't understand it.” This belief drives my commitment to clarity in science communication. Science is not about gatekeeping. Science should be a bridge that invites everyone in.

Equally important is the spirit of curiosity and creativity that fuels scientific discovery. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, once urged, “Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity.” These qualities are essential to science. Everyone, from children asking “why?” to adults exploring new ideas, has the right to engage with science through their own lens of wonder and innovation.


In a world increasingly shaped by scientific and technological advances, it is more important than ever that people feel confident engaging in scientific ideas. This means fostering inclusive education, encouraging questions, and celebrating different voices in science communication. It means recognizing that intelligence is not defined by degrees or titles, but by the willingness to learn and the courage to ask.


Science is not a fortress to be defended. Science is a treasure chest, waiting to be discovered. And everyone is welcome to join this quest.

Fathom-Science LLC

Personal Motto

My Motto:


“Chance favors the prepared mind.”


- Louis Pasteur

Honors That Reflect My Passion

Over the years, I’ve received the Science-in-Society Award from the National Association of Science Writers, a National Communications Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and several writing awards from the New Jersey Press Association. One of my proudest moments was receiving a Communicator Award in 2012 from the International Academy of Visual Arts for a video I produced on a Princeton biologist studying slime molds.

Fathom-Science LLC

Email: info@fathom-science.com

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