Melinda Wenner Moyer

Melinda Wenner Moyer is an award-winning journalist whose work explores the intersection of science and everyday life. She’s known for her deep dives into subjects that have both scientific and societal implications, addressing issues that are relevant to parents, families, and the general public. Her writing often challenges popular beliefs and provides readers with a clearer, more informed understanding of issues in child development, parenting, and the social sciences.

In addition to her science reporting, Moyer is known for her thoughtful, balanced approach to writing, carefully considering both the scientific evidence and the broader context in which it applies. Her work often includes a strong emphasis on critical thinking and the importance of understanding the nuances of scientific research.

Moyer is contributing editor at Scientific American magazine and a regular contributor — and former columnist — at The New York Times. Her first book, How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes, was published in July 2021 and won a gold medal in the 2022 Living Now Book Awards. Her second book, Hello Cruel World!: Science-Based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times, was published on May 27, 2025. She was the featured author at The Child Mind Institute’s annual 2025 Spring Luncheon, following in the footsteps of recent guests Dr. Becky Kennedy and Emily Oster.

Melinda was the recipient of the 2022 Excellence in Science Journalism award from The Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the 2019 Bricker Award for Science Writing in Medicine, and her work was featured in the 2020 Best American Science and Nature Writing anthology. She was also awarded a 2018 Alicia Patterson Foundation fellowship. Moyer’s work has won first place prizes in the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, the Folio Eddie Awards and the Annual Writing Awards of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. It has also been shortlisted for a James Beard Journalism Award, a National Academy of Sciences Communication Award and a National Magazine Award.

Melinda has been a faculty member in the Science, Health & Environmental Reporting program at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. She has a master’s in Science, Health & Environmental Reporting from NYU and a background in cell and molecular biology. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley.