Hi Jonathan, many thanks for your thoughtful explanation of your plans and hopes for the future of your Substack. As a retired academic, I appreciate the challenge of writing outside the familiar structures of academia, where the pressure to publish, secure grants, and sustain the research that underpins both scholarship and teaching shapes so much of our work. Preparing material that is genuinely research informed is demanding enough; doing so in a way that remains accessible to a broad readership is another task entirely. It is certainly not a matter of simply sitting down and producing a few paragraphs. To write meaningfully for a wide audience, to make complex ideas understandable, and to encourage readers to explore these topics more deeply requires a considerable amount of effort. Substack is full of self‑described “nature writers,” many of varying quality, and too often their work offers only a superficial engagement with substantial issues. Few take the time, or have the training, to mine, interpret, and communicate research with any real depth.
Your own writing on Substack, which I have greatly enjoyed, stands in refreshing contrast. You lay out, describe, and explain serious research in a way that is both accessible and genuinely illuminating. It is, Professor, something to be proud of, and I very much hope you will be able to continue it. Warm regards, P
Hi Peter -- Thanks so much for such a generous response! I'm honoured you think of my writing this way. It takes a lot of work but is worth it to know it is getting across to folks. Yes -- the competing demands on our time in academia are large and diverse. Writing here is choosing to say no elsewhere -- it's all a conscious choice and this choice is one I'm glad I made.
Thank you so much for this. It’s a real service to us that you share your hard-won knowledge so generously, especially at a time when universities are sliding ever deeper into crisis and other forms of adult education are increasingly hard to come by.
Thanks Joanna! Appreciate this very much. Yes, it's hard to know what universities will look like in 10 years to be honest. Fingers crossed they survive the carnage that's going on right now.
Dear Jono, I think more of us will be taking up the environmental baton this year and your work will help arm us with a necessary knowledge. So thank you from the bottom of my heart, Susan
Thanks, Jono, for sharing the new direction of Predirections. I've always admired your work and think you do a terrific job of explaining the science of ecology and climate change to a general audience. Here's to a successful new year for Predirections!
What a great idea to have Nexus Notes free again. The more people that can read what you write the better! Sharing your knowledge that has built up over years of hard work in academia still requires a lot of your time so I really appreciate the effort you put in. If your writing helps the average person make better decisions then I'm all for it. Everyone needs to read Peter Revill's comment as that says it all.
"I realised too much of that knowledge was locked away in journals. I wanted it to matter beyond academia — to help people make better decisions for our shared future."
Yep this describes a good chunk of my goals as well! Sounds like this was a great year for you, and best of luck next year
Hi Jonathan, many thanks for your thoughtful explanation of your plans and hopes for the future of your Substack. As a retired academic, I appreciate the challenge of writing outside the familiar structures of academia, where the pressure to publish, secure grants, and sustain the research that underpins both scholarship and teaching shapes so much of our work. Preparing material that is genuinely research informed is demanding enough; doing so in a way that remains accessible to a broad readership is another task entirely. It is certainly not a matter of simply sitting down and producing a few paragraphs. To write meaningfully for a wide audience, to make complex ideas understandable, and to encourage readers to explore these topics more deeply requires a considerable amount of effort. Substack is full of self‑described “nature writers,” many of varying quality, and too often their work offers only a superficial engagement with substantial issues. Few take the time, or have the training, to mine, interpret, and communicate research with any real depth.
Your own writing on Substack, which I have greatly enjoyed, stands in refreshing contrast. You lay out, describe, and explain serious research in a way that is both accessible and genuinely illuminating. It is, Professor, something to be proud of, and I very much hope you will be able to continue it. Warm regards, P
Hi Peter -- Thanks so much for such a generous response! I'm honoured you think of my writing this way. It takes a lot of work but is worth it to know it is getting across to folks. Yes -- the competing demands on our time in academia are large and diverse. Writing here is choosing to say no elsewhere -- it's all a conscious choice and this choice is one I'm glad I made.
Cheers and happy holidays!
Thank you so much for this. It’s a real service to us that you share your hard-won knowledge so generously, especially at a time when universities are sliding ever deeper into crisis and other forms of adult education are increasingly hard to come by.
Thanks Joanna! Appreciate this very much. Yes, it's hard to know what universities will look like in 10 years to be honest. Fingers crossed they survive the carnage that's going on right now.
Thanks! I am on a fixed income and paid subscriptions aren't really possible for me. I appreciate your willingness to share more of your work.
Thanks Sherri! 100% understand -- I'd never want upgrades to cause financial issues.
Love this one: 'I wanted it to matter beyond academia — to help people make better decisions for our shared future.'
Thanks Rob. Gotta try eh!
Dear Jono, I think more of us will be taking up the environmental baton this year and your work will help arm us with a necessary knowledge. So thank you from the bottom of my heart, Susan
Thanks very much, Susan! That's great to hear. I'm here to help. :)
Thanks, Jono, for sharing the new direction of Predirections. I've always admired your work and think you do a terrific job of explaining the science of ecology and climate change to a general audience. Here's to a successful new year for Predirections!
Thanks very much, Paul! Right back at you. Wishing you all the very best for a great year with The Green Dispatch!
What a great idea to have Nexus Notes free again. The more people that can read what you write the better! Sharing your knowledge that has built up over years of hard work in academia still requires a lot of your time so I really appreciate the effort you put in. If your writing helps the average person make better decisions then I'm all for it. Everyone needs to read Peter Revill's comment as that says it all.
I'm lucky to have people like you and Peter engaging -- it's very rewarding to know it's working for people.
"I realised too much of that knowledge was locked away in journals. I wanted it to matter beyond academia — to help people make better decisions for our shared future."
Yep this describes a good chunk of my goals as well! Sounds like this was a great year for you, and best of luck next year
Thanks very much! Right back at you. I'm glad to hear you're going after the same thing.